Do you recommend self-breast exams to your patients with history of breast cancer in addition to imaging surveillance?
Answer from: Medical Oncologist at Community Practice
This is a somewhat controversial question. I cannot find any data on the risks or benefits of counseling on self-exams in breast cancer survivors.
I will simply say this. Among survivors, there are differences between patients that I think the physician must understand and meet the patients where t...
Comments
Radiation Oncologist at New York Cancer and Blood Specialists I think it is not easy for women to do self-exams ...
Medical Oncologist at Innovation Center Very thoughtful comment and shared decision-making...
Radiation Oncologist at Maimonides Medical Center That’s a great answer right there.
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Community Practice
Yes, on the grounds that they may only be seen by their physicians a couple of times per year. But, if they are doing a self-exam weekly, they have a chance to pick up any new changes much earlier, and at their next physician's visit, can at a minimum direct their doctor to something the patient fee...
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Community Practice
For the majority of patients who present with mammographically detected cancers, I'll remind them of how much effort it took their experienced surgeon to figure out exactly where to operate. Therefore, I'm certainly not going to hold a woman responsible for finding a problem by pressing around with ...
Comments
Medical Oncologist at Avita Health System This is a great approach and your thoughts are fan...
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Community Practice
This question then leads to the correlate: what is the value of clinical breast examination after treatment? Clearly, we do it to ensure that there is no treatment related toxicity, but does it provide benefit from a “survival” standpoint? What is the evidence to support CBE after breast...
I think it is not easy for women to do self-exams ...
Very thoughtful comment and shared decision-making...
That’s a great answer right there.