A STUDY ON THE DELAY OF DISCOVERY IN ADVANCED STOMACH CANCER

Abstract

For cases which were found to have advanced stomach cancer, the background factors responsible for the delay of discovery were investigated. A total of 251 patients responded to a questionnaire. They were divided into two groups. Group A consisted of 135 cases under 70 years of age and group B consisted of 116 cases over 70 years. Each parameter for investigation was compared between the two groups. In patients with advanced stomach cancer, the rate of taking the mass screening examination was low; usually they would not visit hospitals or clinics and had few experiences with the gastrointestinal series and gastric endoscopic examination. That is, a tendency to the so-called prejudice against hospitals was noted. They might be a type of persons who are not concerned about minor physical abnormalities or who are persevering by nature. There were many subjects who had no habit of drinking or smoking. This may suggest that they are the persons who usually have confidence in their health or they are not easily aware of the physical abnormalities because they have no taste for liquor or tobacco.
These results were generally common to group A and group B. Considering the effect of mass screening examinations from such a viewpoint in the future would be of significance.