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By Parveen Vahora, M.D.
Your family’s medical history holds valuable insights into your health journey. From potential genetic predispositions to early detection of health conditions, the information encapsulated in your family tree can profoundly shape your healthcare experience. Sharing this medical history with your healthcare provider is not just a routine task but a vital step in ensuring personalized care. In this article, we delve into why patients must share their family medical history with their medical providers, exploring how it influences treatment decisions, guides preventive measures, and empowers individuals to make informed choices about their well-being. Let us unravel the significance of this often-overlooked aspect of healthcare.
• Genetic Predispositions: Family medical history can reveal potential genetic predispositions to certain health conditions.
• Early Detection: Some diseases and conditions have a hereditary component, aiding in early detection through screenings and tests.
• Treatment Decisions: It can influence treatment decisions, guiding the choice of medications, therapies, or surgical procedures.
• Preventive Measures: Allows for personalized advice on lifestyle modifications to reduce the risk of developing certain conditions.
• Screening Recommendations: Guides healthcare providers in recommending appropriate screening tests.
• Informed Decision-Making: Patients can make more informed healthcare decisions.
• Research Opportunities: Sharing can lead to research opportunities and contribute to scientific knowledge.
• Proactive Care: Patients can proactively approach their health, seeking advice promptly.
• Healthcare Costs: Early prevention and detection can potentially reduce long-term healthcare costs.
• Emotional Support: Provides emotional support and a sense of connection with family members facing similar health challenges.
If you are unsure of your complete family medical history, the MyRisk Myriad can help. Myriad MyRisk is a genetic test offered by Myriad Genetics, a company specializing in molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine. This test is related to assessing an individual’s genetic risk for diverse types of cancer, including those that primarily affect women. Here is how it relates to women’s cancers:
1. Breast Cancer: Myriad myRisk assesses the risk of hereditary breast cancer. It can identify mutations in genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are associated with an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer, particularly in women.
2. Ovarian Cancer: This test is also relevant to ovarian cancer risk assessment. Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2, as well as other genes, can increase a woman’s susceptibility to ovarian cancer.
3. Uterine Cancer: While not as commonly associated with hereditary factors as breast and ovarian cancer, certain genetic mutations can elevate the risk of uterine cancer. Myriad myRisk may provide insights into this risk as well.
4. Other Women’s Cancers: In addition to the above, the test may provide information about genetic predispositions to other cancers that can affect women, such as cervical cancer, fallopian tube cancer, and peritoneal cancer.
Myriad myRisk analyzes a wide range of genes associated with hereditary cancer syndromes. The results can help healthcare providers and individuals understand their genetic risk for these cancers, allowing for more personalized and proactive medical management. It is important to note that this test is typically recommended for individuals with a family history of cancer or other risk factors. It can guide decisions about surveillance, prevention, and treatment options for women at an increased risk of these cancers. Always consult with a healthcare professional for more information and guidance on genetic testing and cancer risk assessment.
Women with family history of cancer or personal cancer history are not candidates for hormonal therapy. Dr. Vahora offers many options for menopausal symptoms, painful intimacy, and the Genitourinary Syndrome of menopause, including but not limited to the Mona Lisa Procedure. The MonaLisa Touch procedure is a minimally invasive laser treatment to address vaginal atrophy and related symptoms.
DR. PARVEEN S. VAHORA, MD, FACOG: Our practice’s mission is to inspire women to live their best life by providing compassionate and personalized care. We do everything we can to make you feel as comfortable as possible. For all your women’s health needs, we are here by your side through all phases of life.
Our gynecologist’s office is small, intimate, and welcoming. Women under our care are treated with the utmost respect, which means we offer personalized care: educating them on conditions, treatment options, and preventive measures. Our focus is on sexual health. We are proud to offer the MonaLisa Touch® for patients going through menopause as well as post-menopausal women, breast cancer survivors, and those suffering from pain during intercourse or intense dryness. We also offer genetic testing for breast, ovarian, and colon cancer. From birth control to robotic surgery, we have got you covered.
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Trinity Office:
9332 State Road 54, Suite 403, Trinity, FL 34655
727.376.1536