Psychological evaluation, prior to medical diagnosis, of 50 women attending a breast tumor clinic for the first time revealed significant differences between patients with benign disorders and those with cancer. Cancer patients appeared to come from more stressful environments. They showed considerable hostility toward having children and generally seemed to be making an inadequate feminine identification. A 3d group of detection center patients free of any breast pathology differed from both the benign and cancer groups in personality and background.