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Many people worry unnecessarily that their risk of getting cancer is above average because of their family history. In fact, only 5-10% of cancers are thought to be caused by an inherited faulty gene.
We hope the information in this section will help you understand the role of genes in the development of some cancers and answer some of your questions about cancer and genes.
We have divided the information into three areas:
Read our Online Community blog and talk to others about cancer, genetics, and the options available.
You can order free leaflets from our Are you worried about... series, as well as our booklets Cancer genetics - how cancer sometimes runs in families and Understanding risk-reducing breast surgery from our be.Macmillan| site.
If you are a health professional, you can find additional resources on cancer genetics (including policy documents and an online BMJ learning module) in our Health and Social Care Professionals section|.
For answers, support or just a chat, call the Macmillan Support Line free (Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm)
If you have any questions about cancer, need support or just want someone to talk to, ask Macmillan.