If you've ever thought about starting a family medical history but haven't gotten around to it yet, then I'd suggest you read the poignant article "Cursed by Our Genes" by Elizabeth Bryan. In it she shares the often painful journey taken by her and her two sisters, Bunny and Felicity, from the time they first learned about the possibility of a family predisposition to ovarian cancer.

Not all families are as tragically afflicated by their genes as Elizabeth's, but all of us can learn from her beautifully written story. By researching your family medical history, you can learn about a possible increased genetic risk for medical conditions or diseases in time to do something about it. Knowing that you carry an increased potential for a certain disease or a particular genetic mutation can be frightening, but it also offers you the freedom to make informed decisions about prevention and screening.