After analyzing the existing research data, experts reached the surprising conclusion that the monthly breast self-exam may not actually help save patient's lives. In fact, it may even do more harm than good.

Researchers said they found no evidence that the self-examination actually decreases the number of deaths caused by breast cancer. In fact, the authors of the study which corroborates information from a 2003 review of studies reached the conclusion that the above mentioned practice may in fact double the number of needless biopsies in women who do the exam compared with women who don't.

Two members of the team which worked at the study, Jan Peter Kosters and Peter Gotzsche of the Nordic Cochrane Centre, underlined the fact that screening by breast self-examination or physical examination “cannot be recommended.”

Experts of the Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research, reviewed two previously published population-based studies involving 388,535 women. Their study was published in the most recent issue of The Cochrane Librar.

The American Cancer Society reportedly adjusted its principles five years ago regarding the issue in discussion. The society made the modifications based on emerging evidence and now does no longer recommend monthly breast self-exams. The practice is now considered "an option" for women starting in their 20s.

During the study - conducted on women in Russia and China - researchers arbitrarily assigned women to one of two groups. The first group was taught how to perform the self-exam and to do it regularly, while the second group wasn’t. 587 participants died of breast cancer during study: 292 women had performed breast self-exams and 295 had not. The findings clearly show that self-checks have no benefic effect.

However, researchers went further with the conclusions and advised patients not to perform breast self-exams due to the fact that the practice may do unnecessary harm by putting women at risk for unnecessary treatment.

The women involved in the China study showed researchers that the rates of mastectomy and lumpectomy were similar regardless of whether women were performing self-exams or not.

One thing is certain: when women detect any change in their breast a doctor must be consulted as soon as possible. However, a question remains: How does a woman realize a change in her breasts without checking them.