Tyrer-Cuzick and the MyRisk Hereditary Cancer Test® with RiskScore®: Risk Assessment Tools for a Smarter, Personalized Approach to Breast Cancer Screening

One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, but risk isn’t one-size-fits-all.¹ Some women carry a much higher likelihood based on their genes, family history, or other personal factors. The good news: you don’t have to guess where you stand. Today, tools like the Tyrer-Cuzick risk assessment and the MyRisk Test with RiskScore can estimate your individual risk with accuracy, helping you and your healthcare provider make proactive, informed decisions about your health. 

Knowing your risk can shape when you start screening, what type of imaging is recommended, and whether additional prevention strategies might be right for you. In other words, understanding your risk isn’t just informative—it’s potentially lifesaving. 

Tyrer-Cuzick and beyond: Traditional models and next-generation tools

That’s where risk assessment models come in. One of the most widely used is the Tyrer-Cuzick model, a tool that estimates a woman’s likelihood of developing breast cancer based on factors like age, family history, reproductive background, and genetics. It’s an important first step toward understanding your personal risk. 

And while the Tyrer-Cuzick model gives a solid estimate, newer tools like the MyRisk Test with RiskScore are now helping women see an even more personalized view of their risk—offering insights that go beyond family history and traditional factors. 

What is the Tyrer-Cuzick risk assessment tool?

Healthcare providers often rely on the Tyrer-Cuzick model (also called the IBIS tool) to help estimate a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. It combines a range of personal and family health factors, such as age, reproductive history, genetic mutations, and family history of breast cancer, to estimate a woman’s likelihood of developing breast cancer over the next 10 years and across her lifetime.² 

Providers use this model to identify women who may benefit from more frequent screening or preventive strategies. But while the Tyrer-Cuzick model is powerful, it’s not perfect. It’s based on population data and doesn’t always capture the full picture. 

The MyRisk Test with RiskScore: A more complete picture of your risk

The Tyrer-Cuzick risk assessment is a strong starting point, but like any population-based model, it has limits and can’t fully account for your unique biology or subtle genetic influences.  

That’s where the MyRisk Test with RiskScore comes in. Rather than replacing the Tyrer-Cuzick model, it enhances it. RiskScore incorporates small variations in your DNA that can influence breast cancer risk, to create a more precise and personalized estimate. By combining traditional risk factors with genetic insights, RiskScore helps providers go beyond family history to understand your personalized risk.  

• Includes genetic data from more than 90 markers linked to breast cancer risk  
• Provides 5-year and remaining lifetime breast cancer risk estimates
• Validated in over 130,000 women in real-world studies³

Comparing Tyrer-Cuzick vs. the MyRisk Test with RiskScore

To better understand the difference between traditional risk assessment and a more personalized approach, it helps to see Tyrer-Cuzick and the MyRisk Test with RiskScore side by side. The table below breaks down what each tool considers, how accurate it is, and how it informs care, so you can see why the MyRisk Test with RiskScore may provide a more complete picture of your breast cancer risk.

	Tyrer-Cuzick alone	The MyRisk Test with RiskScore
Basis of assessment	Personal health history and family background	Everything Tyrer-Cuzick assesses plus your genetic information
Risk prediction accuracy	Good, but may miss genetic or ancestry-based risk	Twice as accurate at predicting breast cancer risk3,4,5
Who it works best for	Mostly validated for women of European ancestry	Validated for women of all racial and ethnic backgrounds3
Impact on care	Provides a general estimate of risk	Can change your risk level, informing personalized screening and prevention4
Why it matters	Helps you understand general risk based on personalized risk factors and family history	Delivers a highly personalized risk profile by adding genetic insights, enabling more precise screening and prevention strategies

Real-world studies show that nearly 20% of patients received a different risk assessment when evaluated with RiskScore compared to Tyrer-Cuzick alone.⁶ This reclassification often led to more appropriate, guideline-aligned screening decisions, ensuring that each patient received care tailored to their actual risk level rather than a generalized estimate. 

Individualized insights you can act on

Understanding your breast cancer risk directly shapes the care you receive. A more accurate risk estimate helps guide screening decisions and ensures high-risk individuals get the attention they need. This could mean starting mammograms earlier, having them more frequently, or adding a breast MRI. 

It also opens the door to meaningful conversations with your healthcare team about prevention and monitoring strategies that make sense for you. While the Tyrer-Cuzick model provides a strong foundation, the MyRisk Test with RiskScore takes it a step further by incorporating genetic insights, giving a more complete, personalized view of your risk. For women seeking a truly individualized and inclusive approach to breast cancer risk assessment, the MyRisk Test with RiskScore offers a more complete picture. 

A real-life RiskScore story of hope

Taking the next step with the MyRisk  Test with RiskScore 

Understanding your breast cancer risk is a meaningful step toward taking control of your health. It’s also natural to feel apprehensive when learning more about your risk, but taking this step gives you clarity, control, and empowerment. 

You can take action in ways that feel comfortable for you: 

1. Request a discussion guide to bring to your next appointment. This guide helps you start the conversation with your healthcare provider. It outlines what RiskScore is, how it complements the Tyrer-Cuzick model, and the questions you can ask to better understand whether it’s right for you. 

2. Learn your RiskScore by taking the MyRisk Test with RiskScore. Through our virtual care option, you can connect with a board-certified genetic counselor who will help determine if you meet criteria for testing, order the MyRisk Test with RiskScore, and guide you through the process. The test itself is simple and noninvasive—just a saliva sample you can provide from the comfort of home. The test evaluates 63 genes to assess your risk for 11 different hereditary cancers. Those with an elevated risk of developing breast cancer will receive their RiskScore as part of their test results. 

Most commercial and federally funded insurance plans cover hereditary cancer testing,⁷ and the majority of patients face no out-of-pocket costs for the MyRisk Test.⁸ For those who do, flexible options are available to make testing accessible and affordable. 

Whether you start by talking to your provider or exploring virtual care, taking this step means taking ownership of your health with the clarity, confidence, and support you deserve. 

References:

1. American Cancer Society. How common is breast cancer? Accessed November 11, 2025. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.html 
2. The Tyrer‑Cuzick Model: Understanding the Assessment and Your Breast Cancer Risk. National Breast Cancer Foundation. August 5, 2025. Accessed November 11, 2025. https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/blog/tyrer-cuzick-model/
3. Mabey B, Hughes E, Kucera M, et al. Validation of a clinical breast cancer risk assessment tool combining a polygenic score for all ancestries with traditional risk factors. Genet Med. 2024;26(7):101128. 
4. Hughes E, Wagner S, Pruss D, et al. Development and Validation of a Breast Cancer Polygenic Risk Score on the Basis of Genetic Ancestry Composition. J CO Precis Oncol. 2022;6:e2200084.
5. Hughes E, Probst B, Pederson HJ, et al. A breast cancer (BC) risk model incorporating Tyrer‑Cuzick version 8 (TCv8) and a polygenic risk score (PRS) for diverse ancestries. J Clin Oncol. 2022;40(16_suppl):557‑557. 
6. Hughes E, Tshiaba P, Wagner S, et al. Integrating clinical and polygenic factors to predict breast cancer risk in women undergoing genetic testing. JCO Precis Oncol. 2021;5:307-316.
7. CDC. Preventive Services Coverage. February 16, 2024. Accessed November 11, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/high-quality-care/hcp/resources/preventive-services-coverage.html
8. Myriad Genetics Inc. Based on a review of 12 months of past claim data for major insurance carriers across the US, the majority of patients face no out‑of‑pocket costs for their MyRisk® Test. Last updated 2024. Salt Lake City (UT): Myriad Genetics, Inc.; 2024. Accessed November 11, 2025. https://myriad.com/affordability/myrisk/