NCI Risk Assessment Tools | email this page |
Tools to help you and your doctor take action to reduce your risk. |
6 Things to Know BEFORE You Start Questions to Ask Your Doctor |
NCI Risk Assessment Tools: | ||
Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool Melanoma Risk Assessment Tool Colorectal Cancer Risk Assessment Tool |
6 Things to Know BEFORE You Start:
Risk Assessment Tools are used to estimate a person's risk of developing cancer. | ||
The tools estimate a person's risk of developing a particular type of cancer over a certain period of time, for example the next 5 years. Doctors call this type of estimate a person's absolute risk. |
NCI's Risk Assessment Tools can help doctors identify patients at high risk for developing cancer. | ||
Doctors can use a risk assessment tool to identify patients who may be at higher risk for developing a certain type of cancer. They may use this information as a basis for:
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Risk Assessment Tools calculate risk based on factors known to be linked with cancer. | ||
These tools use a person's own risk factors to estimate risk of developing a certain cancer. Risk factors are factors that are known to increase a person's risk of a disease. Depending on the cancer, the tool asks questions about a number of personal and medical factors. For example,
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There are limitations to using Risk Assessment Tools. | ||
Many of the limitations are specific to the type of cancer risk that the tool estimates. However, there are some general limitations to consider, no matter the cancer.
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NCI has Risk Assessment Tools for breast cancer and melanoma (skin cancer). | ||
NCI is working to develop more tools as we learn more about the risk for other cancers. You should check back on this site often to see when other tools are added. |
Risk Assessment Tools are a resource doctors and patients can use together. | ||
It is important to understand Risk Assessment Tools as one tool to help doctors and patients plan for risk reduction. The tools were designed specifically for use by doctors. The best thing to do is to talk to your doctor about information from these tools. |
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Use the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool
Use the Melanoma Cancer Risk Assessment Tool
Use the Colorectal Cancer Risk Assessment Tool |