"Screening isn't Your Ticket to Vacation": In-depth Interviews With Women in the United States Who Experienced an Interval Breast Cancer.

ABSTRACT: IntroductionInterval breast cancers are detected symptomatically after a non-suspicious mammogram, but before the patient's next scheduled screen. Interval breast cancers are often diagnosed at a later stage and larger size, and have poorer prognostic factors and survival than screen-detected breast cancer. Our qualitative study heard from women with interval breast cancer to describe their symptoms and their reactions to the diagnosis; and identify themes for educational messaging.MethodsWe conducted 20 in-depth interviews with participants who were between the ages 40-69, had all screening, diagnostic, and treatment services completed within the same hospital system, and had a negative mammogram screen followed by breast cancer diagnosis before the next screen.ResultsFifteen women notice

SUBMITTER: Irvin V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12827916 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature