How does iPrevent calculate my future risk of breast cancer?
iPrevent asks women, or their doctor, to enter family and personal history, lifestyle, and reproductive risk factor information. Using that information, it then provides ten year and residual life-time risk estimates.
There are options to view this information as a pictogram or graph. It then provides tailored estimates of the absolute risk reductions for each breast cancer prevention strategy, personalised lifestyle change suggestions and tailored advice on breast cancer screening.
There is an option to print out a summary for the woman to take to a consultation with her doctor, and/or so the doctor can incorporate it into the woman’s medical record.
What research is behind this risk calculator?
iPrevent is highly evidence based. It uses the well-validated IBIS and BOADICEA algorithms to estimate each woman’s person risk of breast cancer.
An international prospective validation study, conducted using data on more than 16,000 women, has confirmed the accuracy of the risk estimates provided. It uses Cancer Australia guidelines to determine which risk management options women are advised about, based on their risk level.
An Australian pilot study of women and doctors has also demonstrated that iPrevent has high usability and acceptability, and suggested that it improves knowledge without increasing anxiety.
How can doctors use iPrevent?
Focus groups conducted with doctors suggest that breast surgeons will find iPrevent particularly useful, not only for managing women at high or moderate risk of breast cancer, but also for reassuring those at average risk.
Medical oncologists less frequently see women without a history of cancer, but questions about the risk of healthy family members, such as daughters and sisters often arise during medical oncology consultations. Medical oncologists may suggest that female family members consider using iPrevent and discuss the results with their GP.
iPrevent also has an “Information for Clinicians” page that provides background information on the tool, references and tips that can help clinicians with the logistics of prescribing risk-reducing medication.
How is Breast Cancer Trials involved with iPrevent?
BCT provided the initial funding to commence the development of iPrevent, through the generosity of supporters, with further funding provided by the National Health and Medical Research Council.
iPrevent was developed by a team of expert BCT doctors, researchers and consumers, including;
- Professor Kelly-Anne Phillips – medical oncologist and breast cancer prevention expert, who led the development of iPrevent tool
- Professor Bruce Mann – breast surgeon and BCT Director of Research
- Professor Phyllis Butow – psychologist
- Associate Professor Ian Collins, medical oncologist
- Ms Leslie Gilham – Chair of the BCT Consumer Advisory Panel
