Is there any reason women should be discouraged from performing regular breast self-exams?
Dr. Alley: There is absolutely no reason that women should be discouraged from performing regular breast self-exams. These exams are an easy, cheap and accessible tool. Ten percent to 15 percent of breast masses don’t show up on mammograms, usually because of dense tissue. I recently saw a 72-year-old woman who found a lump in her breast that proved to be cancer. She had a negative mammogram in March 2009 and again at the time of her diagnosis. An ultrasound confirmed a solid mass. No woman should be told that she doesn’t need to bother to check her breasts. The task force concluded that “the current evidence is insufficient to assess the additional benefits and harms of screening mammography in women 75 years or older.” How do you respond? Dr. Alley: The peak age incidence of breast cancer is 65. It doesn’t disappear at age 75. I’m due for my annual mammogram. What should I do? Dr. Wright: Go for your mammogram. While mammography is not perfect, to date it is still the best screening
