Olivia Munn arrives Jan. 9 on the Governors Awards on Tuesday on the Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles.

Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

cover caption

toggle caption

Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

Olivia Munn arrives Jan. 9 on the Governors Awards on Tuesday on the Dolby Ballroom in Los Angeles.

Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

When Olivia Munn printed this week that she was once recognized with breast most cancers and had a double mastectomy, she advised other people to invite their docs to determine their rating on a breast most cancers chance calculator.

Munn stated her rating triggered additional assessments and the invention of an competitive type of the illness.

“I am fortunate. We stuck it with sufficient time that I had choices,” the 43-year-old actor posted on Instagram. “I would like the similar for any girl who may have to stand this in the future.”

A have a look at the calculator, the Breast Most cancers Possibility Review Software:

What’s the Breast Most cancers Possibility Review Software?

It is a questionnaire at the Nationwide Most cancers Institute’s web page this is designed for well being care suppliers to make use of with sufferers. The device won a “dramatic build up in visits” since Munn’s submit, consistent with an NCI spokesperson.

First advanced in 1989, it was once at the start in accordance with knowledge from handiest white girls. Updates have made it extra correct for Black, Hispanic and Asian and Pacific Islander girls.

It does not take the whole thing into consideration and cannot in fact expect whether or not anybody particular person gets breast most cancers.

It asks about age, age in the beginning menstrual duration, age when the girl’s first kid was once born or if the girl has no longer given beginning, circle of relatives historical past of breast most cancers, previous breast biopsies, result of previous biopsies, race and ethnicity.

The result’s an entire life chance and a five-year chance in accordance with elements which have been tied to the next chance of breast most cancers. For comparability, it additionally offers a median chance for U.S. girls of the similar age, race and ethnicity.

Dr. Elizabeth Comen, who treats breast most cancers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Most cancers Middle in New York, stated girls will have to do the overview with their docs, no longer through themselves.

“It is essential to speak in your physician about doing that in combination, after which making selections about what imaging ways are suitable” in accordance with the effects, Comen stated. Munn’s top rating triggered further imaging assessments that are not advisable for girls of moderate chance.

Must everybody use the device?

It isn’t the most efficient chance calculator for some girls. In case you have a undeniable gene mutation or a prior historical past of breast most cancers, it isn’t for you. It additionally does not remember dense breast tissue, which may make most cancers more difficult to identify.

The Nationwide Most cancers Institute says the device might underestimate chance in Black girls with earlier biopsies and Hispanic girls born outdoor the U.S.

“The fashion wishes additional validation for Hispanic girls and different subgroups,” the institute’s web page says. “Researchers are engaging in further research to collect extra knowledge to check and reinforce the fashion.”

There are dozens of an identical gear, stated Ashley Johnson, a nurse practitioner at Vanderbilt College Scientific Middle, who has studied them. Many well being teams suggest that ladies over age 25 have such an overview, she stated, however there is no longer sufficient proof to mention which device is easiest.

What do the ratings imply?

A five-year chance rating of two%, for instance, approach a girl’s estimated chance of creating breast most cancers over the following 5 years is two%.

An entire life chance rating of seven% approach a girl’s estimated chance of creating breast most cancers thru age 90 is 7%.

Mammogram tips are for girls at moderate chance, stated Dr. Arif Kamal, leader affected person officer on the American Most cancers Society. Tips range however the society says girls can make a choice to begin annual mammograms at age 40.

“Figuring out your chance begins even sooner than the age of 40,” Kamal stated. That is the place a chance calculator can lend a hand.

How can I decrease my chance of breast most cancers?

Everybody has some chance of most cancers, Comen stated, however some way of life adjustments can scale back the probabilities.

She suggests heading off processed meals, including workout and power coaching in your regimen, restricting alcohol and no longer smoking.