The Shinbone Star

This blog is named after the newspaper in the old John Wayne movie "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" which also starred James (Jimmy) Stewart and Lee Marvin. This is a place for my mind to wander and who knows what else. {smiling}

Name:
Location: Central Texas, United States

I am a Christian, born and raised in Texas. I attend church as my health allows. I am coordinator of the church food pantry- The Bread Of Life Pantry. It's a blessing to me. I am a cat person (I have nothing against dogs, I just purrfurr cats). I have 2 cats: Junior b. spring 1999, Petunia born spring of 2000. I am a Fox Fan! I enjoy old movies! I can in no way list favorite actors and actresses, it's too long a list. I also love cemeteries, reading headstones. I would love to write obituaries.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

The Value of a Medical Genealogy

When we hear the word 'genealogy' the thought of ancestors come to mind. We may wonder where they came from, what kind of life they had (were they outlaws, preachers, doctors, etc.), where were they went historic events like the Revolutionary War, Civil War, the Dust Bowl, and others occurred. Many people spend thousands of hours upon hours over many years delving into their family's past, usually at a financial cost. Many spend less time. Many reach across the pond to Europe. Just as many people don't care about their family's history, and that's fine. To each their own, as the old saying goes. I am among those interested in my family's past. I am amazed when I can look at past birth, marriage and death dates and realize they lived during an historic event which makes history come alive and be more real. This is the exciting genealogy, despite it's headache rendering let downs and brick walls.

The most important genealogy, I have learned, is the medical genealogy. This means finding out the addictions, causes of death, disabilities, and diseases that have occurred in your family. Start with your parents, then your aunts and uncles, then your grandparents. Working up this type of genealogy enabled me not to be surprised when diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes as it runs on my maternal grandmother's side of the family and with high blood pressure which runs of both sides of my family. Share the information with your siblings, even those estranged from the family. The knowledge is worth the cost of a stamp and, afterall, (as I thought when mailing such information to my sister) it's not an invitation for a day of reconnecting and lunch.

The reason I have found my medical genealogy so valuable, beyond not getting caught off guard when given a diagnosis, is that it helped to me make a most important decision last fall (2006) that I feel very well saved my life. Had I not known what I had learned over time about my family's medical history, I might have hesitated. My paternal grandmother had Ovarian Cancer in about her 50's, which is the guessed age range I was given. My mother had cervical cancer in her late 40s or early 50's, I can't recall just which. Both survived those bouts of cancer. In addition I had heard that women who have never had children were at a higher risk for female cancers. I have never had children.
In mid-August 2006, after not having a period in July, I started my period, expecting it may last a little longer after playing hookey in July. Thus, when it went passed the sixth day (when I'd usually stop) I didn't worry. Then came day nine. Then day 12. Then I began count weeks, it had been two. I discussed the matter with a couple of close friends, not wanting to concern moma if it turned out to be nothing. Yet in the back of my mind was the memory of her bleeding for weeks at a time, with a little break now and then, for almost two years. We were a low-income family and it was hard enough getting us kids to the doctor as daddy would balk not just because of money but questioning the necessity. Moma fought for us and got us cared for, but unfortunately it was at the sacrifice of her own health. She eventually got to a doctor, eventually learning she had cervical cancer. Knowing what she went through, I just didn't want to concern her. Finally, after about 4 weeks, I got a 3 day break. Whew! Thank God. I spoke too soon. I went from counting days to counting weeks. It was mid-September, school was in session and I was working my eighth school year as a bus driver. I stayed tired, literally drained of energy. I finally had to tell moma, she knew something was wrong. Of course she pitched a fit for me to get to a doctor. I did. My Ob-Gyn confirmed what I had heard about women who never had children being at a highter risk for female cancers. I gave her my family medical history where this type of problem is concerned. A D & C was scheduled in October so my Ob-Gyn could get some tissue samples to biopsy. She was concerned because, despite the heaviness of the bleeding, she couldn't get any tissue samples to biopsy. "Well, if you'd see what I'm flushing you'd know why you couldn't get anything!", I joked with her. No emotion is going to change any situation, so you may as well laugh as opposed to getting yourself in a dither. She brought up surgery, a hysterectomy. I had already made up my mind, based on family medical history, that if surgery was an option I'd go for it, afterall, I had three strikes against me. She suggested my keeping my ovaries until I reminded her of my paternal grandmother's Ovarian Cancer. On December 19, 2006 I was 'gutted'...my 'house was cleaned out', so to speak. My Ob-Gyn done a freeze biopsy on what she removed. I had the seeds for cancer in my uterus. Without knowledge of my family history regarding female cancers, I might have hesitated. I might have put off doing anything. I could very well be in the early stages of uterine cancer by now. Here's a kicker: I found out after my surgery a couple of months later that one of maternal aunts and her oldest daughter both had survived Uterine Cancer! Two more strikes against me and I didn't know it! But, I knew enough anyway to make an informed decision. Family history beyond the cancers also helped me to turn down hormone pills. Studies can't decided if they increase the risk of stroke or breast cancer or both. I have an inherited risk for both as heart disease and high blood pressure run on both sides of my family. In addition, both are risks of Diabetics which I am. I wasn't going to further increase my risks with a pill.

I am going to be frank with you. Researching your family's medical could very well be easy. However, it may well prove difficult, even causing you to get discouraged. The fact is, there are barriers that can hinder your research.
A lack of record keeping, or poor job of it, and lack of knowledge about certain conditions will not allow you to go way back say, into the early years of the 20th century or even further back. The only way you can get that far back is if health information has been handed down by word-of-mouth or there was an epidemic of some sort in which the event and the names of those affected were recorded. The date deaths began to be officially recorded will vary from state to state in which case there'll be no death certificates from a certain year and years preceding it. In Texas, if I recall correctly, deaths began being officially recorded around 1920. Yet it does not guarantee you a death certificate for that year or some of the following years as some deaths got by with being recorded. For example, during my first marriage I ventured into my then husband's family history. There was someone who was known to have died around 1925 and there should have been a death certificate, but there wasn't. I found no official proof at that person was dead. The practise of recording deaths was lax. I don't know when strict enforcement came about, but thankfully it did.
Another problem can be tight lips, that is, there is a generation (from my experience anyone born in the 19teens thru the 1930s) that will not speak on much of anything but especially of things unpleasant or, for the times, were scandalous. Mental disorders, physical deformities, alcoholism, drug addiction and suicides were family embarrassments with the latter three also being scandalous. A family member with any of the first two would most usually be put away and rarely spoke of, and even if the latter occurred, it would be in hushed tones. I know for a fact Texas had an Epiletic Colony in Abilene (now the Abilene State School) as a brother of one of my great-grandfathers was sent to live there. According to the papers from his insanity hearing, he'd have upwards of 25-30 fits a day. At some time or other I am sure most states had institutions for those with mental disorders and physical disabilities. Though not inherited through our genes (as far I know), alcohol, drug, physical, emotional and sexual abuses give a person who grew up in such households a predisposition to commit such abuses. These abuses are said to run in cycles, generation to generation. Family members may opt to shun 'the family drunk' or 'dopehead', and it could go as far as flat out denying they are even kin to the person. While alcohol and drug abuse can become evident, even obvioius, the latter three above, especially the last, in the past were taboo and never spoken of, even if known. They would become family secrets. A suicide was shameful and most likely became a family secret as well (such as a leaf on a branch of my family tree). Suicide, too, isn't inherited through our genes, but there are family histories riddled with suicides. The cause of suicide, usually depression, can be handed down. By genes or predisposition, I am not sure. You may even have heard clues growing up and didn't realize it. Haven't you ever heard mention of a 'family secret' or someone say 'we don't talk about that/them' regarding a question about something or someone? You may've overheard something before being found out. Were people inclined to suddenly become quiet or change the subject when someone, usually a child or non-family member, entered a room?
Another problem is exclusive to adoptees, even to those who just grew up in foster care that were never adopted. To the former, information can be unobtainable. For the latter, information on the biological family can be scarce or limited. In the distant past adoptions, to the best of my knowledge, were closed. Policy regarding accessing adoption records will vary from state to state. In the recent past, starting late in the 1980's I'd guess or 1990s, adoptions could be open. That is, there is access to information. I know of adopted children who have met their birth mothers. I know of a couple who has adopted children and they prefered the process closed. Therefore, some adoptees may not have any problem getting medical information and others will just have to wonder about their medical history.
Regardless of any barrier, don't let it discourage you! I have learned there are some family members that will talk, it's just a matter of finding the right one(s) and your persuasion techniques. Even if your family medical history is doomed to remain unknown, with health issues you encounter, you can begin documenting them so your children and future generations in you family won't have to wonder.

Since my recent, and major, experience, I have, and will continue, to urge people, maybe more aggressively, to do a family medical genealogy. If you can't get past your parents, fine. A little information is better than none. With such knowledge there will be no surprise at a diagnosis and you'll be better able to make a major decision as I did because it'll be an informed decision. When something seems wrong you may find yourself suspicious as to what it could be. You'll have reason to be suspicious if you know your family's medical history. Ultimately, aside from incentive to better your lifestyle for the sake of your health, or even saving your life, the information gathered in a family medical genealogy would encourage your children, grandchildren and generations beyond them to live a healthy lifestyle and, perhaps, save thier lives.