One of the recommendations in the U.S. Preventive Task Force report published last month is that doctors should not teach their patients breast self-examination because there is no “net benefit” or evidence it reduces breast cancer death rates.
Breast cancer survivors and medical professionals aren’t swallowing that pill easily.
“To say don’t do it is foolish, because it’s so simple to do,” said San Francisco oncologist Dr. Richard Cohen.
Dr. Laura Esserman, a San Francisco breast surgeon and UCSF professor, said that whether or not women conduct breast self-exams, they should at least get to know their breasts.
“Half of women find their own cancers, and most bad cancers show up between screenings,” Esserman said. “Women need to be familiar with their bodies so that if there is a change they can notice it; and physicians need to take them seriously.”
— stacey palevsky