Education For Healthy Life

Several breast cancer risk assessment tools have been developed to help a woman estimate her chance of developing breast cancer. The best studied is the Gail model at www.cancer.gov/bcrisktool. After entering some personal and family information the tool provides a five-year and lifetime estimate of the risk of developing invasive breast cancer. Because it only asks for information about breast cancer in first-degree family members and doesn’t include their age at diagnosis, the tool works best at estimating risk in women without a strong inherited breast cancer risk.

For most women, regular mammography and clinical breast examinations can help find early signs of breast cancer. In addition, women should become familiar with their own breasts. Checking your own breasts for lumps and changes with breast self-examination may help if performed correctly. Talk with your doctor for more information.