Do women who perform breast self examination still need to have a screening mammogram?
Cancers detected by screening mammography are significantly smaller and can be detected earlier than cancers detected by physical examination such as breast self examination or examination by a doctor. For example, a cancer detected by a screening mammogram can be as small as pea or around 1 cm whereas the size of a cancer detected by physical examination is larger around 2.5cm in diameter, the size of a cherry. So even if a women performs breast self examination if she is over 50 years she should still have two-yearly screening mammograms. Women are encouraged to be breast aware and if they notice any changes in their breasts to consult their doctor as soon as possible.
