The family medical history They are a record of the diseases and conditions that have occurred in your family. Your family members may share genes, habits, and environments that can affect your risk of developing cancer.
Am I at higher risk of developing cancer?
If you have a family history of breast, ovarian, uterine, or colorectal cancer, you may have a higher risk of developing these cancers.
Consult your doctor if…
A family member received a diagnosis of uterine, breast, or colorectal cancer before the age of 50.
Two or more family members on the same side of the family received a diagnosis of uterine, breast, or colorectal cancer.
A family member received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
A family member received a breast cancer diagnosis.
You are a descendant of Eastern European Jews or Ashkenazim.
Talking to a doctor about your family medical history is the first step in finding out if you may have a higher risk of cancer. This can help them decide which cancer screening tests you need, when to start them, and how often. Knowing your family medical history will also help both of you decide whether consulting a genetics specialist or undergoing genetic testing would be good options for you.
3 myths
Myth: If no one in my family has cancer, I won't get it either.
Reality: Most people diagnosed with cancer do not have a family history of the disease. Only about 5 to 10 percent of all cancer cases are hereditary.
Myth: If cancer is hereditary in my family, I will also get cancer.
Reality: Sometimes, people in the same family develop cancer because they share behaviors that increase the risk of the disease, not because they share genes. Behaviors that increase the risk of cancer can include smoking, unhealthy eating habits, and lack of exercise. All of these behaviors can be changed to help reduce the risk of cancer.
In other cases, cancer can be caused by an abnormal gene that is passed down from one generation to the next. In such cases, what is inherited is not the cancer itself, but the abnormal gene, which may or may not result in cancer.
Myth: If I have a very strong family history, there is nothing I can do to protect myself.
Reality: Screening tests can prevent some types of cancer from ever occurring, or detect them early when they are easier to treat. Talk to your doctor about which tests you need and when you should start getting them. Everyone, regardless of family history, can help reduce their risk by avoiding tobacco, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and getting enough exercise.
3 practical tips
First piece of advice. Talk to your family. Discuss your family's health history, including any changes. If a health problem runs in your family, you may be able to take steps to reduce your risk. You can't change your genes, but you can change behaviors that affect your health.
Second piece of advice. Inform your doctor if anyone in your family has been diagnosed with cancer, even if they don't ask. Healthcare providers often ask about family history of cancer at your first appointment, but they don't always follow up if anything changes.
Third piece of advice. If you have a strong family history of cancer and want to learn about its genetic makeup, Zogen is the genetics specialist to find out what genetic testing It might be suitable for you.
Sources:
Person. (2017, November 1). How family history really affects your cancer risk. American Cancer Society. Retrieved January 16, 2023, from https://www.cancer.org/es/noticias-recientes/como-los-antecedentes-familiares-afectan-really-su-riesgo-de-cancer.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Family Medical History and Cancer. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 16, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/spanish/cancer/family-health-history/
