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WHITE PLAINS, NY — Recent studies emphasize the role of family history in
assessing a woman's overall risk of certain diseases, such as breast, ovarian and other
cancers. One such report in the November 24, 1999, issue of the Journal of the American
Medical Association (Vol. 282 No. 20) reviews the case of a 40-year-old woman with a
strong family history of breast cancer. The report concludes that knowing the details of
the woman's family history are critical to assessing her specific risk factors and
subsequent health strategy.
Breast cancer is not the only disease or medical condition in which family history
plays a critical role. Other diseases, such as ovarian cancer, hypothyroidism, heart disease
and adult onset diabetes also exhibit a strong genetic component. To help women combat
these diseases, the Vagisil Women's Health CenterSM (VWHC) is launching HERstory, a
public education campaign that urges women to learn the facts about their own family
tree.
"Today's advanced medical technologies and screening tests give us and future
generations a way to cope with genetic factors that were unavoidable in the past," says
Adelaide Nardone, M.D., advisor to the VWHC. "That's why an accurate record of a woman's medical history, or HERstory, should be the starting point for any discussion
between a woman and her physician. This will enable the woman and her doctor to develop
pro-active personal health strategies that address her specific risk factors."
The following are some of the diseases/conditions, from minor to life threatening, that
are known to have a genetic link (in alphabetical order):
- Anxiety disorders — generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder have a strong
genetic component. Some experts say they could be inherited in nearly 35 to 45
percent of the cases.
- Autoimmune diseases — e.g. lupus, scleroderma, Sjorgren's syndrome, rheumatoid
arthritis. A family history of autoimmune diseases increases the risk for both women
and men. You may be born with genes that make you susceptible, however you will
not develop the disease unless your are exposed to a specific trigger or environmental
factor.
- Breast cancer (female) — there is no other type of cancer that has such a strong
genetic link. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer incidence rates
are now about 110 per 100,000 women. Some sources report that the average woman
has a 13 percent risk (over her lifetime), which jumps to 21 percent with one affected
relative or 26 percent if that relative is her mother (40 percent if the mother was
premenopausal when the cancer was diagnosed).
- Colon cancer — some experts believe that 50 percent of all colon cancers are
genetically based. A person is considered at moderate risk if any first-degree relatives
(parent or sibling) developed colon cancer under the age of 60, or two or more firstdegree
relatives developed it at any age.
- Depression — a large percent of the risk for major depression comes from genetic
factors. This illness affects approximately 16 million Americans and is twice as likely
to strike women than men.
- Diabetes — Type II or "adult onset" diabetes. The more relatives you have with this
disease, the higher your risk of getting it. While research doesn't show how often it's
passed along from mother to daughter, studies do show there is a strong genetic
component. An estimated 8 million women in the U.S. have it, and as many as a third
of them don't know it, making it essential to ask your mother about it.
- Heart disease — if you have a family history of heart disease, it is important to know
the age at which your relatives developed it. A woman whose mother or sister was
diagnosed with heart disease before the age of 65 has a higher risk of heart disease
than someone without a maternal history of the illness.
- Menopause — specifically, the age at which menopause occurs tends to be the same
across generations, so you will probably start to notice symptoms when your mother
did. This is especially important if your mother went through premature or early
menopause, which can begin in the 30s, and can impact your plans to have children.
The way a woman experiences menopause — hot flashes, mood swings and sleep
disturbances — is also thought to have family ties. With menopause, there is also an
increased risk of osteoporosis and heart disease.
- Migraines — affect some 26 million Americans. Seventy to 90 percent of people with
severe headaches say someone else in their family also suffers from them. Some
experts say it's often passed from mother to daughter.
- Osteoporosis — for women, the risk is greater if someone else in their family has the
same condition. Check your relatives to see if they've lost height as they've aged, had
curvature of the spine, or suffered fractures from falls or accidents that were relatively
minor. These are all possible signs of osteoporosis, which may not have been
formally diagnosed in past generations.
- Ovarian cancer — having multiple relatives with this disease puts one at higher risk
of this uncommon, but often deadly disease. The genes for inherited ovarian cancer
can be passed down through either your father's or your mother's side of the family.
If you know about a first-degree relative with ovarian cancer, it's important to check
your family history carefully: sometimes breast, abdominal, stomach or colon cancers
were actually cancers that began in the ovaries. This can make a big difference in
determining your own risk factors for this hard-to-diagnose disease.
- Pregnancy problems — such as stretch marks, varicose veins and swollen feet or ankles,
often run in families since the women may share the same physical characteristics, such
as thin skin, weak veins and poor circulation. If your mom had any of these symptoms
when she was pregnant, take precautions when your time comes. These include wearing
support hose, keeping your weight gain steady and moderate, exercising appropriately
and avoiding standing for long periods of time.
- Psoriasis — jumps from one to two percent risk in the general population to 25
percent if one parent has the condition.
- Stroke — your risk increases if you have one or more close relatives who suffered a
stroke. However, the genetic link is complex, and not fully understood. If stroke runs
in your family, find out what type of stroke it was and tell your doctor who can begin
screening, if necessary.
- Substance abuse (drugs, alcohol, nicotine) — about 60 percent inherited, experts
say.
- Thyroid disease — women are eight times more likely than men to develop a thyroid
disorder. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone) is
Grave's disease, which runs in families.
Source: Vagisil Women's Health Center, 2002, www.vagisil.com
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