Olivia Munn says this breast most cancers danger evaluation rating saved her life. Here is what to know.

Actress Olivia Munn revealed she was identified with an aggressive type of breast most cancers generally known as luminal B in February 2023, in an emotional Instagram she posted on March 13. Solely two months previous to the analysis, the 43-year-old Every day Present correspondent and star of The Newsroom had finished genetic testing and discovered she was unfavorable for the cancer-linked BRCA gene. Munn additionally mentioned she lately had a standard mammogram. “I wouldn’t have discovered my most cancers for an additional 12 months — at my subsequent scheduled mammogram — besides that my OBGYN, Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi, determined to calculate my Breast Most cancers Threat Evaluation Rating.”

Munn had a 37% danger of creating breast most cancers, in response to the evaluation by her physician. Because of this, she went for additional testing, resulting in her analysis. Munn had luminal B tumors in each breasts. She wrote that the danger evaluation “saved my life.” She’s now undergone a double mastectomy to stop the most cancers from spreading, in addition to reconstructive surgical procedure.

Right here’s what to find out about luminal B breast most cancers, and the way to assess your personal danger.

What’s luminal B breast most cancers?

Luminal B breast most cancers accounts for as much as 20% of the greater than 240,000 new instances of breast most cancers identified annually, in response to the Susan G. Komen Foundation. It tends to be identified in youthful individuals, in comparison with different types of breast most cancers, and is extra more likely to develop inside 10 years of giving start.

Breast cancers could be divided into three teams, or lessons: these which might be fueled by the hormones estrogen or progesterone; these which might be fueled by a protein called HER2; and those who aren’t delicate to any of those hormones or HER2, generally known as triple unfavorable breast most cancers.

Luminal tumors are delicate to each hormones and the HER2 protein. “Luminal A tumors are extra gradual rising, and are typically very strongly hormone delicate, versus luminal B, that are additionally very hormone-sensitive however could also be quicker rising or extra aggressive,” Dr. Halle Moore, director of breast medical oncology at Cleveland Clinic, tells Yahoo Life. Additionally they have a high risk of recurrence, so the therapy could must be extra aggressive, Moore provides.

Nevertheless, as a result of luminal tumors are delicate to each estrogen and progesterone, in addition to the HER2 protein, they are often focused with hormone therapies, Moore says. Out of the 4 main subtypes of breast most cancers, luminal B tumors have the second-best prognosis, with a 90.7% five-year survival charge. Triple unfavorable most cancers, alternatively, grows extra aggressively, doesn’t have good targets for therapy and is extra more likely to be deadly, in response to the American Cancer Society.

Munn revealed that she’d undergone a double mastectomy to assist scale back the possibilities that her most cancers will unfold or come again. She has not specified what sort of therapy she has acquired, however Moore says that sufferers with luminal B breast most cancers sometimes bear chemotherapy, hormone therapy or each to stop recurrence. In additional extreme instances, sufferers could get radiation therapy as nicely.

What’s the breast most cancers danger evaluation rating Olivia Munn says saved her life?

There are a number of variations of breast most cancers danger evaluation instruments that use details about your well being historical past and your loved ones’s historical past of most cancers to generate a rating on your approximate danger of creating breast most cancers. This sometimes contains questions on whether or not and what number of of your first-degree family members — resembling your mom, sisters and daughters — have had breast most cancers and, if that’s the case, whether or not they’ve examined optimistic for a BRCA gene mutation or one other genetic situation linked to breast most cancers. Age, race and reproductive historical past additionally play a job in calculating your danger.

“The largest danger issue for breast most cancers is being feminine, and it seems that the extra years of circulating estrogen you’ve had, the upper the danger of breast most cancers,” says Moore. “So beginning your interval at a youthful age or going by means of menopause at an older age can contribute to your danger.” Being pregnant, alternatively, has an impression on the circulation of estrogen and might reduce breast cancer risks, particularly in case you get pregnant for the primary time when you’re youthful, she provides.

It is value noting this evaluation device is just relevant for individuals between the ages of 35 and 85. It additionally gained’t have in mind all elements, like publicity to radiation for therapy of different situations, which might improve breast most cancers dangers considerably, Moore says.

You possibly can ask your ob-gyn or different well being care supplier to do a danger evaluation for you, or you’ll be able to strive this online tool from the National Cancer Institute. The evaluation device is meant for individuals who don’t carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations linked to larger breast most cancers danger. When you can actually use the device by yourself, Moore says doing it with a well being care supplier is a good suggestion, so you’ll be able to give you a plan for screening with them.

In case your danger evaluation rating is 20% or larger, Moore says you and your well being care supplier may need to think about methods to assist scale back your dangers, in addition to additional screenings or beginning screening early.

When to get screened and the way to scale back your breast most cancers dangers

Mammograms, which take X-ray pictures of the breast to search for indicators of most cancers, are the gold customary for breast most cancers screening. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that girls with common danger of breast most cancers begin getting mammograms each different 12 months at age 50, whereas the American Cancer Society (ACS) says annual mammograms ought to begin at age 45. There’s additionally latest analysis that claims getting screened starting at age 40 can save lives, so it is vital to speak to your well being care supplier concerning the timing of screenings.

If you happen to’re at excessive danger — both based mostly on a danger evaluation rating that takes into consideration your loved ones and reproductive histories, or as a result of you may have examined optimistic for a BRCA gene variant — the ACS says it is best to begin getting an annual mammogram and annual breast MRI at age 30. After discovering out her danger rating, Munn underwent each, adopted by a biopsy.

Well being organizations and suppliers do not suggest BRCA testing until you may have the next danger, resembling a household historical past of breast and ovarian most cancers or a relative who has been identified with a BRCA mutation. It is also value noting that BRCA gene mutations are thought of uncommon, solely affecting about 0.2% of the U.S. population, in response to the Cleveland Clinic. If you happen to get examined and are unfavorable, like Munn, that may assist decide the most effective therapy choices in case you ever develop breast most cancers, Moore says.

“There are some dangers we are able to modify and a few that we are able to’t,” resembling our age and household historical past, she provides. However “there are issues one can do this aren’t integrated into these danger calculations, like avoiding or limiting alcohol consumption and sustaining a wholesome physique weight and wholesome, lively life-style by exercising recurrently.”