Barry Nelson talks to surgeon Roger Brookstein in the wake of research which shows that breast self-examination may not be useful.

NEWS that regular breast self-examination doesn't seem to reduce cancer deaths is no surprise to surgeon Roger Brookstein. The Darlington-based breast surgeon believes that a "ritual" monthly check by women serves no real purpose.

"The advice we give our ladies these days is simply to be breast aware. When you are washing yourself or during normal daily routine, just notice if there is anything different from usual about your breasts," says Mr Brookstein, speaking at the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The surgeon - who does most of his work for the NHS at Darlington Memorial Hospital, but also sees some private patients at the new Woodland Hospital - was commenting on new research announced this week.

Based on two large groups of female factory workers in China, the study suggests that regular self-examination for suspicious breast lumps makes no difference to the death rate from breast cancer. The workers who were not taught to examine themselves had exactly the same death rate as the specially trained group.

Mr Brookstein says one of the problems with encouraging self-examination of the breasts rather than being just "breast aware" is that it can cause anxiety among patients, which is totally unfounded. In some cases, if a woman is taught incorrectly, it can lead to false alarms.

"If it is well-founded research, this is just an extra piece of evidence which suggests we have gone the right way in the advice we give to women," he adds.

While breast cancer affects 40,000 women in the UK every year, Mr Brookstein says we should all get things in perspective.

"Ninety per cent of breast cancer occurs in ladies over 50. It is a very rare diagnosis for people in their 20s and is rare for women in their 30s," he adds. "But the fact there are any at all means it is still worth the younger women being breast aware."

One of his concerns is that some women decide not to attend screening sessions because they fear it could be uncomfortable. But missing screening sessions puts women at risk of an undetected cancer developing. "What is important for the public to realise is that mammography is becoming more patient-friendly," says Mr Brookstein.

"The signs that a radiologist needs to pick up are rather subtle, it's not like a broken leg on an X-ray. In order to get the best possible views, a degree of compression is necessary and that can be very uncomfortable. Caring, attentive and unrushed staff can improve the experience and the modern machines we have these days are a vast improvement."

HOLLYOAKS actresses Helen Noble and Sara Baxendale are backing Cancer Research UK's Stride for Life and Get in the Pink events during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Sara said: "There are over 40 strides all over the country - including one at the Tyne Riverside Country Park, Newburn, Newcastle, on Sunday, October 13, and we would like as many people as possible to take part so that we can all make a difference." Stride for Life is a 10km (six-and-a-half-mile) walk for individuals or all the family. The number to call to take part is 0191 281 8288 or 0845 602 1940. You can also register on-line at the Stride for Life website www.cancerresearchuk.org/strideforlife. There is a pre-registration entry fee of £6 per adult and £3 for children under 16, or £10 and £5 on the day.