Why the difference? Advice on breast examination given to carers of women who have learning disability and to women who do not

This article is about carers being discouraged from performing regular breast examinations for women who have a learning disability and who are unable to perform it upon themselves. This follows guidelines issued by the Cancer Screening Programme in 2000. The article looks at the need to perform breast examination, draws on feminist thought and explores the possible reasons for the guidelines, focusing on issues of abuse, consent and who should perform the examination. Conclusions are reached that women who have a learning disability should receive the opportunity for breast examinations to be conducted, and recommendations are made in relation to the issues of abuse, consent and who should perform the examination.