The impact of cancer expectations on psychological responses following a cancer signal detected result in asymptomatic multi-cancer detection (MCED) testing.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Multi-cancer detection (MCED) blood tests have the potential to screen for early-stage cancers. Understanding how people experience an MCED cancer signal result is vital prior to any future implementation. We explored experiences in a trial context.

Methods

A subset of 41 participants in the NHS-Galleri trial (NCT05611632), with a cancer signal detected result, were interviewed. We selected: 20 participants with cancer found (self-reported) and 21 without cancer (following tests). Transcripts were analysed thematically.

Results

Expectations of cancer played a pivotal role in emotional, cognitive and social responses, and were influenced by participants' experiences of health and symptoms. While the cancer signal was often unexpected, the predicted cancer si

SUBMITTER: Marlow LAV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12603331 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature