LYON, FRANCE — October 31, 2026. Seven days of uncertainty following a breast biopsy transformed an ordinary medical appointment into an experience of profound anxiety for Euronews journalist Monica Pinna. Her personal account, published at the conclusion of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, reveals how the fear of a possible cancer diagnosis can disrupt everyday life while exposing inequalities in early detection, diagnostic waiting times and psychological support across European healthcare systems.
Pinna’s experience began with a routine breast examination she had postponed for approximately one or two years, despite being aware of the importance of screening and having a significant family history of breast cancer. What initially appeared to be an ordinary medical appointment became more concerning when an ultrasound examination revealed a suspicious area requiring further investigation.
Although her mammogram had shown no apparent abnormalities, the ultrasound identified a region that prompted the radiologist to recommend a biopsy. The difference between the two examinations illustrates why medical professionals may require additional diagnostic procedures even when an initial screening result appears reassuring.
Two days later, Pinna underwent a biopsy in Lyon, where doctors collected tissue samples for laboratory analysis. The procedure was relatively brief, but the emotional consequences extended well beyond the examination room. For the following seven days, she lived with the possibility that the results might fundamentally change her life.
During that period, ordinary responsibilities lost their significance. Professional commitments were postponed, travel plans were suspended and familiar activities became difficult to approach with the same attention. Her thoughts repeatedly returned to the possibility of cancer, the experiences of relatives who had faced the disease and the uncertainty surrounding what might happen next.
The psychological impact was especially intense because breast cancer had already affected several members of her family. Her mother had undergone surgery and radiotherapy and survived, while an aunt had died from the disease. Other relatives had also experienced cancer, making the possibility of a diagnosis deeply personal rather than an abstract medical concern.
The journalist’s account demonstrates how uncertainty itself can become a substantial source of psychological distress. Before receiving a diagnosis, patients may confront fears involving mortality, treatment, family responsibilities and the disruption of their personal and professional lives.
These reactions do not necessarily indicate a psychiatric disorder. Fear, anxiety and changes in concentration can be understandable responses to potentially serious medical findings. Nevertheless, prolonged uncertainty may create a need for emotional support, clear communication and timely access to diagnostic services.
Pinna ultimately received reassuring news: the biopsy showed no cancer. Yet the experience changed her understanding of the emotional burden carried by people undergoing diagnostic investigations, particularly those who eventually receive a positive result and must begin treatment.
Her relief also revealed a broader contradiction. Despite working as a journalist familiar with medical information and having experienced cancer within her family, she had delayed her own screening appointment. Fear of receiving unfavorable news had become an obstacle to seeking an examination intended to identify potential disease.
The experience raises an important question for public health authorities: why do people postpone preventive medical appointments even when they understand their potential benefits?
The answer cannot be reduced to lack of information. Psychological concerns, previous experiences, perceived vulnerability, financial circumstances and difficulties accessing healthcare can all influence participation in screening programs.
In Europe, those factors operate within healthcare systems that differ considerably in their organization, resources and ability to provide timely diagnostic services.
According to figures examined in the Euronews report, participation in organized breast cancer screening in France remains below 50%, despite decades of public awareness campaigns and substantial investments in prevention.
The situation illustrates the limitations of relying exclusively on information campaigns. Awareness may encourage individuals to recognize the importance of screening, but participation also depends on practical access to appointments, effective communication and confidence in healthcare services.
European institutions have attempted to address these challenges through initiatives associated with Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, including approximately €80 million allocated to strengthening cancer screening across the European Union.
However, access remains uneven. Differences in national healthcare organization, appointment availability, direct patient costs and socioeconomic circumstances can influence whether potentially serious conditions are identified promptly.
The consequences are particularly important in breast cancer because the stage at which the disease is diagnosed strongly influences treatment options and prognosis.
Survival statistics illustrate this relationship. Five-year survival for breast cancer diagnosed before distant spread is substantially higher than for metastatic disease, although the precise figures depend on the population, cancer characteristics and statistical definitions used.
These differences reinforce the clinical importance of timely diagnosis. They do not mean that screening prevents every breast cancer death or that all early-detected cancers require identical treatment. Screening programs also involve limitations, including false-positive findings, overdiagnosis and the need to tailor recommendations to individual risk.
The European experience demonstrates that diagnostic timeliness can vary substantially between countries. According to comparative information cited in the report, median waiting times from screening to diagnosis range from approximately eight days in Denmark to 32 days in Romania.
Such differences can create unequal experiences for patients even when they undergo similar medical investigations. Longer waiting periods may prolong uncertainty and, in some circumstances, delay the beginning of necessary treatment.
The account of an Italian woman identified as Maria Assunta provides an example of these difficulties. Living in Sardinia, she had attended annual breast examinations from the age of 40. At 46, an ultrasound detected a four-centimeter mass, but she waited approximately one month for a biopsy and another three weeks to receive confirmation of breast cancer.
Her experience contrasts with Pinna’s comparatively rapid diagnostic process in France and highlights the importance of evaluating healthcare access through the entire diagnostic pathway rather than measuring screening participation alone.
A healthcare system may successfully identify suspicious findings while still exposing patients to lengthy delays before obtaining definitive results.
The issue also extends into the psychological consequences of cancer treatment. Once a diagnosis is confirmed, individuals may confront additional challenges involving surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, changes in physical appearance, fatigue, family responsibilities and uncertainty about long-term recovery.
Psychological support can help patients address these difficulties, but access remains inconsistent across Europe.
The OECD’s 2026 report on cancer inequalities found that only 16 of the European Union’s 27 member states, alongside Norway and Iceland, include psychological support within their formal cancer care pathways. Even where such services are recognized, their availability can vary considerably.
France includes psychological care among the supportive services available to cancer patients, together with pain management, nutritional assistance and social support. However, the presence of a formal healthcare benefit does not guarantee identical access across every hospital or region.
Italy provides another example of the gap between recognized needs and practical availability.
A 2024 survey involving approximately 3,000 people living with cancer found that only 20% reported receiving psychological support, while 16% said a therapist had accompanied them throughout their oncology treatment.
The Italian Federation of Oncology Volunteer Associations has also reported that specialized psycho-oncology support is available in only approximately one-fifth of hospitals.
These findings raise concerns about the continuity of care, particularly after active cancer treatment ends. Patients may continue experiencing emotional difficulties, concerns about recurrence or challenges associated with physical recovery long after completing their principal medical procedures.
In Genoa, nonprofit organizations have attempted to address some of these unmet needs through complementary support programs.
One initiative, Braccialetti Bianchi, offers activities including yoga, Qigong, circular dancing and other forms of supportive engagement for people undergoing cancer treatment or rehabilitation.
Eleonora, a 52-year-old survivor who underwent