Breast Cancer Risk (Gail Model) Calculator

Work out breast cancer risk (gail model) instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Breast Cancer Risk (Gail Model) Calculator

Scales the population baseline breast cancer risk by a relative risk from a validated model to give absolute lifetime and five-year estimates.

Formula

Absolute risk from relative risk

Absolute risk = population baseline risk x relative risk; the American Cancer Society offers MRI screening at 20% or more lifetime risk

Worked example

With the default values below, Breast Cancer Risk (Gail Model) Calculator returns Estimated lifetime risk of 23.22%. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Relative risk from a validated modelaccepts 0.5–10: 1.8
Population lifetime riskaccepts 5–20 %: 12.9 %
Population 5-year risk at your ageaccepts 0.1–10 %: 1.4 %

Results

Estimated lifetime risk: 23.22%
Estimated 5-year risk: 2.52%
Screening band: 20% or more lifetime risk — enhanced screening usually offered
Relative risk applied: 1.80

Step by step

1Values used
2Absolute risk from relative risk
3Estimated lifetime risk= 23.22
4Estimated 5-year risk= 2.52
5Screening band= 20% or more lifetime risk — enhanced screening usually offered
6Relative risk applied= 1.80

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 3 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
Educational estimate only. Not a substitute for professional clinical judgement, and must not be used to make treatment or dosing decisions.
This is an estimate for general information and not professional medical advice. See the full disclaimer for the limits that apply to this kind of calculator.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Educational estimate only. Not a substitute for professional clinical judgement, and must not be used to make treatment or dosing decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why enter a relative risk rather than risk factors?

The Gail model uses fitted coefficients and race-specific baseline hazards; entering its output keeps the arithmetic here transparent.

Which women should not use Gail?

Those with BRCA mutations, prior chest radiotherapy or lobular carcinoma in situ, where Gail underestimates risk.