iPrevent – CHECK YOUR FUTURE BREAST CANCER RISK

What is the iPrevent Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool?

Every woman has an individual breast cancer risk dependent on many things they both can and cannot control, such as:

• family history, 
• menopausal status, 
• height, 
• weight, and 
• lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise.

By knowing more about your risk and understanding how to change some modifiable factors, you can take appropriate actions to prevent or screen for breast cancer.

iPrevent is an  online breast cancer risk assessment tool developed in Australia that has been built to help women understand their breast cancer risk and act on it. It has been created by Breast Cancer Trials (BCT) researchers, using data collected from international clinical trials. 

iPrevent is a breast cancer calculator that has been created with the intention of facilitating prevention and screening discussions between women and their doctors.

iPrevent should only be used by women without a personal risk of breast cancer, meaning women who have never received a breast cancer diagnosis.

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 

Where can I find out more about iPrevent?

More information about the iPrevent tool is available on the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre website.

Professor Kelly-Anne Phillips led the development of the iPrevent tool.

FAQ’s

Does iPrevent align with the Australian breast cancer screening guidelines?

The iPrevent tool aligns with Australian breast cancer screening guidelines. Developed by a multidisciplinary team at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, iPrevent is a validated breast cancer risk assessment and risk management decision support tool designed to facilitate prevention and screening discussions between women and their doctors. It provides women with a personalised report detailing their risk category and management options, which can be discussed with their general practitioner.

The tool integrates two validated risk assessment models, IBIS and BOADICEA, to estimate a woman’s personal breast cancer risk and presents risk-adapted, evidence-based, guideline-endorsed management options.

It’s important to note that iPrevent is intended for use by women who have not had invasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). The tool requires information about personal medical history and family history of cancer to generate a personalised report. No personal information is saved once the session is closed.

By providing personalised risk assessments and management options, iPrevent supports adherence to Australian breast cancer screening guidelines and promotes informed decision-making between women and their healthcare providers.

Can I use iPrevent if I have a family history of breast cancer?

Yes, the tool is specifically designed to include information about family history as a key factor in its personalised risk assessment.

When using iPrevent, you’ll be asked to provide details about:

• The number of family members who have had breast or ovarian cancer.
• The age at which they were diagnosed.
• The relationship of those family members to you (e.g., parent, sibling, aunt).

This information, along with other personal health and lifestyle data, helps iPrevent calculate your risk of developing breast cancer. Based on your risk level, the tool will recommend evidence-based management options that align with Australian guidelines.

If you’re concerned about your family history, iPrevent can also highlight whether genetic counseling or additional testing (e.g., BRCA testing) might be worth considering. It’s a great starting point for discussing personalized prevention or screening strategies with your doctor.

Should I use iPrevent for breast cancer risk without a family history?

Yes, you can use iPrevent to assess your breast cancer risk even if you do not have a family history of breast cancer. While family history is an important factor, it’s not the only one that contributes to breast cancer risk. iPrevent considers a wide range of personal and lifestyle factors, including:

• Age and menopausal status
• Reproductive history (e.g., age at first menstruation, number of children, breastfeeding history)
• Hormone replacement therapy or contraceptive use
• Personal medical history (e.g., prior biopsies or benign breast conditions)
• Lifestyle factors (e.g., weight, alcohol consumption, physical activity)

The tool uses this comprehensive information to estimate your individual risk and provides evidence-based management options tailored to your situation, even if you lack a family history of the disease.

If you’re curious about your risk or are looking to make informed decisions about prevention and screening, iPrevent can be a helpful resource. However, it’s always a good idea to discuss the results with your doctor to understand the implications and determine the best course of action.