Family tree mystery: 48% in the dark about their cancer history

NEW YORK — Not everyone knows all about their family tree. Unfortunately, that could mean missing out on some life-saving information. According to a new survey, 48% of Americans don’t know their family’s cancer history.

The poll of 2,000 Americans conducted by Talker Research to highlight Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month also found that 42% of women and 54% of men were fuzzy on their relatives’ medical histories. Just 22% of the 1,000 women surveyed felt confident they knew who has or hasn’t had cancer in their family — but were unsure of the actual type.

A fifth of the women surveyed (20%) didn’t know anything about their family’s cancer history, and just 46% of the 1,000 women surveyed felt confident they were up to date fully with their own health checks.

When asked to explain the reasons for not being up to date on health checks, anxiety and fear were the common responses, with 30% of women who were not up to date naming this as their driving factor. Being too busy (24%) and feeling physically uncomfortable with the process (21%) were also major reasons for not being up to date on health checks.

“The loss of a dearly beloved due to ovarian cancer is a very painful lesson to learn about how deadly this type of cancer can be. My son and I are grateful for the opportunity to have cared for her as she fought this dreaded disease. Gina showed courage and faith that she would recover as we did, but her chances of survival were stacked up against her due to the late and advanced stage of diagnosis,” says Gerard Ledesma, who sadly lost his wife to ovarian cancer, in a statement.

“Since there is no cure for any late-stage and advanced diagnosis for ovarian cancer or any form of cancer, the only options are prevention and early detection through heightened awareness and education,” Ledesma adds. “The feeling of hopelessness seeing your precious and dearly beloved suffer, and being powerless to do anything is the most unimaginably painful suffering we do not want anyone else to ever have to go through.”

The survey results also highlighted a lack of awareness and understanding about ovarian cancer — one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women.

“Ovarian cancer is one of the most serious gynecological cancers, often because it’s diagnosed at a late stage, making it more difficult to treat. But when it’s caught early, before it spreads, the chance of successful treatment increases significantly. This makes knowing and recognizing the symptoms crucial,” notes Clara MacKay, CEO of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition.

MacKay noted four key facts everyone should know about ovarian cancer:

A Pap test does not detect ovarian cancer. While Pap tests are vital for detecting cervical cancer, they do not screen for ovarian cancer. If you’re experiencing concerning symptoms, bring them up during your gynecological appointment.

Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late. Since there’s no routine screening for ovarian cancer, it is usually found after it has spread, making it harder to treat. Awareness of symptoms can play a huge role in getting diagnosed earlier.

Diagnosing ovarian cancer before it spreads makes it much more treatable. The sooner it’s caught, your chances of survival increases significantly by receiving effective treatment.

Know the symptoms. While ovarian cancer can be challenging to catch early, knowing the symptoms can make a huge difference in availing routine screening for early detection:

“If any of these symptoms are persistent (meaning they don’t come and go), visit your primary health care professional,” MacKay urges.

“Don’t hesitate to push for answers if something doesn’t feel right. Many women delay bringing up concerns because they feel uncomfortable, or fear being dismissed. However, advocating for yourself is crucial when it comes to your health and ovarian cancer. If you’re noticing persistent symptoms, be proactive—ask your doctor for further tests or a referral if necessary. You know your body best, and advocating for your health could lead to a more rapid diagnosis,” the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition CEO concludes.