The decision to seek medical attention when new symptoms arise is an important factor in determining stage of presentation and likely
survival [73]. Our analysis demonstrates that over 40% of older persons seeking medical attention experienced their presenting symptoms
for greater than 12 months duration (Table 3). Delayed presentation could result in patients presenting with advanced staged disease, thus
limiting their ability to receive curative or life prolonging treatment. In one retrospective study of 1019 primary lung cancer cases diagnosed
between 1984–1992, the majority of patients were diagnosed with stage IIIb/IV disease [74]. The reasons remain unclear but may relate
to issues of access, limited health literacy, [75] and poor functional status which has been observed in older Mexican adults suffering with
chronic disease