title: Controversies regarding mammography, breast self-examination, and clinical breast examination.
abstract: The number of women diagnosed with breast cancer continues to increase, but mortality rates have substantially declined. Much of the credit for this decline has been attributed to early detection from mammographic screening. However, there are significant controversies about the effectiveness of all screening tools for breast cancer, concerns about the potential harm that can result from screening, and questions about the appropriateness of screening recommendations. One of the greatest barriers to achieving consensus is the lack of agreement about the purpose of screening efforts. This article reviews many of the current controversies and attempts to clarify the arguments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, 1000 West Carson Street, Box 474, Torrance, CA 90509, USA. Electronic address: anitalnelson@earthlink.net.
authors.forename: Anita L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment
keywords: Breast cancer screening; Breast self-examination; Clinical breast examination; Clinical guidelines; Mammography