Risk assessment models to estimate cancer probabilities.

Cancer risk has become a significant research topic due to an increase in statistical risk models built to predict cancer incidence or mortality. Over the past 3 years, 15 models on the development of different types of cancer, including breast, colorectal, prostate, gastric, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, testicular, and skin, have been published. Risk assessment models are dynamic; they need to be updated as often as risks are discovered or changed. Not only are cancer risk models challenging to build, but, due to literacy-related issues, the cancer risk itself is challenging to communicate to the public. Clearly, guidelines outlining how to create valid and reliable risk assessment models are needed.