Olivia Munn did all the things she knew to be proactive about breast most cancers screening. Her mammogram, ultrasound, and testing for a most cancers gene mutation all got here again destructive.
Her OB/GYN in Beverley Hills, Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi, simply had one query: Did she know her lifetime risk assessment score?
After they did the two-minute take a look at collectively, which assesses elements like household historical past and the date of your first interval, Munn realized she had a 37% threat of breast most cancers. She sought out an MRI — a more practical screening software for girls who, like her, have higher breast density.
“I bear in mind the radiologist mentioned, ‘Why are you right here? You are too younger to be getting an MRI,'” Munn, 45, mentioned in a dwell recording of the “SHE MD” podcast with Aliabadi. Munn mentioned the physician was “so shocked” she knew concerning the lifetime threat evaluation.
Munn was recognized with stage 1 breast cancer at 43 and underwent a double mastectomy. The identical evaluation led to her mom, Kim Munn, additionally being recognized with and handled for stage 1 breast most cancers in July 2025.
The expertise taught Munn that there is not any such factor as being too secure in the case of cancer screenings.
“Most cancers needs us to be too busy,” she mentioned. “You wish to cease it when it is in your yard. You do not wish to cease it at your door…and also you positively do not wish to wait till it is hovering over your mattress.”
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Take the brief take a look at in case you’re over 25
There are a couple of totally different fashions of the breast cancer lifetime threat evaluation, each of which take minutes to finish. The Gail model asks eight primary questions, together with the affected person’s age, race, and household historical past. The Tyrer-Cuzick model goes a little bit extra in-depth, asking about any ovarian most cancers historical past or hormone-replacement remedy utilization.
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In 2023, the American College of Radiology lowered the really helpful lifetime threat evaluation screening age to 25 and up. Whereas the annual breast most cancers screening age is 45, those that rating 20% and up within the evaluation are inspired to talk to their medical doctors and get screened sooner. Some, like Munn and her mom, may additionally endure extra detailed testing, corresponding to getting an MRI — a step that is likely to be skipped with out the evaluation.
“You want to understand it the identical method it’s worthwhile to know what your blood stress is, what your blood sugar stage is,” Munn mentioned. “It is simply one thing very normal.”
