Nearly half of Americans are unaware of their family medical history, particularly when it comes to cancer, a survey shows—highlighting a lack of crucial information to help early disease detection and preventive care.
The survey, conducted by Talker Research, involving 2,000 respondents from four generations—Gen Z, millennials, Gen X, and baby boomers—found that 42 percent of women and 54 percent of men are unsure about potentially inherited conditions.
Twenty-two percent of the 1,000 women surveyed said they felt confident about knowing which relatives have or haven’t had cancer—though many were unsure about the specific types of cancer. Alarmingly, one-fifth of the women surveyed admitted they didn’t know their family’s cancer history at all.
A survey of 2,000 Americans conducted by Talker Research to found that 42% of women and 54% of men were unclear on many of their relatives’ medical history.
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Family Medical History and Cancer Risk
Newsweek discussed these findings with Dr. Sadie Dobrozsi, medical director for genetic testing and oncology imaging at Evolent, a health care company.
She said: “Understanding family medical history is a valuable tool that can help an individual understand their risk for developing certain conditions and take action to prevent those conditions.
According to The American Cancer Society, there were almost two million new cancer cases in 2023.
Dr. Sadie Dobrozsi, who spoke exclusively to Newsweek about the importance of knowing about your family’s health history.
Dr. Dobrozsi explained that the scientific community has made significant progress in understanding why some individuals develop certain cancers and why cancer can affect multiple members of a family. Researchers have identified genetic mutations that increase cancer risk, which are changes in DNA that make it easier for cells to become cancerous. These mutations can be inherited from parents, and individuals can undergo testing to detect them. When a mutation is identified, steps can be taken to reduce cancer risk or closely monitor for early signs, allowing for less invasive treatments.
The 3 W’s
Dr. Dobrozsi told Newsweek: “Often, the first clue that there is a genetic mutation that increases cancer risk in a family comes from the family medical history. There are several pieces of information that are particularly important—who, what and when.
- Who: Identifies which family member was diagnosed with cancer, specifies whether they are on the maternal or paternal side, and describes their blood relationship to the person gathering the history.
- What: Refers to the type of cancer the relative had, ideally specifying the body part or organ where the cancer originated (e.g., breast cancer, stomach cancer, prostate cancer).
- When: Indicates the age at which the relative was first diagnosed with cancer.
“The most important action women can take to learn more about their family’s cancer history is to ask questions,” said Dr. Dobrozsi. “It is important to ask these questions of parents but also other relatives such as aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins as how family health information is shared is variable across families and cultures.”
Common Reasons People Are Not Up to Date on Health Checks
A young woman having a mammography. Newsweek discussed with an oncologist the importance of regular checkups.
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Although 54 percent of women reported feeling up to date with their health checks, some remain behind on recommended screenings such as mammograms and Pap tests.
Anxiety and fear were the most cited reasons for this, with 30 percent of women saying these emotions prevented them from staying on top of health checks. Other common reasons included being too busy (24 percent) and feeling physically uncomfortable during medical exams (21 percent).
Dr. Dobrozsi based in Wilmette, Illinois, told Newsweek: “Anxiety is often driven by fear of the unknown. ‘Finding the facts’ is a critical approach for managing anxiety related to health and illness. In the context of keeping up with health checks, finding the facts means gathering the necessary information.
“For breast cancer or cervical cancer screening, ‘finding the facts’ means understanding what the recommendations for screening are and what the likely outcomes of screening are.
“Additionally, ‘finding the facts’ means understanding why health checks and cancer screening benefit women even if the test finds cancer. Breast cancer and cervical cancer are significantly more likely to be cured if they are identified in early stages. Keeping up with routine cancer screening significantly increases the likelihood of identifying these cancers in early stages.”
Women Neglect Their Health
Being too busy (24 percent), and feeling physically uncomfortable with the process 21 percent were also prominent reasons given for not being up to date on health checks.
Dr. Dobrozsi explained: “It is common for women to neglect their own health and wellness due to the demands of everyday life. With potentially life-threatening illnesses, it is critical to understand what individuals can and can’t control about their own health.
“Women who don’t have time for routine health screenings certainly don’t have time for cancer. Unfortunately, cancer doesn’t care what is going on in someone’s professional or personal life. Prioritizing health checks is one of the few elements that individuals can control to minimize the risk of developing advanced cancers.”
Dr. Dobrozsi added that every woman should have an annual visit with a general practitioner for health maintenance, including discussions on routine cancer screenings.
She told Newsweek: “A conversation about barriers to completing screening can help women become fully informed and advocate for their overall health and well-being,”
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