Compiling Medical Info
Geneticists and genetic counselors are medical experts in hereditary disease. These experts examine a family’s history of diseases such as cancer and determine the likelihood that there is a hereditary component. To do this, they must consider which family members were diagnosed at what age, and how they are related to other family members. Typically a genetics specialist looks at three generations of a family’s medical history to determine if there is a hereditary pattern. You can assist a genetics specialist by compiling medical information on both sides of your family including:
- First degree relatives
- Siblings
- Children
- Parents
- Second degree relatives
- Half-siblings
- Uncles and aunts
- Grandparents
- Grandchildren
- Nieces and nephews
- Third degree relatives
- Cousins
- Great grandparents
- Great-aunts and Great-uncles
The more detailed the information (actual diagnosis, type of cancer, location), the more helpful it can be. Although hospitals are not required to retain records beyond 10 years, they sometimes have older records available.
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