Breast Cancer Risk (Gail Model) Calculation Methods

The halls.md detailed breast cancer risk calculator offers a choice of two calculation methods, called "Gail model 1" and "NSABP model 2".   If you are curious, you can compare the results of my calculator to some other calculators.  You'll find that my results are close, but not exactly the same.

Other calculators available are:

• A modified Gail model calculation from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. To use it, you may need to download a Macromedia Authorware plug-in.  I endorse the modifications they've made, but those modifications make their results different from my implementation of the Gail model 1.
• The NCI has a website version of the Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool. Their calculator should be considered the most authoritative and accurate standard. The results of my NSABP model 2 calculator differ slightly from the NCI's tool, because of programming technique differences.

Are you confused?  The Gail model is named after Dr. Mitchell H. Gail, who (along with other colleagues) published several famous papers describing the scientific basis for the risk calculation.  The NSABP stands for National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project.  It is a big organization that has conducted many important research studies.  The NSABP used the original Gail model and modified it for a research study.  That is why I call it NSABP model 2. (It could also be called Gail model2, but that would be even more confusing.)  You can read more about NSABP model 2 in this news article

My calculator is designed to calculate fast estimates (in contrast to the slowness of the other tools above). It recalculates automatically whenever you change a pop-up menu item (if you entered your age).  Some people find it entertaining to experiment with the menu choices,  (for example, question 10 concerning alcohol).  Although entertaining, breast cancer risk can be serious. If you need a serious assessment and discussion of your personal risk, I recommend you contact a professional risk assessment service, or discuss it with your own doctor.

Click here to continue to read a detailed description of how the breast cancer risk calculator was designed.

Back to the Breast Cancer Risk Calculator. or back to the halls.md index of health calculators.