Patient perspectives on the impact of an initial non-cancer diagnosis prior to a subsequent cancer diagnosis: a secondary qualitative analysis

This study investigates patients' experiences with receiving a non-cancer diagnosis before being referred for cancer investigations, aiming to understand how these interim diagnoses impact their diagnostic journey. Through qualitative analysis of interview data, the authors identified common scenarios where patients felt their symptoms were misunderstood, leading to delays in cancer diagnosis. The findings suggest that enhancing clinician responsiveness to patient concerns could help mitigate these delays and improve outcomes.