Estimating Breast Cancer Risk (cont.)
4. Why are some other risk factors left out of the Tool?
Other risk factors for
breast cancer have been identified or proposed but are not included in the
Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool for several reasons: because evidence that
these factors contribute to breast cancer risk is not conclusive, because
researchers cannot determine whether these factors add useful information to
factors already in the model, or because data on other risk factors was not
available in the research data used to develop the model. Such risk factors
include: age at menopause, use of birth control pills, high body mass index, a
high-fat diet, alcohol, radiation exposure, and environmental pollutants.
Recently published research indicates that breast tissue density, measured from
mammograms, can add useful information, but risk models with breast tissue
density measurement still need to be validated with additional independent
studies. Research also indicates that other risk factors, such as use of hormone
therapy, might improve the tool.
5. Is the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool useful for all women?
The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool was developed for women in the United
States population age 35 years or older. It should not be used for women with a
previous diagnosis of breast cancer, women exposed to breast radiation for
treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma, or women who reside in, or recently migrated
from, regions with low breast cancer risk, such as rural China or Japan. More
accurate methods to project risk may be available for women with certain rare
identified mutations, such as alterations in the breast cancer susceptibility
genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool was developed and
has been validated in populations consisting mainly of non-Hispanic white women.
More research is needed to validate or refine the model for other racial and
ethnic groups.
Next: What are some of the latest research findings on breast cancer risk? »
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