How to talk to your family about cancer risk

Some of the most common cancers like breast, prostate, colon and melanoma, have hereditary components, meaning they can be passed through a person's genes, yet many families don't make an effort to track the history of cancer in their relatives. This information is crucial when assessing one's own cancer risk. Experts shared advice about how to talk to your relatives about their health history. One key tip: Start with your "family historian." Research shows many families have one or two people who organize information about family health on behalf of the whole family, said Dr. Michael Hall, chair of the department of clinical genetics at Fox Chase Cancer Center at Temple Health. Here's what to ask Get the TODAY Mobile App Follow TODAY Privacy Unsubscribe