Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in North American women. It is a leading cause of cancer death, second only to lung cancer. Primary risk factors for breast cancer include:
- Age
- Age at the start of menstruation
- Age at first live birth
- Number of first-degree relatives (mother, sisters, daughters) with breast cancer
- Number of previous breast biopsies (whether positive or negative)
- At least one breast biopsy with atypical hyperplasia
Additional risk factors are age at menopause, dense breast tissue, the use of birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, a high-fat diet, drinking alcohol, physical inactivity, obesity, and environmental exposures.
Various tools have been developed to calculate breast cancer risk and for the most part they’re designed for use by health professionals. Therefore, you are encouraged to discuss the results and your personal risk of breast cancer with your doctor. These tools should not be used for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, lobular carcinoma in situ or ductal carcinoma in situ. Other factors may also affect risk and may not be accounted for by an assessment tool. Additionally, even though men can get breast cancer, there are no risk assessment tools available for them.
National Cancer Institute: Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool
The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool is an interactive tool designed by scientists at the National Cancer Institute to estimate a woman's risk of developing invasive breast cancer. This tool is based on the Gail Model and has been updated for African American women based on the Contraceptive and Reproductive Experiences (CARE) Study. It also provides a glossary of terms, an explanation for each question and the results are given in a risk percentage.
Halls.md: Detailed Breast Cancer Risk Calculator
This calculator also uses the Gail model and was developed by Dr. Halls. It has the added benefit of six (6) additional risk modifier questions. It’s easy to understand and the results are given in a risk percentage.
Siteman Cancer Center: Breast Cancer Risk Questionnaire
Developed by the Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention, this tool asks six (6) basic questions and risk is calculated as low, medium or high. It also includes recommendations to lower risk.
BreastCancerPrevention.org: Calculate Your Breast Cancer Risk
This tool was developed by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project and is much more extensive and personal. It asks eight (8) preliminary questions and further questions depending on the response. Risk is calculated in a risk percentage. This tool provides a lot of explanations, in addition to screening recommendations.
National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre: Calculate Your Risk
This tool was developed by the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre and asks a number of questions to calculate average, increased or high risk, compared to other women in one’s age group. It provides an explanation for each risk factor and recommendations to reduce one’s risk.
Note: It is important to remember that all women are at risk for breast cancer, no matter what their risk category. Some women at low risk will develop breast cancer, while some women at increased risk will not.
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