IICPH AND BCREF SUPPORT Breast Self Examination & Clinical Breast Examination The International Institute of Concern for Public Health (IICPH) and the Breast Cancer Research Education Fund (BCREF) urge all women to practice breast self-examination (BSE). It is very effective when taught by a trained registered nurse or a trained family doctor. Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) also needs to be performed on a periodic basis. It is our belief that mammograms have their place in the diagnosis of breast cancer, however as a screening tool, they pose significant risks. Rosalie Bertell, Ph.D., G.N.S.H., president of IICPH, Dr. Samuel S. Epstein and Barbara Seaman co-authored the study - Danger and Unreliability of Mammography: Breast Examination is a Safe, Effective, and Practical Alternative, published in the International Journal of Health Services, Volume 31, No. 3, Pages 605 - 613, 2001. This study can be found www.iicph.org. The authors of the study believe that annual clinical breast examination by a trained health professional is safe, at least as effective, and low in cost while mammography screening poses risks compounded by unreliability. The dangers of screening mammography include: radiation risks, cancer risks from breast compression, delays in diagnostic mammography due to the aggressive promotion of screenings, false negative and false positive mammograms and over-diagnosis and over-treatment. According to the study, one third of all cancers - and more still of pre-menopausal cancers - are diagnosed in the interval between annual mammograms. We believe there is a danger that women will be lulled into a false sense of security by a negative result on an annual mammogram and will fail to seek medical advice if they find changes in their breasts. BCREF is a non-profit, independent, charitable organization dedicated to promoting the advancement of breast cancer research and providing breast cancer education and support services. IICPH is a charitable organization dedicated to helping communities and individuals assess and improve their environmental health status by providing independent scientifically based information. Media Contacts: BCREF Mary Kovacs 905 687 3333 IICPH Marion Odell 416 929 9808 info@iicph.org www.iicph.org LINK (helps communities and individuals assess & improve health status with independent scientifically-based info) Cancer Nursing, 12/01 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.