Your medical (or health) history mainly focuses on your health over time. It is a record of physical examination findings, any current symptoms, past and present health problems, tests and procedures, surgical and medical treatments, prescription medication and over-the-counter drug use and reproductive history.
Your medical history also includes health information about your family members (family history). Knowing about health problems in your family can help the doctor assess your cancer risk, because some cancers and certain conditions in close family members can increase the risk of cancer in other family members.
Other important risk factors for cancer your doctor will ask about include your diet, exercise, lifestyle choices such as smoking or alcohol use and possible exposure to cancer-causing substances at home or work (occupational exposure).
All this information helps your doctor determine how often you should have check-ups, what screening tests you should have and whether you should have them earlier or more often than other people. Your doctor can also give you information on how to stay healthy and what steps to take to help reduce your risk of developing cancer and other health problems.