What Your Risk Level Means
Understanding your risk category and how it guides your plan.
Risk categories
Future risk of breast cancer is grouped into three categories (as defined by Cancer Australia). Most women fall into the average‑risk category. Importantly, no individual’s future risk is ever 0% or 100%. Use the table below to see what each category means and how common they are.
| Category | Definition | How common |
|---|---|---|
| Average population-like | < 1.5× the population risk |
~95% of women
|
| Moderate somewhat increased | 1.5–3× the population risk |
~4% of women
|
| High substantially increased | > 3× the population risk |
~1% of women
|
How your risk level is used
Your risk level helps determine the age you start screening, the interval between screens, and the imaging modalities that are right for you. It also guides whether genetic testing should be considered and whether a specialist consultation for risk management is appropriate. We also use your risk profile to check your eligibility for Medicare rebates for your imaging. Importantly, your screening recommendation is based not only on your risk level, but also your breast density, your age, and current Medicare rules.