Dr. Suhas Aagre, an oncologist and hemato-oncologist, says, “When it comes to cancer or any other disease, it’s important to know your family history. The families have similar genetic backgrounds, environments, and lifestyles. And evaluating these factors will help to understand the conditions that run in the family.
“After checking patterns of disorders among family members and doing some tests, a doctor will be able to determine if the person, a family member, or the future generation is at increased risk of developing cancer or any other particular condition,” said Dr. .agre. add.
Why is it important to know family history?
It’s a great tool to help your doctor understand if you have cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, certain cancers, and type 2 diabetes.
“These complex disorders are seen due to genetic factors, environmental conditions, and lifestyle choices. Family history can also provide information about the risk of rarer conditions caused by variants (mutations) in a single gene, such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease. But remember that someone with no family history will also be at risk for cancer,” says Dr. Aagre.
Take these vital steps if you have a family history of cancer
If you scan your family history and find out cancer runs in the family, then you need to be careful. You’ll need to take extra steps, such as screening tests and other steps to lower your risk of cancer or find it early and get treatment right away. For example, those who are at risk for cancer will need frequent mammograms or colonoscopies starting at a younger age.
A person who has a family history of cancer should adopt a healthy lifestyle. Try to maintain optimal weight and follow a well-balanced diet by limiting your intake of fatty, canned, processed, and junk foods. This means that one has to avoid baked goods, Chinese food, hamburgers, French fries, candy, soft drinks, colas and candy. Exercise every day and stay stress free. Doing so can also help minimize the risk of other diseases.
You may be wondering how to get to know the family’s health history. So you can talk to family members about your health. A family meeting might be a good time to discuss these issues. Obtaining medical records and other documents (such as obituaries and death certificates) helps you understand the cause of the relative’s death and will give you insight into illnesses that run in the family. You will need to keep in touch with your doctor regularly in case you have a family history of the disease.
.
