Health
Breast cancer screenings may decline for women who receive false-positive test results, says study
High rates of false positive test results may be keeping women from sticking to recommended mammogram screenings for breast cancer, a new study has found.
Researchers from UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center in Sacramento, California, reviewed more than 3.5 million screening mammograms performed among more than one million women between 2005 and 2017.
Women who received a true-negative result were more likely to return for future screenings, with a 77% compliance rate.
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By comparison, among those who received a false positive, only 61% returned for another mammogram in six months, and 67% returned for a recommended biopsy. (A false positive occurs when a mammogram shows an abnormal result that is investigated further, but does not lead to a cancer diagnosis.)
The women, who ranged in age from 40 to 73, had not previously received a breast cancer diagnosis.
High rates of false positives may be keeping women from sticking to recommended mammogram screenings for breast cancer, a new study has found. (iStock)
The study findings were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine on Sept. 3.
Surprising findings
“We found that women were less likely to return for another screening mammogram if they were recalled for additional imaging that did not result in a cancer diagnosis, especially if that recall resulted in a recommendation for a short-interval follow-up or biopsy or if they experienced false-positive exams on two consecutive screening mammograms,” lead study author Dr. Diana Miglioretti, a professor and division chief of biostatistics in the UC Davis School of Medicine’s Department of Public Health Sciences, told Fox News Digital.
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Miglioretti said she was surprised by the findings, as surveys have suggested that women believe they would be just as likely to continue screening even after a false-positive result.
“However, something about the experience seems to influence their actual behavior, and despite their intentions to return, some do not,” she added.
A false positive occurs when a mammogram shows an abnormal result that is investigated further, but does not lead to a cancer diagnosis. (iStock)
Another surprising element, Miglioretti said, was that a false-positive recommendation for a short-interval follow-up — meaning the patient needs to return in six months for diagnostic imaging to evaluate changes in the abnormal finding — had the greatest impact on a woman’s likelihood of not returning for future screenings.
“I initially expected that the probability of returning would be lowest for those who had undergone a benign biopsy,” she said.
“Approximately 10% of screening mammograms require diagnostic work-up, and most women called back for further imaging do not have breast cancer.”
“However, even after following women for five years after a false-positive result, women who received a short-interval follow-up recommendation were the least likely to return for future screening mammograms.”
Asian and Hispanic/Latinx women were least likely to return for future screenings after a false positive.
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“This is extremely concerning, as recent trends have conveyed a much faster rate of growth in breast cancer rates in this demographic than in other ethnic and racial groups,” Dr. Tingting Tan, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist and hematologist at City of Hope Newport Beach in California, told Fox News Digital.
(Tan was not involved in the study.)
“There is a 52% rise in breast cancer rates in the last two decades among Asian-American and Pacific Islander women under the age of 50.”
What to know about false positives
A false positive occurs when a mammogram shows an abnormal result that is investigated further, but does not lead to a cancer diagnosis.
“Following the mammogram, the results will either come back as clear (known as a true negative) or will be flagged for additional testing,” Tan said.
Some common causes of false positives include dense breast tissue, small calcium deposits in the breast, overlapping breast tissue that creates shadows or normal variations in breast tissue. (iStock)
Some common causes of false positives, according to UC Davis, include dense breast tissue, small calcium deposits in the breast, overlapping breast tissue that creates shadows, or normal variations in breast tissue.
False-positive results occur in 10% to 12% of mammograms for women between 40 and 49 years of age, UC Davis noted.
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Within a decade of annual screenings, up to 60% of women experience at least one false positive result.
As a breast cancer specialist, Tan said she often hears the term “scanxiety” to describe the fear that is associated with imaging.
“Even a slight possibility of being diagnosed with cancer can be debilitating, and we understand that the follow-up check-ups after an abnormal mammogram can take an emotional toll,” she said.
“If women have concerns about their false-positive result or are unclear of what it means, they should talk with their doctor,” an expert advised. (iStock)
“While it can be distressing to not have a true negative from that initial mammogram, patients should not worry if their doctor orders a breast ultrasound following a mammogram, as it is a very common procedure.”
Asking questions and having open communication with health care providers can help to ease stress and anxiety when there is follow-up to an abnormal screening, Tan added.
Importance of continued screenings
Based on these findings, the researchers emphasized that women who receive false-positive results should continue screening every one to two years.
“A false positive — particularly if it leads to a diagnosis of benign breast disease — is associated with a small increase in developing breast cancer in the future,” Miglioretti said.
“If women have concerns about their false-positive result or are unclear of what it means, they should talk with their doctor.”
Women should also be aware that a screening test often requires further diagnostic evaluation to confirm that a finding is normal, the doctor added.
“A false positive — particularly if it leads to a diagnosis of benign breast disease — is associated with a small increase in developing breast cancer in the future.”
“This is a standard part of the screening process,” Miglioretti told Fox News Digital.
“Approximately 10% of screening mammograms require diagnostic work-up, and most women called back for further imaging do not have breast cancer.”
Tan emphasized the importance of mammograms as the “gold standard” for breast screening.
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“Mammograms can catch cancer at early stages, before symptoms,” she told Fox News Digital.
“They are proven to decrease mortality, which is why almost every patient will begin with a screening mammogram.”
Potential limitations of the study
The researchers only evaluated false positives on the two prior screening mammograms for each woman, the researchers noted.
“Cancer is highly complex, and it is essential to see a radiologist who specializes in reading mammograms,” an expert advised. (iStock)
“Women could have had false-positive mammograms prior to that,” Miglioretti noted.
The study was also limited to 177 facilities participating in the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium (BCSC), which means some women could have received care at non-BCSC facilities.
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“Cancer is highly complex, and it is essential to see a radiologist who specializes in reading mammograms,” Tan advised.
“Early detection is key for better outcomes, which is why it is so important to know your breast cancer risk and to get your regular screenings.”
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Older adults who avoid meat in their golden years may be less likely to reach age 100 than their meat-eating counterparts, new research suggests.
Researchers tracked more than 5,000 adults aged 80 or older who were enrolled in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey.
Between 1998 and 2018, data showed that those who did not eat meat were less likely to reach their 100th birthday than those who consumed animal products regularly.
The findings seem to contradict previous studies that have linked vegetarianism and plant-based diets to lower risks of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and obesity.
Most evidence supporting the benefits of plant-based diets comes from studies tracking younger populations, the researchers noted.
The findings contrast with previous research praising plant-based diets for their positive influence on heart health. (iStock)
The study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, points to losses in muscle mass and bone density with age, shifts that can increase the risk of malnutrition and frailty in the “oldest old.”
As people enter their 80s and 90s, the nutritional priority often shifts from preventing long-term chronic diseases to maintaining day-to-day physical function, experts say.
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“The headline ‘vegetarians over 80 less likely to reach 100’ sounds surprising, because it contrasts with decades of data linking plant‑forward diets to lower chronic disease risk earlier in life,” Erin Palinski-Wade, a New Jersey-based registered dietitian, told Fox News Digital.
“However, once you see that this research is limited to adults over the age of 80 who are also underweight — and that this link disappears with the consumption of eggs, dairy and fish — the results are less surprising.”
While diets earlier in life tend to emphasize avoiding long-term disease, older age necessitates nutrients and weight maintenance, experts say. (iStock)
In those over 80, restricting animal proteins may be less likely to promote longevity, according to Palinski-Wade, who was not involved in the study.
Eliminating all animal protein — particularly in a population that may already experience diminished hunger cues — can make it more difficult to meet adequate protein needs, potentially increasing the risk of nutrient deficiencies, the nutritionist said.
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In addition to a higher tendency to be underweight, older populations also face a greater risk of bone fractures due to lower calcium and protein intake.
Potential limitations
The lower rate of vegetarians reaching 100 was only observed in participants identified as underweight, the researchers noted. No such association was found in people who maintained a healthy weight.
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Because being underweight is already linked to greater frailty and mortality risk, the researchers noted that body weight may partly explain the findings, making it difficult to determine whether diet itself played a direct role.
Those incorporating animal-sourced products other than meat were just as likely to live to 100. (iStock)
Additionally, the shortened lifespans were not found in people who continued to eat non-meat animal products, such as fish, dairy and eggs.
Older adults with these more flexible diets were just as likely to live to 100 as those eating meat, as these foods may provide the nutrients necessary for maintaining muscle and bone health, the researchers noted.
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“This is an observational study, so it can only show associations, and does not prove that avoiding meat directly reduces the odds of reaching 100,” Palinski-Wade added.
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The researchers suggested that including small amounts of animal-sourced foods could help older seniors maintain essential nutrients and avoid the muscle loss often seen in those who stick strictly to plants.
Eliminating all animal protein — particularly in a population that may already experience diminished hunger cues — can make it more difficult to meet adequate protein needs, potentially increasing the risk of nutrient deficiencies. (iStock)
Palinski-Wade offered some guidance for those looking to optimize nutrition later in life.
“For adults in their 80s and beyond, especially anyone losing weight or muscle, the priority should be maintaining a healthy weight and meeting protein and micronutrient needs — even if that means adding or increasing fish, eggs, dairy or well‑planned, fortified plant proteins and supplements.”
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Strict vegan or very low‑protein patterns at that age should be carefully monitored by a dietitian or clinician, with attention to B12, vitamin D, calcium and total protein, according to Palinski-Wade.
“Younger and healthier adults can still confidently use plant‑forward or vegetarian patterns to lower long‑term chronic disease risk,” she added.
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In a dramatic turn of events that’s captured the attention of animal lovers worldwide, Punch — the young macaque at a zoo in Japan famous for his inseparable bond with a stuffed orangutan toy — has reached a major milestone in his journey toward social integration.
On Thursday, visitors and staff at the Ichikawa Zoological and Botanical Garden witnessed a breakthrough: Punch was seen cuddling with and hitching a ride on the back of a fellow macaque.
Punch’s story began with hardship. He was abandoned by his mother shortly after his birth in July 2025 — and to ensure his survival, zookeepers stepped in to hand-rear the primate.
On Jan. 19, 2026, the zoo officially began the process of reintegrating Punch into the “monkey mountain” enclosure.
The transition was initially fraught with tension.
Punch’s story began with hardship when he was abandoned by his mother shortly after he was born. To help him, zookeepers gave him a stuffed toy that he began dragging around everywhere he went. (David Mareuil/Anadolu via Getty Images)
As a hand-reared infant, Punch was bullied and ignored by the established group of monkeys.
He was often seen huddled alone with his orange plush companion while the rest of the troop interacted.
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In an official statement released Feb. 27, the Ichikawa Zoological and Botanical Garden detailed the meticulous care behind this process.
Previous viral videos showed Punch bullied by the rest of the troop, running to his plushy toy for comfort. (David Mareuil/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“From an animal welfare perspective, our primary goal is to reintegrate Punch with the troop,” the zoo said.
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The strategy involved nursing Punch within the enclosure, so the troop could recognize him as one of their own, and pairing him with a gentle young female macaque prior to his full release to build his confidence.
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The latest footage, captured by X user @tate_gf, suggested the zoo’s patience is paying off.
The video shows Punch seeking physical contact not from his toy, but from another monkey — eventually climbing onto its back for a vital social behavior for young macaques: the “piggyback ride.”
The zoo’s strategy appears to be paying off: Punch, shown at far left, was recently seen riding on the back of a fellow macaque. (David Mareuil/Anadolu via Getty Images)
While Punch still carries his stuffed toy for comfort during moments of perceived danger, the zoo remains optimistic about his progress.
The organization cited the successful 2009 case of Otome, another hand-reared macaque who eventually outgrew her stuffed toy, successfully integrated — and went on to raise four offspring of her own.
The zoo has had crowds coming to see Punch, with hundreds of people lining up to get inside to see the young star, according to reports.
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“I’m hoping Punch has a good life like everybody else does, and think he’s a cute little guy,” one person commented online.
“Such a precious baby,” another person wrote.
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