Why is a family health history helpful? What information do I need?
Family history is often the first clue that a hereditary cancer condition is running in the family. The most important pieces of information are (1) the specific types of cancer in your relatives and (2) ages of diagnosis. Most cancers do not have a hereditary cause, but knowing your family history can help your healthcare provider determine if you might benefit from genetic testing, inform your treatment decisions, and ultimately take better care of you and your family.
How do I access the Family History Survey?
If you are a patient at a participating Michigan Oncology Quality Consortium site, you should receive a notification from your provider with a link to take the survey and unique access code in advance of your appointment.
The survey can be accessed on any device with an internet connection, such as your computer, tablet, or mobile phone. All internet browsers are supported.
How long does it take to complete the survey?
The time varies, depending on the size of your family and number of cancers. The survey takes most people less than 20 minutes. It may take some time to gather the information needed to answer the survey questions (for example the cancer types or ages of relatives).
How do I save information? Can I stop and go back in at a later time?
Your survey responses will automatically save. You can close out of the survey and go back in at any time and the survey will pick up where you left off, until you submit your final answers.
I don’t know the answers to some of the questions—what should I do?
It is OK if you do not know all of the information! Most questions have a “do not know” or skip option. However, the more information you are able to find out, the more accurate your results will be, so please make your best estimate whenever possible. Any information you have will be helpful.
Is my information private?
We are committed to your privacy. Unless you give the MiGHT study team permission, only you, the operators of the MiGHT database, and your healthcare provider will have access to your survey results. Your information will be protected by the privacy policies of your healthcare provider and Michigan Medicine. For more information see http://www.uofmhealth.org/patient+and+visitor+guide/hipaa.
Can I get a copy of my results?
Yes, at the end of the survey you will be able to print your results. These results contain personal health information about you and your relatives. If you choose to share your results we recommend you take reasonable precautions. For example, you might encrypt the information prior to sending it over email.
What do my results mean?
The survey tool does not provide medical advice, but will be useful information to discuss with your healthcare provider. In some cases, your provider may recommend further genetic evaluation.
