Don't do breast checks?

[Heaven]

Yesterday on Sunrise they had a segment with a Dr about women's health. They asked her about self breast exams and she said 'Don't do them, waste of time'. She said lots of studies have come out proving that there is no benefit and you don't find lumps earlier. If you have a lump, you'll find it by chance anyway.

I was so shocked she'd say this on TV!! They're always advertising how important it is to check every month!!

Did anyone else see it?

[ss_storm]

Yeah i saw that. Why are they spending all that money on the cheeky self-check ads or whatever they are! Maybe she meant you can still do them but don't get too hung up on remembering to do them every month... but surely any check is better than none at all?

[AnyDream]

What an effing stupid thing to say. It's not about finding lumps, it about finding lumps EARLY ENOUGH to increase your chance of survival. Sure you can choose to wait until the tumour is large enough to be noticeable - I personally wouldn't want to wait. Once cancer has spread outside of the breast, it will kill you, eventually.

BTW I am having a breast removed later this year because a lump I found some time back was not fully investigated by my GP...what I wouldn't give to turn back the clock and have it dealt with back when I could've got away with a lumpectomy.

So, I say, feel your boobies. Do it often. Tell your friends to as well.

[Charlyfrog]

I didn't see the segment so am not sure of the context the statement was made in. It does seem like a silly thing to say without clarification though. I think any breast check is beneficial and not to be rude or crass, I'd highly suggest getting your partner involved! (wouldn't they feel them more than us anyways? ) I have heard of a couple of instances where lumps in the breast were discovered by the partners and the women were unaware about them. Not sure if I'd make this into an ad campaign though

[sazzafrazz]

I was really surprised to hear her say that on TV also!

What about those women who don't have a partner feeling their boobies regularly?????
(or what if the partner tends to focus on one side more ?)

I think the message should be to check your own body, everywhere, regularly. It's your body, you should be responsible for it! Not relying on the off chance that something becomes big enough to be noticed accidentally.

Marydean, I'm very sorry to hear that! My friend is waiting for her reconstruction surgery and I'm sure she would say just the same as you have. X

[*LittleMissSummer*]

What a load of crap!! I think its important to check them, if anyone will notice anything different it will be yourself. I had the shock of finding a lump in my left boob, i was showering at my best friends, i quickly got out of the shower and told her, i started crying i was petrified! but i saw my doctor and it was just normal hormonal lumps that you get around that time of the month, but he said it was good i got it checked. I personally think that woman is an idiot for saying its a waste of time. We know our bodies better than anyone else.

Its also like saying that males shouldnt bother checking their balls for changes or lumps. My mums partner recently had chemo after finding a tumour in one of his testicles. He noticed a change but was too embarrassed to see a doctor but it was when my mum noticed they looked different (i know waaaaaaay too much information ) and made him see a doctor. If they had found it any later i dont want to think of what would have happened.

But we should be encouraging women to check themselves.

[smiles4u]

Years ago if i had never had done a self examination as i did then i would never have found the lump in which was at the starts of breast cancer !!

... (My surgeon was the same person that Kylie Minogue had) ... and my surgeon said i was very lucky that it had been detected early as it would have spread and my situation would have been very different.

MD, thinking of you and YOU are an absolute inspiration to us ALL xox