Self-Breast Exams Still Beneficial

"Breast self-exam remains the top method of breast cancer detection among young and high-risk women, according to two single-center studies reported at the American Society of Breast Surgeons meeting in San Diego, Calif. "

"Breast self-exam fell out of favor after two large longitudinal studies from China and Britain revealed no mortality advantage."

"A recent Cochrane Review also showed no reduction in breast cancer mortality rates with self-examination but almost a doubling in negative breast biopsies. (See: Breast Self-Exam Gets Thumbs Down in Systematic Review) .

The American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute have eliminated breast self-exam from recommendations for screening in the general population. And although the ACS still calls it optional, the goal of the exam is now to make women familiar with their "breast landscape" so they know what's normal for them."

Once again, there is evidence to support doing self-breast exams. This time though, it is in so-called high-risk women. If you have any first degree relatives with breast cancer or the genetic mutations BRCA1 and/or BRCA2, then you would fall into this category. I personally recommend that all women perform self-breast exams because it is easy and can familiarize women with their own breasts so that they know what is normal for them.