The Current State of Timeliness in the Breast Cancer Diagnosis Journey: Abnormal Screening to Biopsy

Abstract

There are several steps involved in a breast cancer diagnosis, starting from the initial abnormal screening mammogram. Each step from the additional imaging to a biopsy provokes anxiety. Timely attention to these appointments will not only help allay anxiety but also provide better care. While breast facilities routinely audit their performance, currently timeliness is not one of the audit parameters. The role of timeliness as a robust quality tool is gaining attention. In this study, we review the timeline of care at our facility over a 1-year period (October 2021- September 2022) and compare them with those reported by National Quality Measures for Breast Centers (NQMBC). Race, ethnicity, location, and type of facility affect the outcome of care and contribute to delays in providing care. In this manuscript, we outline some of the major factors. Societal guidelines outlining some metrics for timeliness may be a useful first step.

Keywords: audit.; breast cancer; mammography; quality.

Figure 1.

System-wide, month-to-month availability of 1^st and 3^rd appointments and the actual time interval, between screening exam and diagnostic workup and between diagnostic workup and biopsy.

Figure 2.

Month-to-month availability of 1^st and 3^rd appointments and the actual time interval, between screening exam and diagnostic workup and between diagnostic workup and biopsy, at the primary academic site.