en آمار زیستی کاربردی و اپیدمیولوژی Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology پژوهشي Research Article <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="line-height:200%"><b><span style="line-height:200%">Background</span></b><span style="line-height:200%"> Cancer is a complex condition that requires a multidisciplinary approach to achieve timely diagnosis and treatment. Early initiation of treatment is essential for improving clinical outcomes. This study aimed to identify and analyze the factors associated with delays across the cancer care pathway in reference oncology hospitals in West Azerbaijan Province.</span></span><br> <span style="line-height:200%"><b><span style="line-height:200%">Methods</span></b><span style="line-height:200%"> This cross-sectional study included 74 parents of pediatric patients and 212 adult patients diagnosed with different types of cancer. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and in-person interviews after obtaining informed consent.</span></span><br> <span style="line-height:200%"><b><span style="line-height:200%">Results</span></b><span style="line-height:200%"> The main factors contributing to delays in initiating treatment were high treatment costs, poor perceived prognosis, fear of treatment, religious or superstitious beliefs, limited family support, preference for herbal or traditional remedies, and prolonged turnaround time for pathology reports.</span></span><br> <span style="line-height:200%"><b><span style="line-height:200%">Conclusion</span></b><span style="line-height:200%"> Improving public education regarding early cancer symptoms, strengthening communication and collaboration between healthcare providers and the health system, and ensuring patients receive adequate and comprehensible information may enhance timely care-seeking and support patients&rsquo; long-term adherence to treatment.</span></span></span></span></div> <div id="gtx-trans" style="position: absolute; left: -14px; top: 348.577px;"><div class="gtx-trans-icon"></div></div> Cancer, Delayed diagnosis, Early diagnosis, Neoplasms, Treatment delay 304 309 http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-200-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Sahar Mehranfar dr_sahar21@yahoo.com 10031947532846004665 10031947532846004665 Yes Department of Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran Atefeh Parvishi parvishi.atefeh@gmail.com 10031947532846004666 0009- 0004- 9481- 612x No Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran Mohammad Heidari heidari.m1358@gmail.com 10031947532846004667 10031947532846004667 No Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran Leila Ravanyar ravanyar2007@yahoo.com 10031947532846004668 10031947532846004668 No Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran