Time to diagnosis and treatment and breast cancer outcomes in young women: a systematic review protocol.

Women under age 50 (young women) experience unique challenges when it comes to timely breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Delays in diagnosis and treatment may contribute to disparities in survival outcomes, yet definitions and measurements of such delays often vary across studies. This protocol outlines the procedures for a systematic synthesis of evidence on the association between time to diagnosis and treatment and outcomes in women diagnosed with breast cancer under age 50. Primary observational research studies published in English will be identified from various databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Scopus, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. Two reviewers will independently screen the eligible studies and extract the data. Risk of bias and study quality will be assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Aarhus checklist, and results will be synthesized qualitatively. The findings from this review will clarify the magnitude and consistency of the impact of diagnostic and treatment intervals on breast cancer outcomes in young women to inform future research and clinical care. • Identify studies examining the association between time to diagnosis and treatment and outcomes in young women with breast cancer. • Evaluate the impact of diagnostic and treatment intervals on breast cancer outcomes in young women.