Breast screening was discussed on Woman's Hour today

"Can mass screening for breast cancer be justified – no, according to a leading researcher who has worked in the field for the last ten years. Jane talks to Professor Peter Gurt- sche from the Nordic Cochrane Research Centre in Copehagen." (I think that spelling should be Peter Gotzsche.)

I've known for years that routine mammograms are not a good thing and I've written about this before. It's good that this has now been stated unequivocally on Woman's Hour, which is such a popular programme.

Professor Gotzsche also categorically advised against regular self-examination of the breasts by women, saying that there is no evidence that it does any good. - Jane Garvey was clearly very surprised to hear this. Many Woman's Hour listeners will have shared her surprise. Self-examination of the breasts has been part of orthodox medical propaganda for many years. It's great, however, to hear a researcher on the subject giving information that is supported by evidence, rather than dogma.

Women who examine their breasts for cancerous lumps do not reduce their chances of dying from the disease, scientists warn

Checking breasts for lumps does not reduce deaths from cancer, researchers warn
Article in the Telegraph

Extract:

"A review of research studies involving more than 380,000 women concluded there was no evidence that self-examination had any effect on deaths from breast cancer.

It may even be doing more harm than good as women who thought they found lumps underwent biopsies that turned out to be unnecessary.

Self examination led to twice as many biopsies that turned out to be negative for cancer than women who did not check their breasts."

You can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer and most other cancers by eating less salt/sodium and eating plenty of fruit and (unsalted) vegetables.

See http://www.wildeaboutsteroids.co.uk/sodium_foods.html