Actually the recommendation regarding self exams was that having a doctor instruct the patient on how to do them was not helpful. It did not say that doing self exams was useless. I guess that means we are able to figure out how to do them on our own??

Anyway, as I said, due to my own risk factors I will continue getting annual mammograms unless my doctor advises otherwise. And I will be very surprised if he advises against them for my situation.