Breast self examination: should general practice bother?

The value of breast self examination (BSE) for the early detection of breast cancer is causing debate in Australian general practice. A literature review was undertaken to examine this controversy. Evidence is conflicting on whether BSE causes earlier cancer detection and improved survival, although most studies support BSE. No mortality benefits are yet seen in prospective trials. Design biases in these studies are outlined, and conclusions are drawn about the place of BSE in the general practice setting.