QUESTIONS TO ASK MUM:

Some mothers and daughters talk about everything; others less so. But Professor Kerryn Phelps says health should be on every woman’s agenda.

know your family history to stave off disease

On Sunday, May 12 we celebrate Mother’s Day. It’s a day to ponder the significance of the relationship with your mum, to be grateful for the positive contribution she made to your life, to forgive past wrongs, to pause to remember your mother if she is no longer alive, or to celebrate the maternal figures in your life.

But this year, why not also use the day as an opportunity to ask your mother some long-overdue questions about her health? Some families just don’t talk about matters they consider ‘personal’, in certain cultures it is not considered ‘the done thing’ to discuss illness. If you are adopted, you may have no way of finding out about your genetic medical history. However, if you do have the opportunity to talk to your mother about her health, you can discover information which will help you to manage your own, as well as possibly prevent disease in future.

These days, your doctor will often ask about your family health history. The reason is that as our understanding of the role of genetics in health expands, detailed information about your parents’ health is useful if we’re to do our best to modify risk factors for diseases which have a known genetic link.

This way we can pay special attention to areas where you might have a higher risk. It’s interesting to me that some patients have a lot of detailed information, while others have little or no knowledge.

So how do you know where to start or what to ask? Firstly, choose a time when you can be relaxed and unhurried, somewhere you can have a confidential discussion without being interrupted.

Start by asking about whether she has ever been admitted to hospital. When your doctor asks this, it is a reminder of significant illness that was serious enough to need in-patient care. Then you can ask about specific health conditions that can have an inherited component so that you can talk to your doctor about planning your own preventive health checks. Here are the 10 top subjects to tackle.

1. Ovarian cancer

The most significant risk factor for ovarian cancer is an inherited genetic mutation in one of two genes: BRCA1 or BRCA2. About one in five women diagnosed with ovarian cancer have a hereditary tendency to develop the disease.

2. Breast cancer

If your mother had breast cancer, you can have genetic testing. If you inherited the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation from your mother, there is a very strong chance that you will go on to develop breast cancer, too.

3. Bowel cancer

Bowel polyp conditions can be inherited, so if your mother had bowel cancer, your doctor will arrange screening for you.

4. Eye health

The most common type of glaucoma, primary open-angle glaucoma, is hereditary and it can cause blindness. If you have a close relative with glaucoma, you will need to have regular eye tests.

5. Heart health

Have you or any of your relatives had a heart problem? Some heart conditions such as coronary artery disease and some abnormal heart rhythms can have an inherited risk. Ask if anyone in the family died suddenly or unexpectedly, or suffered a stroke or a heart attack. Do either of your parents take medication for high blood pressure? Have they been told they have high cholesterol?

6. Menopause and perimenopause

Genetic factors play a role in the timing of menopause so ask your mum when and how her symptoms started.

7. Pregnancy or birth complications

Yes, some complications can also be inherited. These include hyperemesis gravidarum (excessive vomiting) and gestational diabetes.

8. Genetic conditions

Ask your mother if there have been any babies with congenital problems in the family before you plan a pregnancy so you can ask for advice about your risk.

9. Migraines

These may be passed down from mothers to daughters. If one or both of your parents have it, there is a 50 to 75 per cent chance you will too.

10. Mental health

Depression, anxiety and addiction usually have some inherited and environmental causes.

But don’t just stop at questions that directly concern you. This is also a good time to ask your mother about her own preventive health checks to make sure she’s doing all she can to stay well as she gets older. And remember, your genetics don’t have to be your destiny, but awareness of your potential for inherited illnesses means you can take preventive action.