Wrong mammograms only lead to short-term anxiety

2014-05-06 10:10:05

Getting a positive result on a screening test for cancer, like a mammogram, can be quite distressing. However, mammograms can be effective in decreasing negative consequences from breast cancer. A new study was recently published that measured the effect of false-positive mammograms on the quality of life of women.^[1] They measured quality of life with questionnaires about personal anxiety, health utility, and attitudes about future screening tests. Over one thousand women were included in the study. They found that anxiety was much higher in women with false-positive results. They also found that the women with false-positives were much more willing to undergo further testing and were worried about the possibility of more inaccurate results. This study showed that women’s anxiety was only short-lived and not long-lasting. However, previous research into the same topic has found that false-positives cause long-term psychosocial harm, even up to 3 years after the finding.^[2] These previous studies have found that women experienced a roller coaster of emotion, imagined the worst, and were in a state of uncertainty. On the bright side, these women did feel protected, surrounded by their families and being professionally taken care of, which together allowed them to feel strength and hope.