Researchers from Duke University have reported that breast self-examination (BSE) is a useful technique for detecting breast cancer in high-risk women. The details of this study were published in the October 2009 issue of the American Journal of Surgery.[1]
In women at average risk for breast cancer, the value of BSE is controversial. One of the largest randomized trials evaluating BSE included over 200,000 women. They were followed for 10-11 years. No evidence was found that women who were trained to perform regular BSE detected breast cancer earlier.
The current study evaluated the efficacy of BSE training in 147 high-risk women enrolled in the study between 2004 and 2007. During the observational period, 12 of these 147 women had 14 breast cancers detected.
- BSE detected 6/14.
- MRI detected 6/14.
- Mammography detected 2/14.
BSE detected a total of 24 masses, and six of these were malignant.
These authors suggest that “BSE detects new breast cancers in high-risk women undergoing screening mammogram, CBE, and yearly breast MRI.”
Comments: These data suggest utility of BSE in high-risk women, which would include those with a prior history of breast cancer.
Reference: [1] Wilke LG, Broadwater G, Rabiner S, et al. Breast self-examination: defining as cohort still in need. American Journal of Surgery. 2009;198:575-579.
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