Colorectal cancer diagnosis: Pitfalls and opportunities

Table 2 Main factors associated with patient delay

Increases delay	Reduces delay
Appraisal delay
Symptoms attributed to minor illness Lack of knowledge or failed to recognize symptom severity Assumed to be part of the ageing process Non-specific symptoms (altered bowel habits, unexplained weight loss) Self-treatment	Specific symptoms (rectal bleeding, abdominal pain) Symptoms frequent, severe or affect the person’s daily life Pain, vomiting and intestinal obstruction as initial symptoms
Illness delay
Younger patients Low socioeconomic status Lower educational level Rural areas Lack of additive private health insurance Family history of cancer	Comorbidity High educational level Retirement
Behavioural delay
Fear of pain Fear of cancer Fear of unpleasant or embarrassing investigations Denial of symptoms	Social support Disclosure of symptoms to someone close Knowing a person with CRC
Scheduling delay
Too busy to visit Unpleasant or embarrassing visit	Trust in GP

CRC: Colorectal cancer; GP: General practitioner.