Cancer Diagnosis In Tunisian Public Structures: Too Little, Too Late

Introduction: Cancer is a major public health problem in Tunisia with an increasing incidence that reached 20,000 new cases per year in 2020. Moreover, deaths related to a tumour cause, all tumours combined, is the leading cause of death in Tunisia since 2021. Despite the urgency of this situation, Tunisian patients suffer from delays in diagnosis and a lack of public resources for optimal care.
Objectives: In this work, we have tried to show the correlation between the delay in diagnosis and the increasing inci-dence of cancer and related deaths in the Tunisian population.
Methods: Our study highlights the metastatic nature of tumours in a cohort of 73 patients consulted in two public services, the Rabta Hospital as a regular service and the Salah Azaiz Institute as the national reference for the treatment of tumour diseases in Tunisia.
Results: The majority of patients presented with very advanced and metastatic cancers, although they came for an initial consultation. In addition, patients admitted to self-medicating with herbs, which complicates the disease. Conclusion: This snapshot of the situation is intended to alert the authorities to the delay in cancer diagnosis in Tunisia and it’s impact on public health.