Study Says Breast Self-Examinations Are Not Effective
October 2, 2002
A new study on the effectiveness of breast self-examination (BSE) reveals that the procedure does not reduce a woman's risk of dying from cancer. Designed to detect lumps at an early stage, BSE requires women to use their fingers to search for any abnormalities on their breasts that may be an early indication of cancer. But the study, conducted by researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle and published in Wednesday's issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, suggests self-examination is not as beneficial as once believed.
As part of their research, scientists from the cancer center followed 266,064 women employed by the Shanghai Textile Industry Bureau in China for nearly 10 years. The women were divided into two groups, with half receiving instruction in BSE at the start of the study--and on two separate occasions 1 and 3 years later--and the other half receiving no training in BSE. The study's results showed that after ten years the mortality rate from breast cancer was identical in both groups-0.10%. Although women in the controlled group reportedly did find more benign lumps, there was not a reduction in breast cancer overall. Physicians involved in the study believe that BSE teaching may no longer be "worthwhile."
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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