DENVER: People over 50 tend not to get potential cancer symptoms checked out because they worry their problem may seem ‘trivial’ or that they could be wasting their GP’s time, research has found.
Other reasons why people would not go to their GP included fear of a cancer diagnosis, adopting a ‘stiff upper lip’ and lacking confidence in the health system.
In the study, researchers surveyed patients aged 50 years or older from three GP practices about their experiences on a range of symptoms.
The survey did not mention cancer specifically but listed 17 symptoms including 10 cancer ‘alarm’ warning signs, such as persistent cough, unexplained lump, persistent change in bowel or bladder habits and a sore that does not heal.
The study authors then analysed the responses of 1,700 patients who had reported at least one cancer alarm symptom in the previous three months.
Five main themes emerged as reasons why people did not seek help about cancer alarm symptoms, namely: believing the symptom was trivial, or normalizing it; stoicism; fear; worry about wasting their doctor’s time; and a lack of confidence in the healthcare system.
The main reason for not going to the GP was believing the symptoms were trivial or normalizing them, especially for painless or intermittent symptoms…