How effective is screening?

There is an excellent summary of the risks and actual benefit of breast screening at the website of the Nordic Cochrane Institute, an independent and highly regarded medical research group. I found official sources of information to be pro-screening, basically a sales pitch for testing.

I've declined testing, an informed decision.

The evidence is concerning: about 50% of screen detected breast cancers are over-diagnosed, the fall in the death rate is mostly about better treatments, not screening. Also, Professor Michael Baum, UK breast cancer surgeon, has a piece in the BMJ (2013): he says any benefit of screening is wiped out by those who die from heart attacks and lung cancer after treatments. Prof Baum also, has an informative lecture on You Tube, "Breast Cancer Screening: the inconvenient truth". Peter Gotzsche from the NCI has also, written some great articles and a book.

Of course, if you're high risk, I'd get a couple of opinions from breast cancer specialists.

When I declined mammograms, i also, looked at clinical breast exams, but found no proven benefit and they cause excess biopsies. Breast self-exams have not been recommended for some time.

So I practice breast awareness devised by the late Dr Joan Austoker from Oxford University, just taking note of the look of my breasts in the mirror every morning. I'll report any changes to my doctor.

I'd also, perhaps, send an email to the NCI...have they considered what a high risk woman should do? Are there any studies on MRI etc?