Understanding Low Gynecological Cancer Delay and Help-seeking Behavior in Older Patients.

Understanding Low Gynecological Cancer Delay and Help-seeking Behavior in Older Patients. Qualitative Approach

Systematic screening for cervical cancer stops in France at 65 years old. The incidence of certain types of gynecological neoplasia increases with age (endometrium, vulva). Diagnosis delay of 8 months has been described for uterine cancer and longer delays for vulvar cancer.

The aim of our study is to understand help-seeking behavior and its delay for this type of cancer among patients older than 65.

Our study assess the reasons for which the patient took time to go to the doctor despite of their symptoms. We use a qualitative methodology. Our study categorizes lived experiences, recorded in semistructured interview transcripts. We use psychodynamic and semiopragmatic analyses of the discourse to obtain hypotheses about possible reasons of the delay in the help-seeking process."

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women of 65 years or more treated or followed at Lorraine Institute of Oncology
• Diagnosed after 65 years or later of a low gynecological cancer
• Without diagnosis of dementia
• Retained ability to express by herself without assistance
• Affiliated to public health system
• Informed and having expressed her non-opposition

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women under 65 or diagnosed before being 65 of a low gynecological cancer
• Diagnosed of dementia
• No longer to express herself
• Patient deprived of freedom