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

Timely diagnosis of cancer in primary care may be suboptimal as patients often have non-specific clinical concerns. This secondary qualitative analysis examined UK patient perspectives on diagnostic delay following an initial non-cancer diagnosis, aka an "interim" diagnosis, before subsequent cancer diagnosis. Participants described consequences for trust, uncertainty, and lack of consideration for their concerns. The findings reinforce the importance of safety-netting, listening to patients, and examining diagnostic processes through the eyes of patients.