Study: Breast Self-Exam Is Unproven - Tue Oct 1, 7:37 PM ET By PAUL RECER, AP Science Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - A major effort to teach self-examination so women could detect early, small lumps of a developing breast cancer ( news - web sites) did not reduce the rate of breast cancer deaths, suggesting the technique is a waste of time for doctors and patients, according to a study of more than 260,000 women in China.

Women who examined their breasts found more benign lumps that required unnessessary medical attention, said Thomas, but there was no reduction in the rate of breast cancer.

--So basically leave the breast exams to the professionals... like me!!