GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — Actress Olivia Munn announced this week she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent an double mastectomy.
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. "Breast MRI is one of the most recommended supplemental screening tools for that patient population."
Johnston said every woman between the age of 25 and 30 should begin having that conversation with their primary care doctor.
Patients who have a first-degree relative, like a mother or sister, who had pre-menopausal breast cancer, a known genetic mutation or a combination of risk factors would score higher on the Risk Assessment.
"The goal is early detection," said Johnston. "You're going to be afforded the opportunity to have a less invasive treatment."
Johnston said an encouraging trend she sees is an increased awareness of breast cancer screening and self-breast exams.
"People like Olivia Munn, who have a public persona and have the ability to bring that awareness to the to the general public," said Johnston. "So, people are more aware than they ever have been."
You can take the assessment on the National Cancer Institute's website.
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