Olivia Munn Says Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score ‘Saved’ Her Life—What to Know

Olivia Munn was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, she announced on Instagram Wednesday. In the 10 months since her diagnosis, Munn said she has undergone four surgeries, including a double mastectomy.

“I hope sharing this helps others find comfort, inspiration and support in their own journey,” Munn, 43, wrote in the caption accompanying her post.

In the post itself, Munn detailed his journey toward diagnosis, which began in February 2023 when he took a genetic test “in an effort to be proactive [her] health.” She shared that her test came back negative for any genetic mutations that could have predisposed her to cancer, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations related to breast cancer and had a “normal mammogram” that winter.

Still, Munn’s OB-GYN chose to calculate her breast cancer risk assessment score, which she credits with saving her life.

“[My doctor] looked at factors like my age, my family history of breast cancer, and the fact that I had my first child after age 30,” Munn wrote. “She discovered the risk to my life [of breast cancer] It was at 37%. Because of that score they sent me to have an MRI, which led to a ultrasoundwhich led to a biopsy“.

That biopsy showed Munn had Luminal B breast cancer, a subtype of breast cancer. Luminal B tumors are less common than luminal A tumors, tend to grow faster, and have a worse prognosis. According to Munn’s post, “Luminal B is an aggressive, fast-moving cancer.”

Munn, who had her double mastectomy 30 days after her biopsy, said she’s lucky the cancer was detected “with enough time to [she] “I had options.”

She also urged women and people with breasts to ask their doctors to calculate their breast cancer risk assessment score, adding that “if the number is greater than 20%, annual mammograms and breast MRIs From the age of 30.”

Below, experts share what you need to know about how to calculate your own breast cancer risk assessment score and how to interpret and act on those results.

The breast cancer risk assessment score is calculated using a breast cancer risk assessment tool (BCRAT), of which there are two types: The Gail Model and the Tyrer-Cuzick Risk Assessment Calculator. These tools help health professionals estimate a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer within five or 10 years, along with her lifetime risk of developing the disease.

Each tool is slightly different and scores may vary between models, but they can generally give you estimates of your breast cancer risk based on different combinations of questions about your personal medical history, reproductive history, and family history.

“Gail’s model tends to overestimate risk and [Tyrer-Cuzik] tends to overestimate it,” he said Jason Mouabbi, MD, oncologist in the Department of Breast Medical Oncology in the Division of Cancer Medicine at Moffitt Cancer Center. Therefore, some doctors may calculate your risk with both tools to ensure a more complete picture of your risk.

Each tool takes into account your current age, race/ethnicity, the age you were when you first menstruated, whether (and when) you gave birth, whether anyone in your family has had breast or ovarian cancer, whether you have had previous breast biopsies and whether you have any known genetic mutations.

Both tests are available to take online and take just five minutes to complete. The Tyrer-Cuzick Risk Assessment Calculator is for non-clinical use and is intended solely to inform you of your cancer risk; If you have any questions, you should discuss them with your healthcare provider. The Gail model is also available online through the National Cancer Institute; While that tool is designed to be performed by a healthcare provider, experts say there’s nothing wrong with doing it yourself.

“Anyone can calculate their risk,” Richard Reitherman, MD, Ph.D.said the medical director of breast imaging at MemorialCare Breast Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. Health. “There are many good apps that are easy to use and available online.”

Although the tool can be useful for many women, it cannot accurately estimate a woman’s breast cancer risk if she carries a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, has previously had invasive surgery, or in the place breast cancer, if you have had radiation to the chest, or if you have other inherited syndromes that cause breast cancer.

Your breast cancer risk assessment score is provided as percentages that break down your five- or 10-year risk of developing breast cancer, along with your lifetime risk of developing the disease.

If you use the Gail model, available through the National Cancer Institute, the results are easy to read and your risk score appears next to the average risk for women of the same age, race, and ethnicity to help you see if you are considered in or above the average risk. However, because this tool is intended for healthcare professionals, it is recommended that you print the results to discuss with your healthcare provider.

Knowing your lifetime risk of developing breast cancer can help you make informed decisions about screening; As Munn shared in her Instagram post, having a lifetime risk of 20% or higher puts you in the high-risk category for breast cancer and means you should get a breast MRI and mammogram every year, from 30 years old. With a higher lifetime risk percentage, it is also important to work with a health professional to find the best strategy to manage your health.

Although your breast cancer risk assessment score can be accurately estimated, it is important to note that it cannot definitively predict who will or will not develop breast cancer. Being at high risk does not mean that a person will be diagnosed with breast cancer, just as being at low risk does not mean that a person will never develop the disease.

In that case, it’s essential to use your breast cancer risk assessment score along with other preventive measures, including staying up to date with regular mammograms, Mouabbi said, as well as being familiar with your body and any changes that may arise.

“In the health sector everything revolves around trends related to one’s own personal health,” he said. Christine Greves, MD, obstetrician and gynecologist at Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies in Orlando, Florida. “If you notice a change in your breast, regardless of whether you have those risk factors or not, it is important to tell your doctor for further evaluation.”