Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 6

HEALTHY DOSE BY LISA L. STAUFFER

CALCULATING YOUR
CANCER RISK
Genes are just one part of the puzzle

6

SUMM ER 2 0 1 7

lifestyle choices and environmental
conditions play a role, too. However, if
you know you're genetically at a higher
risk, you can use that information to
make decisions about screenings and
lifestyle choices."

Know Thyself

Keep track of your family's health
history, and keep your health care
provider updated on any changes.
"We look for patterns of family
cancer," says Snyder. "While having
one relative with cancer may not raise

PHOTO AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY THINKSTOCK

Genetics, DNA testing
and collecting your
family's health history
are hot topics today, especially when
it comes to understanding your risk
of getting certain types of cancer.
But it's not as straightforward as
many people think.
"Having a family history of cancer
or having one of the genes associated
with cancer doesn't necessarily mean
that you'll get cancer," says Cindy Snyder,
advanced practice nurse in Genetics
at Gwinnett Medical Center. "Your

your risk much, a pattern of cancers
increases your risk more."
Control the risks you can-like diet
and exercise, because some risks are
outside your control. "For instance,
with prostate cancer," adds Snyder,
"being male, older, and your race
(African-American men are at higher
risk) can increase your chances of
getting this disease."
In addition to tracking your
family's history and controlling risks,
genetic testing can often provide
useful information.
For instance, the BRCA gene
mutation contributes to higher rates
of breast and ovarian cancer and may
increase the risk of prostate cancer.
Ovarian and colon cancer can also have



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Contents
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Cover1
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Cover2
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Contents
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 2
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 3
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 4
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 5
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 6
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 7
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 8
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 9
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 10
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 11
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 12
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 13
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 14
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 15
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 16
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 17
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 18
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 19
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 20
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 21
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 22
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 23
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 24
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 25
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 26
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 27
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 28
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 29
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 30
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 31
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 32
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 33
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 34
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 35
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 36
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 37
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 38
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 39
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 40
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 41
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 42
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 43
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 44
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 45
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 46
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 47
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 48
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 49
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 50
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 51
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 52
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 53
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 54
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 55
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 56
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Cover3
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2020fall-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2020summer-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2020spring-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2019winter-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2019fall-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2019summer-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2019spring-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2018winter-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2018fall-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2018summer-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2018spring-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2017winter-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2017fall-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2017summer-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2017spring-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2016winter-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2016fall-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/manifest/vimvigor_2016summer-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2016spring-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2015winter-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2015fall-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2015summer-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2015spring-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2014winter-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2014fall-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2014summer-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2014spring-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2013winter-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2013fall-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2013summer-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2013spring-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2012winter-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2012fall-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2012summer-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2012spring-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2011winter-gmc
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/mcmurry/vimvigor_2011fall-gmc
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com