Breast self-examination in women 65 and older

Studies of breast self-examination (BSE) in older women have revealed deficiencies in both frequency and proficiency of practice. Current data from an ongoing study indicate that practice is sufficiently poor as to make the detection of lumps difficult. Interventions to increase frequency and proficiency, however, have been encouraging. Several studies are reporting significant improvement in practice following specific strategies. Barriers such as forgetting and embarrassment need to be addressed when attempting to increase frequency and proficiency. The efficiency of BSE cannot be adequately addressed until women are trained at a proficient level.