The relationship between holding back from communicating about breast concerns and anxiety in the year following breast biopsy

Abstract

Purpose: Evidence suggests open communication about breast cancer concerns promotes psychological adjustment, while holding back can lead to negative outcomes. Little is known about the relationship between communication and distress following breast biopsy. Design/ Sample: Women (N = 128) were assessed at the time of breast biopsy and again one week and three, six, and 12 months post-result.

Methods: Linear mixed modeling examined relationships between holding back and anxiety for women with benign results (n = 94) or DCIS/invasive disease (n = 34) following breast biopsy.

Findings: Anxiety increased among women with a benign result engaging in high but not low or average levels of holding back. Holding back was positively associated with anxiety post-result in breast cancer survivors, with anxiety decreasing over time. Conclusions/ Implications: Interventions to enhance communication are warranted, and knowledge of the differences among women with benign results and/or DCIS/invasive disease may allow for the development of tailored interventions.

Keywords: anxiety; breast biopsy; breast cancer; communication.

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures and Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no actual or potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1

Anxiety over time across low (one SD below the mean), average (at the mean), and high (one SD above the mean) levels of holding back among women who received a benign biopsy result.