EXPLORING POSSIBLE CAUSES FOR DELAYS SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT AMONG INDONESIAN WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER

Objective: This study aimed to explore the underlying causes for the delays seeking medical treatment experienced by Indonesian women with breast cancer and what kinds of non-medical treatment were pursued instead.Methods: This study used qualitative methods with in-depth interviews among 20 participants to reveal the causes of delaying medical treatment by patients with breast cancer. Subjects were chosen from women diagnosed with breast cancer who had delayed their medical treatment for various reasons and were currently undergoing medical treatment at a hospital.Results: The underlying causes for the delay of medical treatment were varied, including psychological reasons (fear of surgery, being worried about adverse effects of the medicine, making troubles to the other people, afraid of losing breast, or losing husband); lack of knowledge about cancer (unfamiliar with the symptoms of cancer, possible cancer cure by nutritious food, more trust in alternative medicine, myth, participant's husband did not approve her surgery, only rely on prayer, forgot if she was sick); factors deriving from health service system (limited facilities, a false diagnosis, queue rooms/radiotherapy/for hospitalization, the radiotherapy equipment was out of service, patient unable to walk, high out-of-pocket cost, and doctors were not communicative). During time delay, some patients have also sought non-medical treatment with herbal medicines, non-herbal medicines, and non-conventional treatment (laser, reiki, acupuncture, and vest treatments).Conclusion: Many factors affect the delay of medical care among patients with breast cancer. Often, these delays influence the patients to seek alternative treatments