Talk Turkey and Your Family’s Health History This Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving is traditionally a time to gather with loved ones, express gratitude and enjoy a festive meal. This year, November 28 is also designated as National Family Health History Day. The U.S. surgeon general encourages families to take advantage of this time together to talk about health issues that may run in the family.

Knowing one’s family medical history can help in the prevention and early detection of hereditary diseases. By sharing and recording this information, individuals can better understand their potential risks for certain diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other conditions that have genetic components.

Genetics and cancer risk
About 5 to 10 percent of cancers are linked to mutations in specific genes that we inherit from our birth parents. In fact, the five most common types of cancer diagnosed in the U.S. are known to have a genetic component. These are melanoma (a form of skin cancer), breast, colorectal, prostate and lung cancers.

Consider skin cancer, for example. People with a first-degree relative who has been diagnosed with melanoma or other types of skin cancer have a 50 percent higher chance of developing it than someone without a family history. A first-degree relative includes your biological parents, siblings and children, who share about 50 percent of your DNA.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in American women, representing approximately 30 percent of all new cancer diagnoses among women each year. And although it’s rare, men get breast cancer, too.

Mutations that occur in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can significantly increase the risk of breast as well as ovarian cancer. People with a strong family history of breast cancer, especially if it occurs at a young age or in multiple relatives, may carry one of these genetic mutations.

While having a genetic mutation does not guarantee that a person will develop cancer, it does increase the risk.

Genetic counseling and genetic DNA testing are a proactive approach to understanding your health risks and may be recommended for individuals with a family history associated with known genetic mutations.

If someone knows they have inherited a harmful genetic change, they can take steps to reduce their risk of developing cancer or to detect cancer early. Genetic testing can also be appropriate for people who have been diagnosed with cancer. The information may be important for selecting treatment.

Anyone who is concerned that they may have inherited a harmful genetic change should talk with their health care provider.

Genetic counseling will include a discussion of the implications of testing so that someone can give informed consent to the process. Before having testing, people should discuss both the benefits and the possible downsides of genetic testing.

The importance of lifestyle factors
It’s important to remember, however, that the majority of cancers arise due to a combination of factors, including environmental exposures (such as smoking or radiation) and spontaneous genetic mutations that occur during a person’s life.

There are ways to reduce cancer risk:
• Protect your skin from harmful UV rays from the sun and other sources.
• Don’t smoke. The carcinogens in tobacco can damage nearly every organ in the body, increasing risk for cancer and other diseases.
• Maintain a diet high in fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains and low in red meat, processed foods and sugar.
• Limit alcohol consumption.
• Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily to help control your weight and avoid obesity and give a healthy boost to your immune system.
• Stay current with screenings. Generally, when cancer is detected in its early stages, treatment is less extensive, outcomes are improved and recovery is faster. Screenings are safe, effective and vital. Talk with your primary health care provider to make the best personal decisions about your health status, the benefits and any risks of testing, and how often you should be screened.

What’s your family health portrait?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers tools like the “My Family Health Portrait,” which helps families collect and organize their health information and learn more about the risk for conditions that can run in families.

This holiday season, be sure to pass the pie, along with some details of your family’s health history.

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