Ovarian Colorado
Information for the Public
Why Family History Matters
Heredity can play a role in the development of ovarian cancer. Although any woman has some chance of developing ovarian cancer (about 1 chance in 55 nationally), the risk is higher if close relatives have had certain kinds of cancer. Up to 10% of ovarian cancer is caused by an abnormal gene that can be passed from one generation to the next. If a person carries one of these altered genes, he or she is much more susceptible to cancer.
Know your family history! If there is a history of cancer in your family, your doctor will need to know who had cancer, at what age, and what kind of cancer. You may need to ask your relatives for information if you are not certain about the details.
How to Research Your Family's Medical History
You might know that someone in your family had cancer, or perhaps even died of cancer, but you do not know what type of cancer was involved. It is very important to gather as much information as possible to share with your doctor or other health care professional.
For each relative with cancer, the following information should be obtained:
- What type of cancer?
- Age when it was diagnosed.
- Was there more than one cancer? If so, list all cancers. For example: Mom’s sister Alice had breast cancer at age 43, and ovarian cancer at age 58.
- Was any genetic testing done?
- Remember to gather information about both sides of the family, since the risk for cancer can be inherited from either the mother’s side or the father’s side.
To help with this process, download the Family History Form and give it to your health care provider:
This document is a PDF file and requires the Acrobat Reader to view.
You can also create your own family history on line by going to
http://www.hhs.gov/familyhistory/.
Approaching Relatives for Information
You may need to act like a detective to track down important information. Start by contacting relatives and asking questions. Some people prefer to write a letter, while others will make a phone call. The best source of information may be the person with cancer, if he or she is available. Some individuals are reluctant to ask personal questions of their relatives, but in many cases, the person actually appreciates the concern and welcomes a chance to talk about his or her illness. If you are uncomfortable approaching the individual with cancer, then it may be better to talk with another close relative. The key is to get accurate information, so you may want to get information from more than one source. Take advantage of opportunities such as family reunions to gather information. Does anyone in your family have an interest in tracing the family tree? Perhaps you can enlist their help to include medical information when they are gathering other facts about the family history.
There may be unusual circumstances where family members are not in contact, someone was adopted, or a family member refuses to disclose the needed information. If these situations arise, you may want to talk with your health professional to see how to proceed.
If you have concerns, talk with your doctor or health care professional. If you have a strong family history of cancer, you may be referred to a specialist in hereditary cancer who will be able to evaluate the family history and give you an estimate of your risk, and discuss whether genetic testing might be helpful in your case.
