Impact of treatment delay on survival of oral/oropharyngeal cancers: Results of a nationwide screening program. Issue 2 (13th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Su, William Wang‐Yu; Lee, Yi‐Huah; Yen, Amy Ming‐Fang; Chen, Sam Li‐Sheng; Hsu, Chen‐Yang; Chiu, Sherry Yueh‐Hsia; Fann, Jean Ching‐Yuan; Lee, Yi‐Chia; Chiu, Han‐Mo; Hsiao, Shu‐Chun; Hsu, Tsui‐Hsia; Chen, Hsiu‐Hsi
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 43:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 473
• Page End: 484
• Publication Date: 2020-10-13
• Subjects: betel quid chewing -- cigarette smoking -- oral/oropharyngeal cancer -- survival -- treatment delay; Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.26504
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

Abstract: Background: To assess the impact of treatment delay on survival of oral/oropharyngeal cancer (OSCC). Methods: We followed 5743 OSCCs between 2004 and 2009 from a population‐based screening program and ascertained death until the end of 2012. Results: The hazard ratios (HRs) of mortality from OSCC were 1.46 (1.30‐1.65) and 1.18 (1.04‐1.33) in univariable and multivariable analyses, respectively, for treatment delay longer than 6 weeks compared with that shorter than 3 weeks. The corresponding figures were 1.12 (1.01‐1.24) and 1.00 (0.91‐1.11) for treatment delay between 3 and 6 weeks. Advancing age (1.01), higher stage (stage II: 1.84, stage III: 2.97, stage IV: 6.33), cancer in tongue (1.37), or hard palate (1.63) had higher HR of mortality ( P < .05). However, treatment at medical center had a lower mortality (0.83, 0.75‐0.91) than local/regional hospital. Conclusions: Treatment delay longer than 6 weeks for OSCCs detected via a population‐based screening program had unfavorable survival.