💡 Breast Cancer Prevention Just Leveled Up: What Two Breakthroughs Mean for the Future of Women’s Health

For decades, breast cancer prevention has lagged behind treatment. But this week, two powerful advances signal a turning point in how we detect and prevent disease—not decades from now, but starting today.

In one case, artificial intelligence can now predict a woman’s five-year breast cancer risk from a standard mammogram. In the other, a widely available menopause medication shows promise in reducing the risk of invasive breast cancer in high-risk women.

If you’ve ever asked why women’s health feels left behind—this is what it looks like when research, innovation, and equity start to catch up.

The Headlines: Two Big Wins for Prevention

1. AI Gets FDA Green Light to Predict Breast Cancer Risk From Mammograms

• Clairity Breast, developed by Clairity, Inc., just became the first AI tool authorized by the FDA to predict a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer in the next five years—using only a 2D mammogram.

• It received De Novo clearance, meaning this is a first-of-its-kind technology.

• Instead of relying on family history or self-reported data, it uses AI to detect subtle patterns in breast tissue invisible to the human eye.

2. A Menopause Drug May Help Prevent Invasive Breast Cancer

• A clinical trial presented at the 2025 ASCO meeting found that Duavee (conjugated estrogens + bazedoxifene), already FDA-approved to treat menopause symptoms, reduced cancer cell growth in women with DCIS—a common precursor to invasive breast cancer.

• The combination therapy was well tolerated and could serve dual purposes: relieving menopause symptoms and reducing cancer risk in select high-risk women.

Why This Matters: A Shift Toward Smarter, More Personalized Prevention

For Patients

• More accurate risk prediction: Clairity Breast can flag risk in women who may not otherwise qualify for early or more frequent screening.

• Expanded options: Duavee could offer a prevention pathway for women who can’t take traditional hormone therapy—but still need menopause relief.

• Equity in action: Clairity was trained on a diverse population and doesn’t require costly additional imaging, meaning more women in more places can benefit.

For Clinicians

• Clairity Breast integrates directly into radiology workflows. Results are available after a standard mammogram—no new equipment needed.

• It provides a validated five-year risk score that can inform decisions about follow-up imaging, lifestyle interventions, or genetic counseling.

• Duavee is already on the market and reimbursed by many insurers. It could be a low-barrier, dual-purpose option for high-risk women navigating complex care decisions.

For Policymakers & Payers

• Clairity is launching as a self-pay tool, but efforts are underway to secure insurance and Medicare coverage. Its potential to reduce late-stage diagnoses may ultimately lower costs.

• These examples show the value of investing in prevention, not just treatment—particularly when grounded in real-world accessibility and evidence.

What’s Next—and Why It’s a Model for the Future

Too often, advances in women’s health stall because they fail to reach the women who need them most—or they’re built on biased data that ignores key differences in female biology. But this week’s news bucks that trend.

• Grounded in rigorous research

• Designed to close care gaps

• Easy to integrate into real-world care

• Offers multiple benefits with minimal added burden

These are the kinds of solutions we need more of in women’s health: those that prioritize precision, practicality, and prevention.

TL;DR

Big wins this week in breast cancer prevention:

🧠 Clairity Breast becomes the first FDA-cleared AI tool to predict five-year cancer risk from a mammogram—no family history needed.
🌿 Duavee, a menopause drug already on the market, shows promise in preventing invasive breast cancer in high-risk women with DCIS.

Both are practical, equitable, and signal the kind of innovation women’s health desperately needs.

Take Action

• Ask your doctor about risk-based screening—especially if you’re in your 40s or have concerns despite “normal” results.

• If you’re navigating menopause with a history of high-risk breast lesions, Duavee may be worth a conversation.

• Want updates on what’s working—and what’s next—in women’s health? Subscribe to Fempower Health