Do women who perform breast self examination still require a screening mammogram?
Yes. Breast self examination does not replace the need for a screening mammogram. Breast awareness is an important part of health care. It helps you to learn how your breasts feel normally, so that if you notice any changes or lumps in your breast to consult your doctor as soon as possible. A screening mammogram can detect small lesions of cancer (as small as a pea or around 1 cm) whereas the size of a cancer detected by physical examination is larger (around 2.5cm in diameter). Women who perform breast self examination and who are eligible for the BreastScreen Australia program should start/continue to have two-yearly screening mammograms.
