CONFRONTING THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING BREAST CANCER

Abstract

The psychological impact of being recalled for a second-stage of breast cancer screening has been considered in the literature as a threatening event, triggering coping efforts. The present work focuses on the psychological cost of being recalled for further investigation after breast cancer screening tests. The descriptive observational study, using qualitative and quantitative methodologies included 377 patients. Quantitative applied instruments were Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Profile of Mood States (POMS). ULM Manual was applied as a qualitative evaluation of coping. 37 (10%) who finally received a positive diagnosis of breast cancer. Cancer patients reported 125 of all coping events (median 4, range 1-13), while non-cancer patients reported 871 (median 2, range 0-9), this difference being statistically significant (Mann-Whitney test - two tailed: p < 0.0001). Patients were divided in three groups: G1 (n: 279) for BI-RADS 1, 2 and 3; G2 (n: 48) with presence of clinical symptoms and G3 (n: 30) for BI-RADS 4 and 5. G3 patients showed a higher use of resignation as coping pattern (p<0.001) and a lower use of compliance (p<0.003). Resignation pattern was used by 49% of those
patients who finally received a positive diagnosis, compared to 30% of women who did not (p<0.04). 51% of non-cancer patients used compliance, while only 24% of cancer patients did so (p<0.003). Avoidance and hopelessness– helplessness increase with cancer risk.