The Article in Brief

In an effort to prevent disease, health professionals often ask patients about their family history of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Knowing the number of family members who had a disease and their age at illness and death can help determine whether a patient is at greater risk for that disease. Patients also consider these factors when thinking about their risk for diseases, but they consider other factors as well. These include such factors as their similarity and emotional closeness to the ill relative, and their experience of the relative's illness. As health professionals learn more about genetic risks for disease, it is important that they explore ways in which patients understand and feel at risk for inherited disease.