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Andalusian public healthcare service (SAS), has begun to contact one-by-one the 2,000 women that have had their breast cancer preventive screening programme results inconclusive. Authorities are taking this step to address the communication failure that was evident following the announcement of an unspecified amount of women with inconclusive mammogram results who had not been contacted. In a matter of a few days, these women should have all been informed.
According to the Junta de Andalucía regional government, the aim is to prevent patients from receiving a call for a second appointment or check-up months or even a year after the first test. The cases of 2,000 women involve unclear lesions which are not inherently serious, but require medical supervision.
Juanma Moreno, president of the Junta, made the announcement at the opening of a new medical centre in Torremolinos. At the same time, regional minister of health Rocío Hernández met with the Amama association to inform it that, after a detailed analysis of patients’ data pending complementary tests, the SAS has detected a failure to inform the women who must undergo a second test.
Three possible diagnoses
When a woman has a mammogram done as part of a breast cancer screening program, she can receive three different diagnoses: negative, positive, or possibly benign. Patients are informed about the results of a negative diagnosis. Women who receive a positive diagnosis are also informed and sent for additional procedures.
According to the regional minister, the third radiologists will then decide the length of time the patient must wait before the second test. This is based on their risk factors. Patients who are not informed get a call months or years later without expecting that a second appointment will be made by a radiologist. This causes anxiety and unease.
“It is something normal and we believe that we can correct it,” Hernández stated, adding that they had already started calling the 2,000 women in Andalucía to inform them that a likely benign lesion has been detected, that their case is being monitored by a medical team and that they will receive a call for a new test within the timeframe set by the doctors. SAS states that 98% are benign.
Protocol
The protocol for the breast cancer screening program will include this call or appointment. It is important to provide women with the necessary information and to help them feel secure while they await a definitive diagnosis.
This call is part of the standard procedure in many health centers. It is not mandatory, but it’s not recorded in clinical history, so it’s impossible to tell how many women are aware of their situation. SAS will contact all 2,000 women who are part of the programme.
Rocío Hernández has once again extended an apology to all the women who have not been called. “In Andalucía, we have a solid breast screening programme that works well,” she stated, adding that the regional ministry of health is committed to continue improving it.
Retroactive Measure
Amama president Ángela Claverol said that the regional ministry “does not know who made the decision” not to inform women whose questionable mammograms required a second test (ultrasound). The Junta informed Amama it would review all mammograms for the last “three years” and try to identify the person responsible for the mistake.
“We felt ignored.” Claverol declared, “We’re not here to be political but to make it right.” Amama is considering a class-action lawsuit. The final decision depends on whether or not the necessary measures are taken within one month.
