It is essential to increase the rates of early diagnosis in cancer control, and the diagnostic process needs to be improved to achieve this goal. Previous studies showed that in countries where there is a gatekeeping system, there might be a delay in cancer diagnosis. Our aim is to examine the process of cancer diagnosis in a healthcare system without gatekeeping.

A quantitative descriptive study has been conducted in various outpatient clinics of Pendik Training and Research Hospital, between 1 February and 31 May 2019, with individuals aged over 18 and diagnosed with cancer in the last six months. The data was collected through a questionnaire filled in by face-to-face interview method. Patient’s socio-economic characteristics, their symptoms at the time of the diagnosis and the diagnosis process were questioned.

The median diagnostic interval was 30 days (min–max 1–365), and the median patient interval was 60 (1–600) days. Patients pointed out that the diagnostic tests, especially the pathology reporting process, caused the diagnostic interval to be prolonged. Of the patients, 84% (n 135) stated that they did not consider their symptoms as a sign of serious illness. The patient interval was shortest with symptoms of haematuria and haematochezia and longest with dysuria and change in bladder habit.

The study examined the diagnosis process in our health system, where patients can apply for health services at any stage. The results showed that there were no superior outcomes to those observed in primary care-led health systems. Patients reported that waiting times for medical tests led to prolongation of the diagnosis time. Cancer awareness of patients should also be increased to shorten patient admission times.