[Breast self-examination. Yes or no?]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Breast cancer represents a significant global health challenge.
• Screening mammography is a proven method for reducing breast cancer mortality.
• Breast self-examination (BSE) has been widely promoted as a simple early detection tool for women.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and analyze the existing scientific literature on the effectiveness of breast self-examination.
• To evaluate the impact of BSE on breast cancer mortality and early diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive review of original studies and relevant review articles was conducted.
• The methodology involved searching for research specifically addressing breast self-examination effectiveness.

Main Results:

• Breast self-examination was found to be ineffective in reducing breast cancer mortality.
• BSE does not improve the early-stage diagnosis of breast cancer.
• The frequency of BSE did not correlate with the stage of cancer at diagnosis.
• BSE led to increased healthcare utilization, including more mammograms and biopsies, often with benign results.

Conclusions:

• Breast self-examination does not reduce breast cancer mortality in women at population risk, even with regular practice.
• BSE increases the number of diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds, and biopsies, predominantly yielding benign findings.
• The findings challenge the established role of BSE as an effective screening tool.