[Description of alarm symptoms in women with gynecologic cancer].

OBJECTIVE

To describe the presentation of gynecological cancer in primary care, quantifying the presence of alarm symptoms and establishing their relationship with the interval of time until diagnosis and treatment.

DESIGN

Retrospective study of a cohort of women with gynecological cancer.

PLACEMENT

Thirty family medicine consultations.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred thirty-eightwomen (period 2014-2023).

MAIN MEASUREMENTS

Characteristics of the patients, the care process, and the disease. Time intervals considered: patient, primary care, diagnosis, and total interval.

RESULTS

Most were diagnosed in early stages, except for ovarian cancer. The most frequent presenting symptom in endometrial and cervical cancer was postmenopausal metrorrhagia, in ovarian cancer it was abdominal distension, and in vulvar cancer it was vulvar ulcer. In endometrial cancer, both age and the number of health problems were higher (P=.01) in women with alarm symptoms. In ovarian cancer, alarm symptoms were more frequent (P=.04) in women with higher comorbidity. Overall, 87.1% presented some specific alarm symptoms for each tumor. In ovarian cancer, alarm symptoms were associated with a shorter interval until treatment (P=.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Most women with gynecological cancer are diagnosed at early stages, except for ovarian cancer. A high proportion present alarm symptom, related to the interval of time until diagnosis and treatment in ovarian cancer. .