Background
Early mammographic screening (under the age of 50) is offered to many women in the UK who are at moderate or high risk of developing breast cancer because of their family history of the disease [1]. While studies are underway to establish the clinical effectiveness of early mammographic screening [2], relatively little is understood about the impact of early and regular surveillance on the psychological wellbeing of women [3], and even less about the impact of being diagnosed with breast cancer while on a screening programme. This qualitative study explores the emotional effect that the diagnosis of breast cancer had on women, and the value they placed on having joined the family history screening programme, both pre and post diagnosis.