Why discussing family cancer history should be a Mother’s Day tradition
Since 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating Mother’s Day as a national holiday, the second Sunday in May has invited families to pause and reflect across generations. Today, reframing Mother’s Day as a moment to exchange family health history and discuss early breast cancer detection is an important step in the evolution of modern motherhood and bringing love and longevity to families.
Sharing cancer family history
As an oncologist, I rely on family health history as one of the most practical tools for shaping personalized breast cancer care. Information about relatives affected by cancer helps guide risk assessment and informs decisions about early detection. However, some people lack a comprehensive understanding of their family’s history of cancer diagnoses, which makes it harder to personalize care at the earliest stages.
This gap is why Mother’s Day deserves reframing. In addition to sharing flowers and cards, use the Mother’s Day holiday as an opportunity to openly share family cancer history. This act can empower more women and their health care providers to have more informed discussions, leading to individualized screening decisions that can improve the effectiveness of care.
The importance of breast cancer screening and monitoring
It’s recommended that women at average risk begin routine mammograms at age 40. However, women with a significant family history or other risk factors may benefit from earlier or more frequent screening. While the majority of breast cancer diagnoses are among women over age 50, national statistics indicate a steady increase in diagnoses among women under age 45, especially those who have a linked inherited genetic risk.
I have observed that health-related discussions between mothers and daughters can save lives. For example, two of my patients will celebrate their first Mother’s Day together this year cancer free due to the sharing of information. The mother shared the results of her genetic testing with her daughter soon after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis. Based on that information, we monitored the daughter’s breast health for years. Then at age 30, the daughter was diagnosed early with breast cancer — while 16 weeks pregnant. Thanks to early detection, this story ends happily for the new grandmother and first-time mom.
How to talk about your family history
One of the toughest challenges may be knowing where to start. For families unsure how to begin the conversation, I suggest:
- Starting the conversation as an act of care. Acknowledge fears and explain that screenings and genetic testing offer information and don’t necessarily mean something is wrong.
- Making awareness age appropriate: Breast health conversations aren’t just for older women. Awareness, self advocacy and knowing what’s “normal” can begin at any age.
- Sharing family history early: Talk openly about who in the family has been affected by cancer of any type. This information helps health care providers personalize care and screening earlier when it’s most effective.
- Framing early detection as protection: Position screening, risk assessment and follow-up as a modern extension of motherhood — another way to protect your child’s future.
Dr. Sigrun Hallmeyer is an oncologist at Advocate Health Care.
Want to learn more about your risk for breast cancer? Take a free online quiz.
