What to Do Before an Appointment?
Before your visit to the Hereditary Cancer Program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, here are a few things that will be helpful before your first visit:
Collect Your Family History
Before the first appointment, it will be helpful to collect information about family members that have had cancer. Important information includes:
- What type of cancer a family member had
- At what age they first found out that they had cancer
Medical reports can sometimes be helpful, including pathology reports, hospital medical records and death certificates. This can assure that accurate information is used in assessing your family's risk. Although these documents may be helpful, they are not always necessary for risk assessment.
A family history of cancer can increase your own risk for developing cancer. Learning more about your relatives who have had cancer is an important step to determining your own risk.
Cancer can be difficult to discuss, even with family members. It may be helpful to your relatives to know why you are asking about their health. Explain that the entire family could benefit from having the information.
Consider Your Own Feelings About Cancer in the Family
It may be helpful to think about how you may feel talking about your personal or family's history of cancer. Some individuals find it helpful to bring someone with them to help provide family history information, to ask questions and to provide support during the visit.
