The high risk of over-diagnosis associated with mammogram screening can lead to what consequences?

The high risk of over-diagnosis associated with mammogram screening can lead to unnecessary treatments. Over-diagnosis occurs when a screening test identifies cancers that would not have caused problems during a patient's lifetime. This can result in patients undergoing treatments such as surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy for cancers that may never have needed intervention. These treatments carry their own risks and side effects, which can affect the patient's overall well-being.

While it’s possible for other options to represent aspects related to screening, they do not directly relate to the specific consequence of over-diagnosis. Lower healthcare costs are not typical, as unnecessary treatments usually increase costs. Similarly, unnecessary treatments do not lead to a better quality of life; rather, they can detract from it due to the physical, emotional, and financial burdens. Lastly, increased confidence in screening is usually a result of receiving a negative screening result or effective communication about benefits rather than an outcome related specifically to over-diagnosis. Thus, the correct choice highlights a significant concern in the context of mammography and public health.