[Systematic breast self-examination is not a useful screening procedure, except in hereditary or familial increased risk of breast cancer].

Population screening for breast cancer in the Netherlands in women 50-75 years of age shows a reduction in mortality in this age group, which is the goal of screening. In a recent statement, the Dutch Cancer Society did not advise breast self-examination for women in general, because a meta-analysis had not shown a reduction in mortality, irrespective of the positive findings on self-examination in many retrospective studies. However, breast self-examination may be advised to a small group of women with familial or hereditary breast cancer, especially carriers of the BRCA1 gene mutation, in whom a high percentage of rapidly proliferating grade III carcinomas are found.