Survey: False positives don't scare women from breast screening
A nationwide U.S. survey found that women overwhelmingly want the option for additional screening tests to find cancer early, even when testing resulted in a false positive. Nine out of 10 women who required a biopsy to determine a false positive indicated that they would still opt for the additional screening the following year.
While 55 percent of women surveyed experience anxiety while waiting for the results of their yearly mammogram, 80 percent of those women do not let anxiety deter them from their next scheduled mammogram, according to a survey commissioned by Are You Dense.
Results demonstrated that women have regular screening mammograms for the benefit of the early detection of cancer and would choose additional screening measures to give them the best chance of early detection.
The survey indicated that 93 percent of women, if informed of their dense breast tissue, would elect for an additional screening test. Clinical studies have shown that women with dense breasts may benefit from adjuvant screening modalities such as molecular breast imaging, MRI and ultrasound, which are more sensitive than mammography and thus may yield more false positives, according to a statement.
“This survey clearly shows that women want all the relevant information about their own breast health,” observed Wendie Berg, MD, visiting professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and principal investigator and chair of the ACRIN 6666 Study.
The survey of 1,000 women aged 40 to 64 was conducted online in August 2011 by Research Now. The results indicate a preference by women for a false positive over a potentially life threatening missed positive.
While 55 percent of women surveyed experience anxiety while waiting for the results of their yearly mammogram, 80 percent of those women do not let anxiety deter them from their next scheduled mammogram, according to a survey commissioned by Are You Dense.
Results demonstrated that women have regular screening mammograms for the benefit of the early detection of cancer and would choose additional screening measures to give them the best chance of early detection.
The survey indicated that 93 percent of women, if informed of their dense breast tissue, would elect for an additional screening test. Clinical studies have shown that women with dense breasts may benefit from adjuvant screening modalities such as molecular breast imaging, MRI and ultrasound, which are more sensitive than mammography and thus may yield more false positives, according to a statement.
“This survey clearly shows that women want all the relevant information about their own breast health,” observed Wendie Berg, MD, visiting professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and principal investigator and chair of the ACRIN 6666 Study.
The survey of 1,000 women aged 40 to 64 was conducted online in August 2011 by Research Now. The results indicate a preference by women for a false positive over a potentially life threatening missed positive.