Abstract
In addition to the skills and knowledge required to manage cancer family history, explaining the risk and making an onward referral for screening or genetic counselling requires more time than is available in the average clinical consultation within primary, secondary or palliative care. Various models have been developed for managing cancer family history in primary and secondary care, including the use of family history questionnaires, telephone clinics and nurseled clinics. The aim is to triage patients into those who can be discharged and reassured, those who require enhanced cancer surveillance and those who should be referred for genetic counselling and possible genetic testing. This chapter considers the implications of cancer family history in palliative care and discusses the various different approaches to managing cancer family history in primary and secondary care.