The stress of waiting for medical test results is real !

djmammo

For all those waiting for results from additional imaging or breast biopsy. Here is the physiology behind it and why we need to find calming activities while waiting.

From: https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/In-Brief-The-stress-of-waiting-for-a-breast-cancer-diagnosis

(cortisol = the stress hormone)

"The researchers found that cortisol levels in the 73 patients who found out they needed further testing were similar to those in the 16 patients who learned they had breast cancer — and that both groups had higher cortisol levels than the 37 patients who found out their biopsy results were benign."

Click here for synopsis of this study from the RSNA website.