Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

Please note that this website has a UK government access keys system.

PL CMO (1998)1: Clinical examination of the breast

  • Document type:
    Professional Letter - Chief Medical Officer
  • Author:
    Department of Health; Chief Medical Officer
  • Published date:
    2 February 1998
  • Primary audience:
    Professionals
  • Gateway reference:
    1998
  • Series number:
    PL CMO (1998)1; equivalent to
  • Pages:
    3
  • Copyright holder:
    Crown

This letter provides further advice on the importance of teaching women to be breast aware and the lack of evidence to support the practice of breast palpation as a screening procedure in the well woman. It also provides guidance on who should perform breast palpation in symptomatic women and as follow-up to breast cancer. Issued jointly with the Chief Nursing Officer.

Additional links

Ordering publications

Contact details for obtaining hard-copy DH publications.

Help viewing PDFs

Help viewing PDFs

Useful tips to ensure you get the most from PDFs and the free Reader program. Topics covered include accessibility, troubleshooting and searching files.

Access keys