No Evidence Breast Self-Exams Cut Cancer Deaths

Updated findings from an analysis of existing research continue to suggest that the oft-touted monthly breast self-exam may actually do more harm than good.

There is no evidence that the practice actually decreases deaths from breast cancer while it may actually double the number of unnecessary biopsies in women who do the exam compared with women who don't.

"At present, screening by breast self-examination or physical examination [by a trained health worker] cannot be recommended," two of the study authors, Jan Peter Kosters and Peter Gotzsche of the Nordic Cochrane Centre, stated in the review.

The current review, published in the most recent issue of The Cochrane Library, updates and corroborates information from a 2003 review of studies.

The American Cancer Society revised its guidelines five years ago based on emerging evidence and ...