10 Reasons You Should Dig Into Your Family Medical History

Your genes play a big role in your health. (Photo: Getty Images/Roy Scott)

May 8 is World Ovarian Cancer Day, a day to raise awareness of a disease that will hit more than 22,000 women in the U.S. this year and more than 190,000 women worldwide. Over half of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer will die from their disease within five years.

While most ovarian cancer occurs from a combination of age, environmental, hormonal, and lifestyle risk factors, a small number of women may carry additional risk factors due to family history or genetics.  

Angelina Jolie recently shared her story about testing positive for a mutation in the BRCA1 gene and learning that she had a very high chance of getting breast and ovarian cancer without proper intervention. But people may not realize there are several genetic syndromes that can increase the risk for ovarian cancer beyond the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Lynch syndrome is thought to affect one in 300 people and greatly increases the risk for colon and uterine cancer, as well as ovarian and other cancers. Several new genes have also been linked to an increased risk for developing breast and ovarian cancer.

Genetic testing may be an option for families who meet appropriate criteria. If you think testing might be helpful for your family, talk about this option with your doctor or find a genetic counselor near you through the National Society of Genetic Counselors.

Here are some important reasons you should learn more about your family’s medical history:

It’s a priceless gift to leave to your children. 

Your family’s medical history is the gift that keeps on giving. What happens if you or your children get sick and you need information immediately? Who wants to run through the family history in a stressful situation? Take the time to share your family’s legacy when you’re all healthy.

When you need to know, your relatives may not be there to ask.

As we age, we are no longer “invincible” and health issues start to surface. You won’t want to look back and realize you should have asked why your uncle died so young or what type of cancer your grandmother developed 20 years ago. Although most cancer is not related to genetics, a family history of cancer, such as ovarian cancer, can as much as double your risk for that particular type of cancer.

Related: 10 Common Symptoms That Could Be Cancer

It’s free and you don’t have to leave home.

Researching your family’s medical history is a great way to get a free medical screening. If you learn that a disease runs in your family, you may be at increased risk and then you can take steps to protect yourself.

Only you can give this information to your health care providers. They can’t learn everything about you from a lab test or X-ray.

There are genetic tests available for certain hereditary diseases, but many families will have diseases or conditions that can’t be determined with a test. The family history itself is an important component of your medical record, and only you can tell it to your doctor.

Knowledge is power, but only if you seek it out — and use it wisely.

What you don’t know can hurt you. By knowing which diseases run in your family, it may be possible to prevent an illness or address it as early as possible when it is more treatable. Did you know that ovarian cancer risk is lower in women who have used birth control pills for five years or longer? Tubal ligation has also been shown to reduce ovarian cancer risk. Your doctor will want to review this information to make sure you are receiving the most appropriate care.

Personalized medicine is in. A one-size-fits-all approach is out.

People are complicated. Diseases are complicated. An individual’s personal history of disease is unique. Learning your family history and risk of genetic diseases can help guide your medical team to prevent or treat diseases in you and your family!

Related: Cancer Expert Recommends Genetic Testing For All Women Over 30

Family recipes should be kept secret — family medical history should not.

Most diseases that run in families are caused by a complicated mix of lifestyle, environment, and chance. But sometimes a single gene can greatly increase the risk of disease and can be passed from one generation to the next. A genetic counselor can help to identify the genetic diseases in your family.

Genetic testing might be right for your family, but it can be complicated.

Most hereditary cancer genes are very rare, but for the right family, genetic testing may be appropriate. However, it is important to understand what test results can tell you, and also what they can’t tell you.  A negative test result may not mean that you do not have an increased risk of cancer. A positive result also does not guarantee a cancer diagnosis. Do yourself a favor and find a health care provider who can guide you through the process and make sure you get accurate information and guidance.

Knowing your risk might save your life.

There is no good way to screen for ovarian cancer — not like we can for breast cancer with a mammogram or cervical cancer with a Pap smear. While some medications and lifestyle choices (such as regular exercise and eating healthy) can lower risk, the only way we can significantly reduce the risk of developing ovarian cancer is by removing the ovaries and the Fallopian tubes. When a woman has a high genetic risk of developing ovarian cancer or a very strong family history, she may be encouraged to consider this surgery, sometimes as early as 35 to 40 years of age. In high-risk women, 2 to 4 percent of women who have this surgery to reduce their risk will find out they already have a cancer that had not yet been detected.

Every family has a story, but not every family has your story.

Every family has its joys and tragedies, dramas and triumphs. Your family helped to make you who you are today, and it influences who you will be tomorrow. Know your family’s story, and maybe you can use it to change your personal story for the better. Your whole family will thank you.

Mary Daly, MD, PhD, is the leader of the Genetic Cancer Risk Assessment Program at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. Learn more about Fox Chase’s Risk Assessment Program by visiting rap-info.fccc.edu.

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