Put your breast health in your own hands?

Who is this Cochrane Collaboration? How dare they suggest such a "head-in-the-sand" attitude? If they claim that their study is scientific, then they've ignored at least two very important weaknesses in their research protocols.

I can't accept this study as scientifically valid, nor will I accept it as intellectually valid. The Cochrane group's recommendations fly in the face of well-established established medical knowledge and wisdom.

I implore every woman who reads or hears about this to understand that BSEs actually save lives. And I urge every man who loves any woman to insist that she do her self-exam every month. It's supposed to be a "guy" thing to care for the women who care for him.

I can't/won't try to explain how it feels to lose a beloved one to breast cancer. It's been nearly seven years since she died, and I'm nowhere near finished grieving. Yes, some men can cry.

I've had breast cancer twice, (25 years apart) and I found my own lumps both times. Each time, I then had mammograms which didn't find them, even knowing where to look. Self-exam is probably why I'm still alive. I'd rather risk a biopsy on a benign lump than risk dying because I relied on the unreliable results of a mammogram.

I agree with both carol and holly. My cousin had a mammogram which found nothing. Less than six months later she found a lump which turns out to be a very aggressive cancer. Had she waited until her next mammogram, it would have been too late. Her mother has no history of cancer and grandmother had a small lump at at 88.

This sounds like an HMO driven study to cut down on their costs (the "unnecessary biopsies"). Personally, I'd like to find out what kind of study was done and read the full study.

My mother had a place on her neck that was troublesome. The dermatologist examined it and said it wasn't cancer. Fortunately, he scraped the area because the lab results came back showing cancer.

Healthcare is not an exact science. There is no pat answer to everything, no sure cures for all ailments. There needs to be a lot of arsenal available and what is cheaper and easier than self breast exams?

I am appalled at this article written by Holly T. at MSN. My Mother would not be here today if it wasn't for her doing self exams. Thank God she did! How dare you MSN take so many people's lives in your own hands. This article needs to be retracted!! If you are going to talk statistics, then use American statistics. Who cares about Russians and Chinese. We are talking Americans that you decided to take their lives in your hands. I can't believe you would tell us that self exams add more harm than good. What are you going to say when you end up with breast cancer that is far advanced because you didn't do self exams. Maybe you should ask the Russians and Chinese!!

I found my own bc tumor, despite annual mammograms and doctor's exams. My tumor was higher up than a basic mammogram can catch. Lots of woman I know found their own tumor, and one who had to insist that the doctor check again, because the doctors couldn't find it on the mammogram. And it was a stage 3 tumor as well and well within the breast tissue. We are our own best advocates and we know our bodies better than someone who checks once a year. A lot of this articles findings are based on the fact that many woman don't actually do a thorough self exam on a monthly basis. With the high incidence of BC in this country, it can only help to be more proactive.

BEING A GUY I AGREE THAT WOMEN NEED TO CHECK THEMSELVES AS DO GUYS FOR OUR CANCER
BETTER TO BE SAFE THEN SORRY

Like many of the others here I found my breast cancer through BSE. I am in my early 40's with five children. Why would I leave my life to chance? Why would anyone? Now I am fighting for my life. That of course makes sense.

I had large breast from a very early age and was diligent with BSE but never confident in finding anything myself. Until I did at age 32, it felt just like a BB from a toy gun just under the skin of my L breast.   It took me 4 doctors to take me seriously and order a mammogram.  " I was too young! and the lump didn't fell like cancer" Plus every woman on my mothers side had died from BC: 4 grt aunts, Grandmother and Mom's only sister. Yet they still said I was too young. The mammo showed suspicous, the lumpectomy showed Grade 3 carcinoma with infiltrates. Bil Mastectomies, Chemo and Radiation I'm alive and well 14yrs later with my first Grandchild. NO THANKS TO THE DOCTORS WHO WOULD HAVE LET ME DIE!

I thank God everyday for that "gut feeling" I knew something was wrong! and no one would listen.  Persitance girls, check those puppies.

Personally I'm guessing this was some stupid misinformation by a drug company wanting to sell more Chemo drugs because the cancer is growing in our bodies while our "heads are in the sand" "God blessed women with a heightened sense of awareness for a reason, that we use it." NEVER depend on someone else as your first line of defense, no one has your best interest at heart like you do. 

14 YEARS AND STILL SURVIVING!