Health - Fight Cancer News
Gather family history for best predictions of health
Posted: Nov 9, 2010 6:36 AM by Bea Karnes
WASHINGTON (AP) - For the best clue about your future health, a new study says you're better off turning to relatives than to genetic testing.
Dr. Charles Eng, a cancer geneticist at the Cleveland Clinic, says a thorough family history is "the best-kept secret in health care."
The study, done at the clinic, found that genomic screening of 44 cancer patients and their spouses missed all nine people with a strong family risk of colon cancer. Dr. Eng says such tests take a broad look at DNA variations, but often don't include high-profile gene mutations.
A government survey estimates that less than a third of families have created a family health history. And doctors -- crunched for time -- seldom push their patients to change that.
Holiday gatherings can be a good chance to gather information.
As Seen On News 5
