The prevention quiz has been developed by a charity to help people get personalised advice

Anyone who can spare 10 minutes could learn how to reduce their risk of breast cancer by taking a free quiz. Breast Cancer UK offers a prevention quiz designed to help people ‘reduce’ their ‘risk of breast cancer’ by offering a personalised action plan based on their risk factors.

While the quiz is not a diagnostic tool, and anyone requiring medical advice should speak to their GP, it could help people understand their risk factors and become aware of changes they can make to improve their health.

Breast Cancer UK says that around 55,000 women and 400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK. Recommending the quiz, the charity explains: “While some risk factors (like age and genetics) are beyond our control, research shows that many everyday habits can meaningfully affect our breast cancer risk. Understanding those factors is an important first step towards prevention.”

Available online for free, the quiz typically takes about 10 minutes to complete and is aimed at people aged over 18. You need to know your height and weight before starting the questions.

The quiz has five sections to complete and covers a broad range of topics, including your family history of breast cancer, alcohol consumption, diet, physical activity, and other lifestyle factors. As you complete the quiz, you will be offered advice about each topic, based on the answer you select, reports the Mirror.

For instance, when the quiz asks participants to share their age, the charity clarifies that the older you are, the higher your risk, but it is ‘never too soon and never too late to reduce your risk’.

Further into the quiz, the charity asks if people are aware that some everyday products, including cosmetics and cleaning products, contain chemicals that may be linked with breast cancer. If you select ‘no’, the answer names chemicals that could affect hormones and may increase breast cancer risk.

A further question asks participants whether they spend time outside in the sunlight year-round. The charity explains: “Sunlight is the best way for you to take in Vitamin D, which is good for your overall health and has been shown in some studies to reduce breast cancer risk.”

The guidance continues: “It is also good for you to be outside and active, even in the colder months, but always take care to not spend too long in the sun to protect your skin.”

Once completed, the quiz highlights key areas to consider before building a personalised prevention plan with specific recommendations, such as adding more fruit and vegetables to your diet or cutting down on processed meats. The results are then shared by email, with additional guidance available on the Breast Cancer UK website.