Friday, June 14, 2013

About Women's Health: The Heredity Factor

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From Denise Maher, your About Women's Health Editor
When Angelina Jolie announced that she'd had a double mastectomy because she carries the BRCA1 gene mutation, many women started talking about factors related to breast and ovarian cancers. While the risk for cancer--but not cancer itself--can be inherited, certain cancers are still referred to as "inherited cancers." But what is actually inherited, according to the American Cancer Society, is the abnormal gene that can lead to cancer. "Inherited cancers" aren't extremely common, but predispositions for other diseases are much more so. Even if you don't have close relatives who have experienced breast cancer, Jolie's story is a good reminder to collect and consider your family's health history.

Why Family Health History Is So Important
Knowing the exact medical conditions that your relatives have had can help you identify risk factors for disease. Recording Your Family Medical History
Search Related Topics:  family medical history  genetics  medical records

Is Lung Cancer Inherited?
Many people don't realize that there can be a genetic link to lung cancer. In fact, some lung cancer survivors are young non-smokers. Is Lung Cancer Inherited?
Search Related Topics:  lung cancer causes  genetics and lung cancer 

Is it Genetic?

Your Genes and Your Health
Human genome researchers hope that personalized medicine will improve healthcare--and lives--through earlier detection and diagnosis, and better prevention and treatment of disease. What is Personalized Medicine?
Search Related Topics:  genetics  personalized medicine  human genome project

 


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