Every two or three years, I have a colonoscopy to screen for colorectal cancer.
Thats a far more stringent schedule than the current guidelines outlined by theU.S.
Its also helpful for younger patients.
If you know that theres a strong family history of obesity and diabetes and heart disease, saidDr.
Many of us dont have this information right at our fingertips, however.
Perhaps illness is not something easily discussed in your family.
Perhaps you were adopted.
Perhaps family members have moved abroad or are estranged.
If you have kids, its also information youll want to pass along to them.
Its easier said than done, though, so here are some tips and tools to get started.
What information should be in a family medical history?
If you prefer an electronic tool, the Surgeon GeneralsMy Family Portraitwebsite is a privacy-protected version.
Thats a great starting place, especially if you have limited time or information available.
It absolutely makes a difference in how we treat that person.
If you have one, the resident family historian is a great option.
They can be great opportunities to start these kinds of conversations about family health and history.
Somesample questionsyou can ask include:
Where did you grow up?
What kinds of physical activity did you do while growing up?
What kind of food did you eat when you were a kid?
What was your work environment like?
Did you have any illnesses as a kid?
What about your siblings/cousins?
The best way to approach this conversation is with kindness, Brull advised.
That you want their permission to do this makes it very doable, she added.
Keep in mind, though, that memories are fallible.
I once got it into my head that my paternal grandmother had breast cancer.
Ideally, youll figure it out before you show up at the doctors office.
If you havent, however, just tell your doctor youre not sure.
If your family member is deceased, Brull suggests requesting a death certificate or their medical records.
That said, theres an easy workaround: Ask your doctor to do it for you.
Under HIPAA, theyre allowed to request medical records of deceased relatives on your behalf.
These include sample adoption medical history forms andwebsiteswhere adopted children can search for information on their birth parents.
So, you could still have this genetic predisposition but not have it show up in your results.
Accuracyhas also been an issue with some of these tests.
Most importantly, our genes are often just one factor in determining whether we have a particular medical condition.
Many people with the BRCA gene never develop breast cancer, and many people without it do.
Brull repeatedly emphasized this point in our conversation over Zoom.
Not all genetic risks are created equal, either.
More likely than not, I will not get colon cancer, and thats a relief.
