Objectives/Purpose: Beliefs about cancer surgery and cancer spread during surgery and lack of trust can influence screening and treatment decisions. Early detection can influence the success of treatment and overall survival. This study explored how beliefs about cancer surgery and cancer spread during surgery, general medical trust, and group-based medical mistrust may influence screening among breast cancer patients.
Sample and setting: Data were collected from June 2023-April 2025. This multi-site study enrolled 100 adult breast cancer patients attending their first consultation with a surgical, medical, or radiation oncologist at one of six community cancer care sites in Michigan (USA).
Methods/Procedures: This prospective survey evaluated patients’ knowledge and beliefs about cancer surgery, treatment, screening behaviors, and trust/mistrust in the healthcare system. Participants (N=84) were grouped based on their knowledge: those who correctly identified that surgery does not cause spread versus those who were unsure or did not know. An independent samples t-test was conducted comparing mammography screening adherence and levels of medical mistrust between these two groups.
Results: Participants had a mean age of 61.12 years and were primarily white (83%). Forty-nine (58%) correctly identified that surgery does not cause cancer to spread, while thirty (36%) were unsure or did not know. Results showed screening uptake was higher among participants who correctly knew surgery does not cause cancer to spread (M=0.96, SD=0.20) compared to those who were unsure or did not know (M=0.76, SD=0.44, t(35.70)=2.307, p=0.013). There were no significant differences based on general medical trust or group-based medical mistrust in this sample (all p>.05).
Conclusion and clinical implications: Research has shown that detecting cancer early increases the likelihood of successful treatment and survival. Understanding factors that contribute to non-adherence may help inform targeted interventions to address these barriers and increase overall cancer screening rates.