Breast Cancer Screening Controversy: Impact on Other Cancer Screening Programs

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aim: The breast cancer screening (BCS) controversy following the Cochrane meta-analysis has affected women's perception and understanding of BCS. We speculated that this controversy may influence cancer screening for other locations. This analysis looks at the potential collateral effect of the BCS controversy on the population's perception of and intention to participate in colorectal and cervical cancer screening programs. Methods: A nationwide, observational study, recorded in the EDIFICE iterative surveys, on a representative sample of 451 women (age 40-75 years) living in France, was conducted in January 2013, using the method of quotas. The survey questionnaire was administered via the computer-assisted telephone interviewing technique 3 months after the start of the controversy. Attitudes toward different cancer location screening were studied. Results: Of the 405 women with no history of cancer, 69 (17%) were aware of the controversy. Among this latter group, 8% declared their intention to undergo mammograms less frequently and 9%, that the controversy would have an impact on their participation in other cancer screening programs. The concept of BCS being “more reassuring than worrying” was significantly less prevalent among women in the “aware of the controversy” group than in the group without awareness (57% vs.77%, P Conclusions: Few women were aware of the controversy, and its impact on the intention to undergo screening in the overall population of our sample is very low (1%). However, for women who are mindful of the controversy, we observed a deterioration in the level of confidence in cancer screening, and this effect was not limited to BCS but also extended to colorectal and cervical cancer screening. Disclosure: X. Pivot: Board honorarium from Roche; F. Eisinger: Board honorarium from Roche; J. Morere: Board honorarium from Roche. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.