Hi Heather, I've been doing some research for 12+ years, and more for 6 years on-line. And, I believe in finding out about the "why's and how's" of my ancestors. In my KIDDER family-tree, I found out that all of the major, life-threatening diseases were present. And, they came down to my father ! He ended up with several, and his younger half-brother literally "dropped dead" at Age 60. An autopsy showed he had undiagnosed heart disease, lung disease, and cancer. And, my father had a double-whammy, his grandparents on the other side both died of cancer within a year of each other - both in their early 60's. (They were my LEWIS / CORKILL "home children" arriving in Halifax in the 1870's.) I have no way of knowing what their parents died of. The LEWIS couple both died young, leaving an orphan; the CORKILL mother died young, but the father lived a long life. And, my mother had heart disease, Strokes, and miscellaneous health problems coming down to her ! But, coming down to my generation, most of my cousins only have "auto-immune diseases." I only know of one cousin have a Cancer scare. But, another cousin "died in his sleep" at Age 65 .. probably of a heart attack (just like his father did). And, I chatted on-line with a lady a few years ago, and she, a Nurse, said that we do not inherit "diseases" (dis -- ease) from our ancestors; we inherit their: weak immune systerms. After learning about my ancestors' lives - 1600's through 1900's, I can believe that they had "weak immune systerms" - either inherited - or brought on by their "life-styles." Betty (near Lowell, MA, USA) P.S. At Age 50, I had a strange rash appear on my arms and legs. It took me several doctors to find out what the rash was; one doctor asked me if I had traveled in the jungles of Africa ! It turned out I had Psoriasis, and this doctor told me I had inherited it from a grandparent. I couldn't remember any grandparent having skin problems. The next day I remembered my -- great-grandmother ! "Grandma KIDDER" had a farmhouse in the 1940's and 1950's and we lived with her for 7 years. I have memories of her sitting in her rocking chair with her arms and legs so bad that you couldn't see her skin. She died in the 1960's never knowing what she had ! P.S.2 I have a very long story about my orphaned grandmother. But, I'll only mention one part of it. She was reportedly a foundling in Boston and was adopted at Age 3 by an older couple. My research and my mother's and grandmother's stories have led me to believe that the older couple was her grandparents. Their only daughter, married with a son in Connecticut, was the birth-mother (with the husband not the birth-father). I mention this because the Adoptive mother died of Pernicious Anemia in 1899, 7 years after adopting the girl. My grandmother grew up (10 years in orphanages), married, had a son, then a daughter. The daughter was born with -- Pernicious Anemia. (That first son was well over 6' tall; his next sister was under 5' tall. Their youngest sibling was born 20 years later, and, when they walked down the street together, it was an unusal sight !) (I could tell many stories ! One gr-grandfather died suddenly at the supper table. I know of a lady in my town who was sitting with her family at "Sunday dinner" and her husband "shoked to death" - at the table ! That's something I've never seen discussed on the Lists - as a cause of death. Actually, his granddaughter almost "chocked to death" but was rescued (before the Heimlick).) New List created on Feb. 1: CAN-USA-MIGRATION For Genealogy researchers, please remember to check the archives of the Lists & Boards for both your surnames and place-names.