BACKGROUND: @entity2 is associated with rapid disease progression, which can significantly progress over a duration of four to eight weeks. This study examines the time interval @entity2 @entity1 from the interior of British Columbia (BC) experience while undergoing diagnostic evaluation, biopsy, staging, and preparation for treatment. METHODS: A chart review of @entity2 @entity1 (n=231) referred to the BC Cancer Agency Centre for the Southern Interior between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2011 was performed. Time zero was defined as the date of the first abnormal chest imaging. Time intervals, expressed as median averages, to specialist consult, biopsy, oncologic referral, initial oncology consultation, and commencement of oncologic treatment were obtained. RESULTS: The median time interval from first abnormal chest imaging to a specialist consultation was 18 days (interquartile range, IQR, 7-36). An additional nine days elapsed prior to biopsy in the form of bronchoscopy, CT-guided biopsy, or sputum cytology (median; IQR, 3-21); if lobectomy was required, 18 days elapsed (median; IQR, 9-28). Eight days were required for pathologic diagnosis and subsequent referral to the @entity5 centre (median; IQR, 3-16.5). Once referral was received, 10 days elapsed prior to consultation with either a medical or radiation oncologist (median, IQR 5-18). Finally, eight days was required for initiation of radiation and/or chemotherapy (median; IQR, 1-15).  The median wait time from detection of @entity2 on imaging to oncologic treatment in the form of radiation and/or chemotherapy was 65.5 days (IQR, 41.5-104.3).   INTERPRETATION: @entity1 in the BC Southern Interior  experience considerable delays in @entity2 care. During this time, the disease has the potential to significantly progress and it is possible that a subset of @entity1 may lose their opportunity for curative intent treatment.

Wait Times Experienced by Lung Cancer XXXX in the BC Southern Interior to Obtain Oncologic Care: Exploration of the Intervals from First Abnormal Imaging to Oncologic Treatment.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity2 :: ('MESH:D008175', 'Disease') :: ['Lung cancer', 'lung cancer', 'accessing lung cancer'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['cancer']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['Patients']
