Family Health History Conversation Guide
About 5 to 10% of breast cancers and 10 to 15% of ovarian cancers are hereditary, meaning they run in the family. If there is a pattern of cancer in your family, your doctor may recommend genetic testing or early cancer screening.
Understanding your family history is an important part of knowing your risk and making the best prevention plan for you. That's why it's so important to collect and know your family health history — which is where this important conversation comes in.
Remember that your family health history is only one part of figuring out your cancer risk. Most cancers are not hereditary. Other factors, like your lifestyle, environment, and your own health history, are all important in understanding your cancer risk.
Certain things can make it hard to collect family history, such as adoption, death, or other family events. If you can't get your family health history, there are other options for you. Talk to your doctor or a genetic counselor about what you can do to find out your risk.
Get Comfortable
This conversation may be hard, so make sure you can find a space where your family feels safe and relaxed. Maybe your aunt or uncle feels uneasy about their recent diagnosis, or your grandmother isn't ready to talk about your grandfather's passing. Maybe your family is more than happy to share. No matter how your family feels, it's important to begin the conversation with a calm attitude and an open state of mind. If your family needs extra time to talk, you may want to set aside more time for a longer conversation.
Think about when it may be best to talk to your family. Is it easier for you to call your relatives, send a group text or email, or talk in person? Is it better to speak to one family member at a time or include several relatives in the same conversation? The answers to these questions depend on you and your family.
Explain Why You're Asking
Cancer and other illnesses may not be typical topics of conversation for your family. Even if your family members are open to discussing their health, it's important to let them know why you're asking about it. You could start the conversation by saying something like:
"I just learned that knowing your family health history can help you prevent disease and diagnose illnesses early. I realized that I don't know much about our own health history. Do you think we could discuss it? Is it okay if I ask a few quick questions to understand what this could mean for my health?"
Have Your Questions Ready
One of the best ways to prepare for the conversation is to have all your questions in front of you. Being prepared gives you a plan for how to have the discussion, and makes you less likely to forget anything. We created a list of questions so that you will feel confident when starting the conversation.
Five key questions to ask:
- Who had cancer?
- What kind of cancer did they have?
- How old were they when they were diagnosed?
- How are they doing now?
- Are there other diseases or illnesses that run in our family?
Collect What You Can
You may have all your questions and a space prepared but then you find out that some of your family members aren't comfortable talking about their health. This process can take time, and you may have to plan more than one conversation or do more research. If you can't answer every question, don't be discouraged. You've taken a big step by collecting what you can.
Share!
After learning about your family's health, it's time to share what you found with your doctor. Bring your notes to your next visit, or upload them to your patient portal. You should also share what you've found with your extended family — after all, you share the same history and a lot of the same risks. If you think some of your family members might feel uncomfortable with you sharing this information, plan another conversation. Talk with them about why it's important to know your family health history. Assure them that you will share the knowledge in a way that will respect their feelings and concerns.
Take the AssessYourRisk Quiz
This tool is designed to help you learn more about your personal risk for breast and ovarian cancers.
Explore More Resources
Interested in learning more about signs and symptoms, risk factors, and screening options for breast and ovarian cancers? Discover more resources.