A family history of cancer can sometimes increase your risk, but it doesn’t necessarily mean cancer itself was inherited. In some families, an inherited genetic variant can increase susceptibility to certain cancers, but that’s only part of the picture.
Working out whether your own cancer family history points towards an inherited risk is really the first step in deciding whether genetic counselling, a genetic cancer risk test, or a more personalised, intensive screening plan might be appropriate for you. In this article, let’s reveal assumptions about genetic cancers, and when you should have a screening test to rule out the possibility of having inherited cancers.
What Does Inherited Cancer Actually Mean?
An inherited cancer predisposition happens when a genetic variant is present in the DNA passed down from a biological parent. Because this variant is there from birth, it can be found in cells throughout the body, and it can also be passed on to future generations.
It’s worth being clear that most cancers aren’t caused by an inherited genetic variant at all. Far more often, cancer develops through genetic changes that build up over a person’s lifetime, which are acquired changes, rather than inherited ones. Only a smaller proportion of cancers are linked to inherited susceptibility, with around 5–10% of cancers having a genuine inherited component. That context matters, because a family history of cancer is common, but a genuinely hereditary cancer risk is comparatively rare.
Which Hereditary Cancer Syndromes Can Run in Families?
In rarer cases, hereditary cancer syndromes occur when family members carry a higher-than-average risk of developing a particular type of cancer. With some of these syndromes, people also tend to develop cancer at an unusually young age, or alongside other, non-cancer health conditions.
| Genetic condition | Cancer risks commonly associated |
| BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes | Breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancer |
| Lynch syndrome | Increased risk of bowel cancer, along with several other cancer types |
| APC / familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) | Numerous colorectal adenomatous polyps, alongside a substantially increased colorectal cancer risk |
These are just a few well-known examples as there are other, rarer syndromes too, which is why a personalised genetic risk assessment matters more than trying to self-diagnose from a list. Observing inherited cancers among family members is a great way to foresee the risk, but it should not lead to assuming diagnosis without medical consultation.
What Should You Do If Cancer Runs in Your Family?
Family-History and Risk Assessment
Having cancer that runs in families doesn’t automatically mean you’re at high risk yourself. The sensible first step is to properly assess your family history and talk it through with a healthcare professional, who can help determine whether further investigation: genetic counselling, genetic testing, or enhanced screening is actually needed.
A few things genuinely matter here:
- Who in your family has had cancer. Are they close relatives, or more distant ones?
- The types of cancer they’ve had. This matters because certain cancers, and certain combinations of cancers, are more strongly linked to hereditary cancer syndromes than others.
- How old they were at diagnosis. Cancer risk is multifactorial, shaped by genetic, environmental, medical, and lifestyle factors together, not genetics alone.
- How closely related the affected relatives are to each other. A pattern across several close relatives carries more weight than isolated cases spread across distant family members.
Genetic Counselling
Where there’s a suspected inherited gene change, families often show a recognisable pattern of specific cancers recurring. A genetic counselling session typically covers:
- Recording a detailed personal and family medical history
- Ordering and interpreting relevant genetic and genomic tests
- Assessing the risk of inheriting, or passing on, a particular genetic condition
- Communicating what the findings actually mean for you and your family, in practical terms
This conversation is often the most useful starting point, because it helps decide whether genetic testing is actually warranted, rather than jumping straight to a test.
Genetic Testing
A genetic cancer risk test looks to identify inherited genetic changes through a thorough look at your DNA. Specifically, the DNA changes passed down from your parents that you were born with, rather than ones that developed later in life.
Depending on the hereditary cancer syndrome being considered, testing might examine one specific gene or several genes at once, usually using a blood or saliva sample. This kind of testing tends to be best suited to people whose personal or family history suggests a possible hereditary cancer syndrome. For example, multiple related cancers among close relatives, unusually young diagnoses, multiple primary cancers in one person, or a known pathogenic variant already identified in the family.
Cancer Screening
Cancer screening exists to find cancers at an early stage, when treatment is more likely to be successful. It’s worth being clear on how this differs from diagnostic testing: screening looks for possible cancer in people who don’t have symptoms, while diagnostic testing investigates symptoms or follows up an abnormal screening result.
The right screening test, and the age to start it, depends on the cancer type, your age, your personal history, and your inherited or familial risk. This is where early cancer screening tests genuinely need to be tailored, rather than applied the same way to everyone.
Cancer Early Detection Tests Compared
| Test | What it looks for | Best suited to | Advantages | Limitations | What happens next |
| NHS breast, bowel, cervical & targeted lung screening | Cancer-specific changes in defined organs | Adults within the eligible age or risk group for that programme | Evidence-based, free, with a structured follow-up pathway | Covers only specific cancers; eligibility criteria apply | An established diagnostic pathway |
| Clinically indicated imaging | Anatomical changes linked to symptoms or risk | People with symptoms, an abnormal finding, or a known high-risk profile | Detailed, targeted information | Not a general screening tool; requires a clinical reason to order | Further imaging, biopsy, or specialist referral |
| Multi-cancer screening (e.g. TruCheck) | Cellular signals associated with multiple solid cancers | Asymptomatic adults wanting broader proactive screening | One sample may cover multiple cancer types | False positives/negatives possible; performance varies by cancer and stage | Clinician-led standard-of-care imaging and diagnostic tests |
| Genetic cancer-risk testing | Inherited genetic variants linked to cancer risk | People with a relevant family history or known familial variant | Can inform a personalised, long-term surveillance plan | Doesn’t detect current cancer; needs proper genetic counselling context | Referral to genetic counselling and tailored surveillance planning |
| Elective whole-body MRI | Anatomical abnormalities across the body | Generally not recommended for average-risk, asymptomatic adults without referral | Broad anatomical coverage | Higher risk of incidental findings and overdiagnosis; not part of NHS screening | Doctor-led review; may require further scans |
Where TruCheck May Fit In A Cancer Screening Plan
TruCheck is designed for suitable asymptomatic adults over 40, following a proper consultation to confirm it’s appropriate for the individual. According to current clinic information, it screens for CTC-associated signals across more than 70 solid-organ cancers.
It’s worth being clear about where this test sits: it’s meant to be used alongside standard screening and routine medical care, as a complementary source of information, not a replacement for the testing you’re already entitled to.
The service typically includes a pre-test consultation, sample collection, laboratory analysis, a written report, and an initial results consultation, though it’s worth verifying current details directly with the clinic before booking. For more information about the TruCheck screening test, have a closer look at this blog article.
Why Shouldn’t You Book Multiple Cancer Screening Tests Without Medical Guidance?
It’s tempting to think that more testing automatically means more reassurance, but stacking tests without a coordinated plan carries genuine downsides:
- False-positive or false-negative results, and the unnecessary anxiety that can follow either.
- Incidental findings that lead to repeat imaging, invasive procedures, or treatment of abnormalities that might never have caused any harm.
- Financial cost and fragmented care, particularly when tests are booked independently rather than as part of a doctor-led plan.
- Overdiagnosis and overtreatment, when you are treating something that was never actually going to become a problem.
A single, well-considered test chosen with proper guidance tends to serve you far better than several tests booked for reassurance alone.
When Should You Speak to a Doctor about Your Family History?
A handful of clear trigger points are worth raising with your GP:
- Several close relatives have had the same, or related, cancers
- A relative was diagnosed with cancer at an unusually young age
- One relative has had more than one primary cancer
- There’s a known, inherited cancer-associated genetic variant in the family
- You’re simply uncertain whether your family history should change your screening needs
Manage Your Health with Holistic Approaches at the Dr. Michael O’Gorman Clinic
None of these need to feel dramatic before they’re worth mentioning. Although hereditary cancers account for only a very small fraction of cases, a comprehensive consultation should neither instill fear nor dismiss the patient’s own careful observations.
At Dr. Michael O’Gorman’s clinic, consultations are conducted as a dialogue designed to understand the patient’s overall situation, maintaining a respectful attitude that prioritises the patient’s observations and concerns as an integral part of the assessment process. After this, patients receive comprehensive approaches based on a risk assessment which may include referral for further tests to manage cancer screening more effectively. This helps patients feel respected and appreciated, as they are treated with care and understanding.
London Clinic Details
- Address: 19 Wimpole Street, Marylebone, London W1G 8GE
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10 AM to 6 PM
- Booking: To book a TruCheck screening consultation with Dr Michael O’Gorman, book online via our website or whatsapp message at +44 7588 385133.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does having a family history of cancer mean I need genetic testing?
Not necessarily. Many people with a family history of cancer won’t need genetic testing — it depends on factors like which relatives were affected, their age at diagnosis, and the specific cancer types involved. A GP or genetic counsellor can help assess whether testing is appropriate.
- Can a cancer screening test replace NHS screening?
No. Multi-cancer screening tests, including TruCheck, are designed to complement established NHS screening programmes, not replace them — it’s important to keep attending your NHS invitations regardless.
- What is the difference between genetic testing and cancer screening?
Genetic testing looks at inherited DNA changes to assess your risk of developing cancer in the future; cancer screening looks for signs of cancer that may already be present, regardless of inherited risk. They answer different questions and often work best together.
- What should I do if several family members have had cancer?
Start by speaking to your GP about the pattern you’ve noticed — who was affected, what type of cancer, and at what age. They can help decide whether a referral for genetic counselling or a tailored screening plan makes sense for your situation.
