Since years, self-examination of breasts, examination by doctor and mammography are recommended to detect the breast cancer early. Advisability of the two first methods in light of last researches is disputable with regard to the low sensitivity (only nodules of proper size are palpable, not all places on breast are accessible during examination, and it is difficult for woman to evaluate if self-examination has been properly performed). Although these inconveniences, the self-examination is manifestation of conscious interest in health. Woman who is regularly examined knows, that each discovered change should be consulted with doctor, what, in turn, results in early diagnosing of found changes.

Minus of breast palpation (performed both by woman and doctor) is inadequate specificity – in such examination it is practically impossible to differentiate potentially malignant changes from benign ones. Nevertheless, both methods are recommended as supplementation of mammography.

Mammography is examination, which value is grunted with long-term clinical observations and which have been added to list of screening examinations. In different countries onset of mammography is recommended in different age, frequency of performance of examinations is different too.

American Cancer Society recommends for example every year mammography in women after 40th year of life, while British programme in age of 50-64 years every 3 years. Clinical trials showed, that the biggest effectiveness of regular mammography in decrease of mortality from breast cancer (for about 30%) is noted in women between 50th and 69th year of life.

Researchers continuously wonder when use of mammographic examinations should be begun and finished. Some think that screening should begin from 40th year of life, although the frequency of breast cancer in women in age 40-50 years old is relatively small. Earlier mammography in women with risk factors of breast cancer should be considered. In group 50-69 years increase in frequency of mammography performance (once a year instead of once for 3 years) does not bring visible profits. In case of people after 70th year of life further mammography examinations have sense only in people not suffering from other disease shortening the life span. Expected benefits in each patient should be individually considered.

Part of people has anxiety, that regular mammography examinations may carry a risk of tumour formation; however they cannot be scientifically explained. Theoretically, such danger may exist among women-carriers of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene, in who earlier mammographic examinations, even from 25th year of life, are recommended because in result of genetic mutation repair of postradiation DNA destructions may be impaired.

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