Include or not? Family illnesses...

I'm writing my personal statemnet for Med 09' and wanted to know peoples views on this.
I don't know whether or not to include a family member's illness in my statement (grandparent - cancer). I learnt about the medical profession, went on to do voluntary work on a leukemia ward and in the future would like to specialise in oncolgy - so it links in but I don't want a sympathy vote or 'oh she's trying to get the sympathy vote *bin*'.

Also, one of my parents is in the medical profession (worked in nursing homes etc) and I used to go in the holidays (when I was in primary school) - include?

One more thing...my own visits to the hospital, I've been having treatment for about a year (twice a month) - include?

I know it might all sound daft/naive but I don't know! Thanks

Uhhh, it's being seen as a bit of a cliche doing this even though it may well have affected your career choice. Dont emphasize on it too much, about a line on it or two would be fine - make it sound positive rather than negative. So explain what you learned from this, how you overcame it etc.

dont put too much in about your illness/your granddad - you'll most probably be seen as trying to gain some sort of sympathy.

good luck.