SHARING THE FAMILY TREE
How important is it to share family information?
We have birthday parties, anniversary parties, maybe we need to have family tree parties. A time when we gather the generations of a family together and share the genetic thread that connects everyone in that family.
Wouldn’t it be worthwhile to know from the elders in the family how our family members lived and died over the years? I mean, if heart disease is a common problem from generations back, wouldn’t you want to know that? Cancer…colon, breast, prostate…all connected through the genome..it would be nice to know if family members suffered with those cancers.
It would mean more frequent check-ups. Symptoms that you might shake-off as nothing, might take on more importance if you knew a relative had the same issues.
Charting the family tree can prove to be an interesting history lesson as well as a life saving one too.
June 12, 2011 @ 2:04 pm
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, my doctor asked about my family history. Both my parents are long gone, and I think cancer was something people used to be afraid to disclose. I laughed when my uncle called me and said he was sorry to hear about my problem. My mother was from the Czech Republic. She escaped in 1948 and didn’t return to Europe until 1983. That was the year my father passed away. I know her mother and one of her brothers died young. Her brother had cancer but I don’t know what her mother had. On my father’s side one of his sisters died of cancer. She had lung cancer and they removed part of one lung, but it was melenoma that took her life. One of my younger brothers also had melenoma, at age 30. It’s been over 15 years and no recurrence though I don’t know if he goes for regular checkups. I definitely agree that it is important to share our family medical history. My children are aware of their family medical history. You never know, this information could save a life.
June 11, 2011 @ 8:55 am
I think family history is very important. I dabble a lot with the family genealogy and really love doing this, except for the time required. However, there usually aren’t too many written records about family disease history available; perhaps, once in a while, a few words in an obituary as to cause of death. I never knew my biological father or his family; I have had correspondence only in recent years and found that he had died in his 70’s from heart disease.
My mother’s side, however, had quite a strong history of breast cancer. Her mother died at age 31 from this disease, leaving five children who were all put in an orphanage during the depression. She was born in Ireland; three of her sisters, and several nieces also had the disease. My mother’s two sisters had it; one died from it. Two of this aunt’s daughters had it and one died of it. My mother also had it, towards the end of her life with mets to the bones. I was always aware of this and made sure that I had my periodic checkups all the time, but so far, I have been very lucky in regard to this.
My mother also had cervical cancer at age 40; at that time, they implanted radium which made for a really tough recovery and some long-term affects on her bones.
My daughter developed stage IV lung cancer but I know of no family history of this disease. However, she did start smoking very young and we were never successful in getting her to stop. She also had a hacking cough and hoarseness for a long while but always refused to worry about it or get it checked until too late. I imagine this might have been because I have a life-time chronic cough; no one has ever been able to find a definite cause and my lungs are fine; she probably thought it would be the same for her.
So, I do believe that being aware of your family history of disease should be important to you; but just because you are not aware of any, doesn’t mean it wasn’t there. Nor does it mean that you will be able to avoid it, but you may have a second chance if you take the proper cautions beforehand. And keep yourself as healthy as possible in the meantime.
June 10, 2011 @ 2:57 pm
Thank you.
June 10, 2011 @ 9:59 am
In my family tree cancer was the culprit on my father’s side. He died from melanoma and now I have it. Have counseled my kids and now grandkids to be diligent, when out in the sun, to use sunscreen, hats, etc. On my mother’s side, Alzheimer’s, dementia, hardening of the arteries (as it was once called) was the culprit. Talk about a double whammy. At least I know as did my mother before alzheimer’s claimed her. My father was of the generation that didn’t go to doctors unless a dire emergency. When he was diagnosed with melanoma, it was too late.
On a more positive side, there is a written history on my mother’s side of the family. She was one of 12 kids. Really good info for the grandkids to know from whence they came.
June 9, 2011 @ 8:17 pm
Interesting thought…