A rare cancer of the eye called retinoblastoma, which occurs in childhood, can be hereditary. There are other rare hereditary conditions, which are often linked to rare types of cancer, like:

• von Hippel-Lindau syndrome
• multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN)
• Li-Fraumeni syndrome
• Fanconi's anaemia.

If you, or a member of your family, are affected by a rare genetic condition, you might want to get in touch with the Genetic Interest Group for information and support on coping with rare genetic disorders. We also have information on rare cancers.

Scientists and doctors also believe that there is a genetic cause for testicular, pancreatic, prostate, stomach and kidney cancer in a small number of people. If some of these cancers occur together in a family with bowel cancer, they might be connected to HNPCC. BRCA1 and 2, the breast cancer genes, have been linked to cases of prostate and pancreatic cancer in some families. But HNPCC and BRCA1 or 2 do not account for all the cases where one of the above cancers occurs in a number of family members. So it is likely that there are other genes which are responsible for the situations where two or more members of the same family get the same type of cancer.

It is highly unlikely that one case of testicular, pancreatic, prostate, stomach or kidney cancer significantly increases other family members' risk of developing the same cancer. There is only reason to assume that an inherited gene might be involved if at least two relatives develop the same type of cancer.

Currently there is no effective screening available for most of these cancers. If you are worried about a lot of cases of these (or other) cancers in your family, you should talk to your GP. If there is the possibility of a genetic factor playing a role in your family, you might be able to take part in a research study. You will also be told what symptoms to look out for to identify any possible cancer as early as possible.