Breast Cancer Risk Assessment helps women determine risks sooner [Video]

The 43-year-old actor shared on Instagram Wednesday she had done genetic testing for common breast cancer genes, plus a yearly mammogram. Neither detected breast cancer. Two months later, her OB/GYN did a Breast Cancer Risk Assessment with her at a check up. That is when she discovered she had a higher risk for breast cancer. 

The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment is a tool used by doctors such as OB/GYNs and primary care doctors to determine the risk of someone getting breast cancer within five years or their lifetime. It asks questions such as family history of breast cancer, age of pregnancies and age a woman first had her period. 

“With that information, the American College of Radiology recommends that patients who have a lifetime risk of breast cancer greater than 20% to undergo supplemental screening,” said Jennifer Johnston, clinical advisor for breast imaging at Corewell Health.…