[Joanne S]

Thanks Debbie,


I agree, the copy/paste method of answering questions directly works good.


I disagree with your title: No benefit for BSE.


OK I revised my title:
BSE can help in BC detection!


I repeat, it is unconscionable to discount or not perform BSEs because it results in more biopsies (benigh), creates stress, the guidelines are inconsistent, or studies show there is "insufficent evidence" that's BSEs are a good screening tool.

Perhaps someone will volunteer to set-up a poll on our HER2 member site:
(1) BC/lump found by mammogram
or
(2) BC/lump found by BSE (or by signifant other)
or
(3) BC/lump found by CBE (doctor)
or
(4) BC/ lump detected by another method




I don't think the following Summary of Recommendations (you had posted the link) should have been published. I hate wasting my time reading about research or studies that really lack conclusions or recommendations---There are so many. You know the ones that say “inconclusive” or “insufficient evidence” or “further studies are needed”.


I do not see anything informative nor do I see any benefit from reading this article:


-The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening mammography, with or without clinical breast examination(CBE), every 1-2 years for women aged 40 and older.
Debbie, NOTE: This is CBE, not BSE.


-The USPSTF concludes that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against routine CBE alone to screen for breast cancer.


-The USPSTF concludes that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against teaching or performing routine breast self-examination (BSE).


I wonder how much research money was wasted on that study.




You indicated:


In addition, it bothers me that this misinformation about vigilance causes both guilt and complacence. Some will assume, when a woman is diagnosed with a not-early breast cancer, that the woman is at fault for not practicing BSE, or not getting a mammogram. And some women accept this burden of guilt. The other side of that is that those who do regular BSE, get a yearly CBE and mammogram feel that they are safe - that in this way they are guaranteed early detection of their breast cancer. *


I agree, not only early detection, but any detection. My mother died from breast cancer in 1996. She had suffered with the most severe back pain for two years before she was diagnosed. I constantly took her to the doctor, emergency room, etc and she had several hospital admissions. She had found a breast lump herself a few years back, but never told anyone because she thought it was a regular o' breast lump, and cancer only happened to other people, not to her. Finally she was diagnosed---terminal Stage 4, breast cancer that had metastasized---with too many tumors to count, in too many organs and in all her bones throughout her body. The pain in her back was intensified by all the bone fractures caused by the tumors. I truly believe that if she had told her doctor about the lump when she found it, it would have been biopsied, diagnosed and treated; and she would have had a much better quality of life her last few years. Perhaps she'd be alive today.....It probably would have increased her survival time! Sadly, she never had a mammogram either.


If I had not performed a very thorough self breast exam, I would have not found my breast lump. It never showed up on any of my annual mammograms (my enlarged lymph nodes in my armpit did). As previously mentioned my breast tumor was beyond the image area of the mammogram. After I had my mastectomies, I was extremely disheartened and disappointed to find out I had more breast tumors that neither showed up on my mammograms (dense breast), CT Scans, nor breast MRI that were performed after my biopsy. The medical professionals I asked all said the same thing---these types of x-rays/scans offer no guarantee* of (accurate) negative results or of detecting existing lumps/cancer---They are merely screening tools.


I understand what you are saying and what the studies you mentioned indicate and infer. I have read numerous research articles and studies related to BC since my diagnosis; and I can honestly say for just about every one of them, I found another one this is a direct contradiction. So I don't put any faith in the “No Benefit to BSE” theory/so-called findings. I don't know what the "evidence" is that you refer to. Sort of, kind of, like in a court of law, if you can't show it or prove it beyond a reasonable doubt, that's not evidence.

BSE has a long history of promotion. Shower cards, TV specials, buddy programs, yada yada. For all the effort put into its promotion, you'd think that there'd be some evidence of its importance in saving lives. But there's not. No study has ever shown it to make a difference. Its use was adopted because intuitively it seems like a good thing to do

Has there been a study to show it doesn't make a difference?

Although your lump was not found during a BSE, it was found by physical manipulation of some sort. (SOE=Significant Other Exam). And as a result of it being found, you had treatment. Do you truly believe this has not increased your survival? Who knows for sure? How can one/you/anyone make a comparison or a confirmation that it has/has not increased your survival?

The resources that you posted that still promote BSE are simply sticking to the old party line, because it seems intuitively that it should be true, and because we all naturally want to be able to do something to save lives. It is amazingly difficult to get people to listen to the evidence and to give up promoting this intervention. Those who continue to promote BSE certainly have the best of intentions. But at this time, it appears that they are wasting resources (time and money) and also deceiving women.



Personally, I would not, will not, take a chance of not doing a BSE! Although I have no breasts, I still perform BSEs---or I should say Chest Self Exams. Tee hee hee.


If you happen to find any more studies related to this topic, please post them. I am glad your husband found “that” lump and that you were able to have treatment, and I wish you continued wellness. You know, your husband would make a better doctor.


Jo






You know when BC research findings indicate you have a 80% chance of surviving x # of years, to me, it's still only a one-out-two chance/ratio or should I say 50/50 chance. If you perform a BSE and there is a lump, you have a 50/50 chance of finding it. If you don't perform a BSE and there is a lump there, you won't find it, but will the mammogram?