Psychological impact of endometrial monitoring in tamoxifen-treated postmenopausal breast cancer patients

In view of the higher incidence of endometrial pathology In tamoxifen-treat ed; breast cancer patients, it has been recommended that endometrial survei llance be performed on these women by means of transvaginal sonography. Our study investigated how breast cancer patients experience the endometrial s urveillance and which personality factors influence this experience.: We al so: studied compliance with the recommended examination. Fifty-three consec utive asymptomatic postmenopausal breast cancer patients who had taken tamo xifen for at least 6 months were included. Our results show that 23 % of th e women felt very anxious just before the examination. One woman in five ev aluated the procedure as annoying, unpleasant, invasive and awkward, but on ly 3 % found it really unacceptable. Difficulties in coping with mastectomy as well as anxiety negatively affected the experience of the examination. One in six women were doubtful about their ability to comply with such an e xamination in the future Women who have difficulties in coming to terms wit h the mastectomy, anxious, women, and women with a low tolerance, towards c ommon medical procedures are at especial risk of becoming dropouts. Suggest ions are made for developing strategies that might improve these women's co mpliance.