Abstract
The role of genetics is increasingly important in all aspects of health care and particularly in the field of cancer care. A rising awareness amongst the general public of the importance of family history on cancer risk and growing demand for screening and genetic testing, highlights the importance for all health professionals of identifying a significant cancer family history in order that services can be targeted appropriately. This chapter sets out the growing importance of genetics in mainstream medicine, putting into context recent scientific advances in genetics and changes in public policy that will have an increasing impact on cancer patients and health professionals working in the field of cancer care