Why is breast self-examination considered necessary, despite my regular mammograms and ultrasounds?
It is quite common for women to perform breast self-examination even before the age when regular mammography is recommended, due to the increased risk of breast diseases. Even though you regularly visitthe clinic, it is important to self-examine. This is because a well-conducted self-examination is, in terms of its importance, indispensable. In life, and thus also in medicine, there does not exist a guideline for medical examinations that is one hundred percent reliable. Therefore, by combining all available methods of examination the probability of success multiplies. It is often not a human or technical failure; the tumour lesion is simply camouflaged in the gland so cleverly that it cannot be detected by screening methods. Screening in these cases shows only discrete changes that can be assessed as temporary hormonal changes or other insignificant changes. However, if a woman points out that there has been a change in that particular area the attending physician should pay close attention to this.
The DrAK Foundation is promoting the advanced American approach to self-examination in the Czech Republic. Recently, for the first time in the Czech Republic, an instructional video was made where a woman can learn this self-examination technique. In the present day, a lot has been written about self-examination procedures. They are often accompanied by various instructional images which helps the patient to better follow the instructions.