Would a specialist help?

[iamjdf2]

Having been diagnosed with Hashimoto's Disease, Crohn's Disease, uterine tumor (benign), lung cancer (stage 1 adenocarcinoma) and several childhood illnesses, I'm wondering if there is some kind of specialist that I can talk to about whether or not I'm susceptible for any other autoimmune diseases? I'm not surprised anymore when I get a new diagnosis but I'm really tired of it.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer]

A genetic specialist would be your best choice. This link from the National Institutes of Health is a guide to certified genetic counselors across the country.

ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/cons...

[iamjdf2 in reply to Denzie]

Thank you so much for the information.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to iamjdf2]

Could you let us know what your experience is? I know that some of the home genetic testing kits can give you some of this information but you need someone who understands the nuances of the information to interpret it.

[iamjdf2 in reply to Denzie]

I hadn't thought about home testing. I'll definitely let you know my experience.

[Denzie Moderator Volunteer in reply to iamjdf2]

Even home tests like 23andme should be reviewed by a trained geneticist. The info you get may indicate a disposition in one part of the gene, but, may not have all the genomic deviations that would make establish an weakness into an issue.

[anrean]

You may want to choose a genetic professional over a home kit. Read an article (I forget the source, but it was credible) that at least 2 of the home kits are sharing their results with the government in an attempt to build a national database that would help catch criminals based on familial matches. 23andme was one of them. I strongly doubt that any of us has anything to worry about as far as criminal behavior, but I do have a concern that eventually that information will leak down to folks like insurance companies.

[Feelingblessed2013]

I agree with Denzie, a genetic specialist may be your best option.

As for those home test kits, I think they are basically for getting info on your heritage.

Besides, anrean is correct, some of those home testing companies are sharing the information they gather through the test kits with the government to help create a database.

I have emphysema and have had lung cancer twice even though I had quit smoking 13 years before my first diagnosis. My new pulmonologist tested my blood for 21 different things from rheumatoid arthritis to Alpha 1 deficiency and then some.