Following her breast cancer diagnosis, actress Olivia Munn advocates for the use of the National Cancer Institute’s Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool, underlining the critical role of early detection in treatment outcomes.
Actress Olivia Munn has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, an event that has brought attention to the crucial role of breast cancer risk calculators in early detection and treatment. Following her diagnosis, Munn underwent a double mastectomy and has since advocated for individuals to assess their breast cancer risks using the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool found on the National Cancer Institute’s website.
The tool, first introduced in 1989 and subsequently updated, provides an accessible way for women to estimate their risk of developing breast cancer. It incorporates various factors, including age, family history of the disease, and reproductive history, to generate both lifetime and five-year risk scores. While designed to accommodate women from multiple ethnic backgrounds, including Black, Hispanic, and Asian populations, it may not be suitable for those with certain genetic mutations or who have already been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Dr. Elizabeth Comen of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center underscores the importance of consulting healthcare professionals when using the risk calculator, to ensure a comprehensive understanding and consideration of additional screening tests. Moreover, she points to lifestyle adjustments such as diet, exercise, and the reduction of smoking and alcohol intake as measures to potentially lower breast cancer risk.
