Facial basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer, yet delays in diagnosis and treatment persist. These delays affect quality of life (QoL), advance disease progression, and increase healthcare burden. This study explores the relationship between symptom diversity, QoL, and care-seeking behaviors, focusing on the impact of symptoms on clinical outcomes and consultation timing. A total of 278 adults with histologically confirmed facial BCC underwent surgical treatment at Vilnius University Hospital from November 2022 to April 2024. The data collected included demographics, tumor characteristics, and self-reported symptoms (pain, bleeding, itching, tumor presence, discomfort, and erosion). Disease-specific QoL was assessed using the Skin Cancer Index. ANCOVA compared QoL across symptom groups, multiple regression analyzed symptom effects on QoL, and logistic regression evaluated care-seeking behavior over time. Cox regression assessed symptom associations with time to medical consultation. The mean time from symptom onset to consultation was 21 months. Tumor presence (27%), erosion (18%), and discomfort (17%) were the most reported symptoms. Discomfort significantly reduced QoL in emotional, social, and appearance domains (p< 0.05). Logistic regression showed tumor presence and pain were associated with earlier care-seeking within 12 months (p< 0.05). Other symptoms, such as bleeding, itching, and erosion, did not significantly influence consultation timing. The findings highlight the need for public education and proactive patient counseling to promote timely intervention and reduce the disease progression.
面部基底细胞癌是最常见的皮肤癌，但诊断与治疗延迟问题依然存在。这些延迟会影响生活质量、加速疾病进展并增加医疗负担。本研究探讨症状多样性、生活质量与就医行为之间的关系，重点关注症状对临床结局及就诊时机的影响。2022年11月至2024年4月期间，维尔纽斯大学医院共对278例经组织学确诊的面部基底细胞癌成人患者实施手术治疗。收集数据包括人口统计学特征、肿瘤特征及自我报告症状（疼痛、出血、瘙痒、肿瘤存在感、不适感、糜烂）。采用皮肤癌指数量表评估疾病特异性生活质量。通过协方差分析比较不同症状组的生活质量差异，多元回归分析症状对生活质量的影响，逻辑回归评估随时间变化的就医行为，Cox回归分析症状与就诊时间的关联性。从症状出现到就诊的平均时间为21个月。肿瘤存在感（27%）、糜烂（18%）和不适感（17%）是最常报告的症状。不适感显著降低情绪、社交及外观维度的生活质量（p<0.05）。逻辑回归显示肿瘤存在感和疼痛症状与12个月内早期就医行为相关（p<0.05）。其他症状如出血、瘙痒和糜烂对就诊时机无显著影响。研究结果强调需要通过公众教育和主动患者咨询来促进及时干预，从而减缓疾病进展。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家