USPSTF Report Advises Against Breast Self-Exams: Why USPSTF is Wrong

The US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) has set new recommendations that breast self-exams are not necessary and that women don't need to perform monthly self checks. USPSTF advises against teaching women to examine their breasts. However, the study says, breast awareness is important. According to the findings, breast self-exams have not been directly linked to any lessening of breast cancer. I take exception to the task forces' recommendations and here is why.

First of all, how can a women be 'aware' of changes in her body and breasts without the monthly breast self-exam? How will she be able to notice lumps in the breast, tenderness or changes in mass without a breast self-exam? You can't learn very much about something you can't see without touching it.

Next, to say that breast exams aren't effective at preventing cancer senseless extrapolation. Cancer prevention was never the reason to perform monthly breast self-exams in the first place. It would be the same thing as saying that x-rays shouldn't be taken on potential injuries because the x-ray doesn't prevent the bone from getting broken. The point of performing monthly breast self-exams is the potential for early detection of a cancer. Early detection is the only thing a mammogram can potentially provide also. There is no therapeutic benefit to a mammogram. Mammograms do not reduce the risk of cancer; in fact repeated exposure to the radiation of x-rays aka, mammograms, on the delicate breast tissue may increase the risk of cancer.

Another reason given for skipping the breast self-exams is that women may misunderstand what they feel in their breasts. Where is the problem with showing your doctor something you noticed in a breast self-exam and having her explain that what you thought was a lump was really something normal or benign? We should only see a doctor if we can prove we have a cancerous lump in our breast? That's ridiculous. That's why doctor visits are called 'consultations.'

Other doctors have stated that women aren't taught properly how to examine their breasts. Again, lack of proper instruction is a reason not to do something. That's like saying you should never put out a fire in your home unless you are a trained fire fighter.

Another reason for skipping the breast self-exam: some women feel uncomfortable performing breast self-exams or guilty for not performing breast self-exams. If a self-exam is uncomfortable, a mammogram is downright painful. It is preferable to have your breasts squashed between two plates and shot with radiation? But breast cancer is the most painful of all. And since when do we stop advising a practice because some women feel guilty if they don't follow the advice.

Many women, myself included, really don't know our bodies as well as we need to. Many of us ignore or downplay pain. Many women are ashamed of their own bodies. Breasts are sex toys, something to worry more about the size of than the health of, things to inflate with silicone to make them more alluring. We women need to love and understand our bodies and celebrate our womanhood.