Meet the family…history – The importance of your family health history and pancreas disease

By
Sheila Solomon, MS, CGC
Certified Genetic Counselor
University of Pittsburgh
Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
solomonsr@upmc.edu

The most wonderful time of the year is here. We cherish our family and loved ones. We reminisce of the time Uncle Joe pulled that hilarious stunt and laugh about the year the turkey was burnt to a crisp (though, admittedly, it wasn’t so funny at the time).

Sharing memories is a wonderful way to pass along family lore, traditions and stories to younger generations.  It is what that keeps our ancestors alive within us.  But we get more than traditions from our ancestors.  Our genes, the basic instruction code for how our bodies grow, develop and function, are also passed down from parent to child.

Genes can determine visible traits like blonde or brown hair, eye color and freckles. They can also predict health and disease risk. Genes have been linked with heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease among other medical problems.

In some cases, pancreatic cancer and other pancreas-related diseases like pancreatitis can be associated with inherited factors.  About 5-10% of pancreatic cancer is hereditary, meaning that the risk for developing it is caused by a gene mutation, or a faulty gene.  Genetic tests can personalize the cancer risk for each family member.  In addition, these tests can offer options for medical decision making and healthy lifestyle changes.

For this reason, it is important to connect with your relatives and ask them about their health and that of their parents, grandparents and other relatives.

Nearly six years ago, in 2004, the Family Health Portrait was developed by a collaboration between the Office of the Surgeon General and the National Human Genome Research Institute, a part of the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services.  The Family Health Portrait is an easy online tool for families to collect health information about their relatives.  It provides a hard copy for you to keep and take to your healthcare provider for more information. Better yet, share your Family Health Portrait with a genetic counselor.

Genetic counselors are healthcare professionals who specialize in hereditary diseases, work with families to understand their options for healthy living and disease prevention.  There are over 2,600 genetic counselors in the US and around the world. You can locate the genetic counselor closest to you by visiting the website of the National Society of Genetic Counselors at: http://www.nsgc.org.

You may ask, “What, when, where, why and how?” It’s easy! Just take a deep breath and go for it. Start the conversation by explaining how important staying healthy is and that you want to learn more about how the family can do this together.  Learning about the past can be the backbone to seeing what the future may bring.

Here are the details:

What: Learn about your family’s health history.

When and Where: Around the holiday table, relaxing by the fireplace or in the kitchen during meal preparation, anytime your family is gathered together.

Why: Many preventative options are available once you know your family’s health history.  Once you have your information, share it with your doctor or a genetic counselor.

How: Visit the “My Family’s Health Portrait” at https://familyhistory.hhs.gov/fhh-web/home.action

Happy Holidays!