There's a new study that now says that self breast exams don't help women find and stop breast cancer early. That they only double the number of unnecessary biopsies in women. The study even says that breast exams by professionals don't really help.
"The current review included two studies of almost 400,000 women in Russia and China. Women who did self-exams had 3,406 biopsies compared with only 1,856 biopsies in the group that did not do the exams. Differences in biopsy rates did not translate into differences in breast cancer mortality. "
Here's the link to the full story:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/publicsite/news/view.aspx?id=617471&cen=--ALL--&pd=07/16/2008&xid=nl_EverydayHealthWomensHealth_20080718
I don't know what to make of this story. If even the American Cancer Society tells you not to bother doing the self exam, why did they tell us to make certain to know our breasts to be able to tell if something different is going on?
I can't help but think that it is better to do the exam so that you will be able to see if there is any change there to report to your doctor. Then your doc and order a better test. To not do it seems as if you are not getting all the information you can to help keep you healthy.
Are we all supposed to just get mammograms every year? I have heard that that test is not that great too.
What are we supposed to do?
I'm only 35 this August and
I'm only 35 this August and am considered a little too young yet for mamograms. I have been checking my own breasts for years. I know how all the little bumps feel and where they are. If something new was to appear, I would head to the doctor. So, no matter what they say, I'll stick to self examination and doctor examinations.
I agree. The more I think
I agree. The more I think about this, the more I think that there's no real reason not to examine yourself. It's better to know what is normal than to go through life without a clue.
Then, if you do find something unusual for you, you can go to your doctor. He will then be able to direct you to a better test.
Personally, I don't think that there is such a thing as an unneeded biopsy. If there is an unknown lump on your body, I don't see that there is anything wrong in getting it looked at and getting a real answer as to what it might be.
I still think you should
I still think you should check your own to be safe.