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False-positive mammograms discourage women from breast cancer screening, study finds. Why it happens — and what to do.

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About 10% of women get mammograms to screen for breast cancer.

About 7% to 12% of those women receive a false-positive result.

Those who get a negative mammogram are far less likely to return for their next screening.

Dense breast tissue, cysts, previous procedures and benign tumors are factors in making breast tissue difficult to decipher.

“Do the right thing and get your screenings, including any follow-up tests you’re called back for after a mammogram, says Dr. Bhavika Patel .

“While false positives can be stressful, they are often part of the process of catching cancer early when it is most treatable,” Patel says.