In recent years there has been an increasing awareness that cancer can sometimes be inherited.  There have been numerous items on television or in the newspapers.  Naturally this has led some people, who have one or more affected relatives, to wonder whether they have an increased cancer risk themselves.  This page has been written to help you if you do have these concerns.  There is advice about what you should do if you are concerned.  There are links to some useful sites that provide more detailed information.

 There are two important things to remember:

 First, most cancer is not inherited
Cancer usually occurs as a result of a combination of adverse factors.  Some of these factors are understood, such as smoking and poor diet, whilst others are unknown.  Cancer usually occurs in older people after there has been time for these harmful factors to build up, and because the body's cancer-defence mechanisms work don't work as well as we get older.

Second, cancer is very common
Cancer affects approximately 1 in 3 of us at some time in our lives.  Therefore, in the average sized family it is not unusual to see 2 or 3 people with some form of cancer, purely by chance.  In most cases the cancer risk to other family members is no higher than average.

Inherited Cancer

However, a small proportion of cancer is inherited or 'familial'.  It is believed that approximately 5 - 10% of many common cancers, for example breast, ovarian and colon cancer, are inherited.  There is not usually any simple test to tell us whether a particular cancer is inherited.  Instead we need to look carefully at the family tree.  In some families there appears to be more  cancer than we would expect to see by chance.  When we assess a family history we look for certain 'clues'

several relatives with the same type of cancer

cancer occurring at an unusually young age

more than one new cancer in the same person

a recognised pattern of cancers, for example breast and ovarian, occurring in the same family
 

If you think that you may be at risk of an inherited cancer you should discuss this with your GP.

What happens if my GP thinks I may have an increased risk of cancer?

Your GP may decide to refer you to the Peninsula Cancer Genetics Service.
Sometimes it is possible to provide an answer by letter to your GP. In which case there would be no need for you to be sent an appointment.
More commonly we need to investigate the family history a little further.  We would draw your family tree and gather information about the cancers that have occurred in your family. 

Once you have been referred by your GP you will receive a letter (usually within 2 weeks) from our Family History Co-ordinator, Jane Hallam.  She will ask you to complete a family history questionnaire.  It is often necessary to confirm certain details about a person's cancer by checking their medical records.  We would ask you to contact your relatives to seek their written permission.  We understand that this can sometimes be difficult, but the more information we have, the more accurate our assessment will be.  Please note that we do not contact any of your relatives, or access the medical details of surviving relatives without their permission.

Once all this information is available we will be in the best position to assess whether there is a genetic predisposition to cancer in your family.  This will help us to decide whether you are at increased risk yourself and whether genetic testing is possible.  You will usually be contacted by one of our Genetics Nurse Specialists/Counsellors and offered an appointment.  In some cases this will be followed by a second appointment with the consultant. 
 

Cancer Genetics clinics are held throughout Devon and Cornwall.

What are the reasons for being referred to the genetics clinic?

It is often possible to give you an estimate of your own risk of developing cancer, if you wish.
You will receive advice on whether any special screening is available or appropriate.

If genetic testing is possible in your family this would enable us to offer you a test to determine whether you have an increased cancer risk. (Please note that genetic testing can usually only be performed if a blood sample is available from an affected family member).