The psychological impact of breast cancer screening
Uncertainty and the wait for medical results create enormous psychological pressure on patients. Thinking about a breast cancer diagnosis, whether or not it turns out to be positive, causes a stress that doesn’t disappear when the results are in. According to Justine Fortin, a doctoral candidate in psychology, it is important to evaluate the experience of patients throughout their medical journey. Her findings show that waiting and invasive procedures, such as biopsies, add significantly to this psychological distress. This is true even when the result of the diagnosis turns out to be negative.
In this article, Ms. Fortin summarizes the results of her study.
What is psychological distress?
Ms. Fortin describes psychological distress as a combination of emotional, physical and behavioral reactions that make it difficult for people to cope with the stress caused by their illness. These can include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- irritability
- Frequent crying
- Loss of appetite
- Recurrent and intrusive thoughts about future results
Indeed, uncertainty and fear about the results can cause a great deal of stress. Medical procedures, which are sometimes invasive, add to this distress and can worsen a person’s psychological suffering.
The psychological distress of people without a diagnosis
Often, the psychological distress of someone who has been through the screening process is overlooked because there is no diagnosis. In fact, many patients feel isolated and unsupported at this crucial stage. Additionally, those who undergo a biopsy without being diagnosed with cancer are often excluded from psychological support services. Yet this is a very difficult time for them.
Today, most support services are only available when someone has been diagnosed with breast cancer. In fact:
- There is little psychological support at the time of screening, before the diagnosis is announced;
- People who have not been diagnosed generally do not receive any follow-up or support.
What solutions and resources are available?
For people waiting for results or undergoing screening
Ms. Fortin maintains that a good social support network and the involvement of close ones can really help.
The right psychological interventions can also lessen the distress. Yet, the access to these resources is a major issue, particularly for patients awaiting diagnosis.
However, there are tools and resources available to support you, including our peer support helpline, open all week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: 1 855 561-ROSE (7673).
For healthcare professionals
Even if the diagnosis is negative, the period of uncertainty while waiting can have significant repercussions. For example, it can make it more difficult for a person to make health-related decisions in the future. This includes the choice to take part in screening tests or to adopt preventive behaviors. It would therefore be beneficial to:
- Provide empathetic and personalized care to support patients.
- Use tools such as BreastCancerPsych (created by Ms. Fortin and her team) to recognize the psychological challenges faced by patients at every stage of their trajectory.
- Quickly refer patients who are showing signs of psychological distress to specialized resources (for example, psychologists, social worker or community support worker…). Even without a diagnosis, it is important to take action. Early intervention often helps to reduce the long-term effects on mental health and well-being.
Sources
Justine Fortin et coll. (Novembre 2024). Understanding mental health in breast cancer from screening to Survivorship: an integrative phasic Model and tool. Psychology, Health & Medicine. DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2024.2430796