Canadian Task Force Sees No Benefit in Teaching Breast Self-Examination

There appears to be no benefit in routinely teaching women breast self-examination (BSE), according to members of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care.

In 1994, the task force concluded there was insufficient evidence to recommend for or against BSE for the screening of breast cancer. Now, the task force states there is fair evidence to recommend that breast self-examination not be taught routinely to women ages 40 to 69 because it provides no benefit.

The findings of the task force, along with evidence that BSE could be harmful by increasing the rate of biopsies for benign breast lesions, led the task force to conclude that the screening technique should not be taught to women in this age bracket.

The task force also stated that although the evidence does not support routinely teaching BSE, women should be instructed to promptly report any breast changes or concerns they discover to their doctors.

Any woman who wishes to practice BSE and who requests instruction should be counseled regarding the risks and benefits, and the health care professional should ensure that BSE instruction is thorough and that the woman is performing BSE in a proficient manner.

Other sources: Canadian Medical Association Journal