| Cancer Detection: Do Breast
Self-Exams Make a Difference?
A recent study of breast self-exams (BSEs) raised questions about how
effective the method is in detecting small breast lumps and reducing the
death rates from breast cancer. Researchers observed more than 260,000
Chinese women for 12 years and found there was no significant difference
in breast cancer death rates between women who regularly conducted self-exams
and those who did not.
An earlier study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal
suggested that BSE did not reduce cancer deaths and caused unnecessary
biopsies and emotional distress when women found lumps they feared were
cancerous. Other experts think that BSE is difficult to perform well,
especially over a long period, and physicians should spend more time giving
women thorough clinical breast exams in the office instead.However, most
medical professionals think that regular BSEs are useful, and the American
Cancer Society and American Medical Association support using BSEs. Women
may be aware of changes in their breasts, and can use BSEs as part of
regular screening that includes routine clinical exams and mammograms
to help detect cancer early.
American Cancer Society: Breast Self-Exams Remain Part of Guidelines
for Early Breast Cancer Detection
For years, the medical profession has been educating women in the practice
of routine BSEs as a means of breast cancer early detection. According
to the American Cancer Society, there were more than 192,000 cases of
breast cancer and more than 40,000 women (nearly 1 in 5) died of the disease
in 2001. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in American women,
accounting for nearly one of every three cancers diagnosed.
The American Cancer Society offers the following guidelines for early
detection of breast cancer:
| • |
BSEs. Women older than 20 should perform
a BSE every month to detect any lumps, swelling, skin irritations,
or other changes. |
| • |
Clinical breast exams. Women between 20
and 39 years should be examined by a health professional every year.
|
| • |
Mammograms. Women aged 40 and older should
have a screening mammogram every year. |
How to Perform Breast Self-Exams Correctly
The best time to conduct a BSE is right after your menstrual period,
when your breasts are less swollen and tender. Here’s how to do
a BSE, according to the American Cancer Society:
1. Lie down and put a pillow under your right shoulder. Place
your right arm behind your head.
2. Use the fingertips on your left hand to feel for lumps or
thickness in your right breast.
3. Press your breast firmly so you know how your breast feels.
4. Move around the whole breast in a circular, vertical, or curved
pattern. Do it the same way every month.
5. Now examine your left breast with your right hand in the same
way.
6. Stand up and repeat the exam with one arm behind your head.
It’s easier to check out the upper parts of the breasts (near
your armpit) in this upright position. Many women perform this part
of the exam in the shower; it’s sometimes easier to feel any changes
when your breasts are wet.
Also check your breasts for any dimpling in the skin, nipple discharge,
or swelling. Talk to your doctor immediately if you notice any changes.
Learn More About Breast Self-Exams:
References
1. “Do
Breast Self-Exams Make a Difference?” American Cancer Society
(ACS), Oct. 2, 2002.
2. “Breast
Self-Exam Is Too Valuable to Discard, Experts Say,” ACS, June
28, 2001.
3. Thomas, D.B. et al. “Randomized
Trial of Breast Self-Examination in Shanghai: Final Results,”
Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 14(19): 1445-1457; Oct.
2, 2002.
4. “Breast
Lump Self-Exam,” MEDLINEplus, National Library of Medicine Medical
Encyclopedia, Jan. 22, 2002.
5. “How
to Perform a Breast Self-Examination,” ACS, Dec. 14, 1999.
Source of Material: Rockhill Communications, 14 Rock
Hill Road Bala, Cynwyd, PA 19004, (610) 667-2040, http://www.rockhillcommunications.com
Writer: Gary Gilles
Clinical Reviewer: Patt Panzer, MD, MPH
Editors: Andrea King, Joanne Poeggel, Erin Murphy
Date Written: 10/27/02
Date Last Revised: 11/1/02 |
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