title: The mammography controversy: a case for breast self-examination.
abstract: More and more nurses are held legally accountable for their practice. The mammography controversy and the directives in the NIH guidelines must be taken into account by nurses because of their implications for preventive health care and early detection of breast cancer. Mortality rates from breast cancer are high enough that the importance of regular, competent BSE by women cannot be overestimated. Nursing is in an ideal position within the health care delivery system to promote BSE. In the meantime, the answer to the question of whether to use mammography as a routine screening device for asymptomatic women under age 50 can only come from research that is designed to demonstrate the relative risks and benefits of the procedure for this age group.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004247:DNA / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced; D010808:Physical Examination; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D004247:DNA