Although most cancer is not inherited and happens by chance,
approximately 5-10% of all cancers are due to a hereditary factor.
If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, ask your
doctor for a referral for a cancer genetics assessment:
Have several of your relatives had cancer, especially skin, breast,
ovarian, colon, endometrial (cancer of the uterus) or thyroid cancer?
Have you or any of your relatives with cancer been diagnosed before
the age of 50?
Do you or a relative have more than one primary cancer (such as
breast cancer and then ovarian cancer)?
Do you or a family member have unusual cancers, such as a male
breast cancer?
Does your family history of cancer cause you to worry about your
risk?
Do you think that the cancer in your family is hereditary and you
want to know more about genetic testing and cancer genes?
