Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) is pushing for a standardized approach to breast cancer risk assessment, introducing legislation that would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a single, reliable tool for all Americans.
The Know Your Risk Act, unveiled during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, aims to cut through the confusion caused by dozens of existing risk calculators that often yield inconsistent results. Letlow, whose own experience with a high-risk assessment led to a preventive double mastectomy, argues that every woman deserves clarity about her susceptibility to the disease.
“My mother’s battle with triple-negative breast cancer taught me how critical it is to know your own risk,” Letlow said. “After learning I had a high probability of developing breast cancer, I took action. That same opportunity should be available to every woman.”
The bill would task HHS with creating a universal risk assessment tool, while also expanding access through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Letlow, vice chair of the House Appropriations subcommittee on healthcare, emphasized that current tools vary widely in accuracy and are used inconsistently in clinical settings, often leaving patients without a clear picture of their risk.
“We have dozens of tools on the market, each using different metrics,” she noted. “That fragmentation creates confusion and can delay preventive care.”
Research from the National Institutes of Health shows many women are unaware of the value of risk assessments. Letlow’s bill seeks to pair the new tool with a public education campaign to boost awareness and encourage more women to discuss preventive options with their doctors.
The legislation also aligns with broader efforts to improve women’s health research, including the NIH’s new Women’s Health Division and emerging artificial intelligence applications that could refine risk predictions.
With one in eight women expected to develop breast cancer in her lifetime, early intervention remains key. Letlow cited her own story as proof that knowing your risk can lead to life-saving decisions. “No American should be left in the dark about her breast cancer risk,” she said.
The bill has drawn attention as part of a series of health policy moves, including recent bipartisan efforts to mandate genetic test coverage for ovarian cancer and new FDA recommendations on multi-cancer blood tests.
