Is Cancer Hereditary?

Understanding Your Family's Cancer Risk

When cancer appears in multiple generations of a family, it’s natural to wonder: Could cancer be hereditary?

About 5%–10% of cancers are linked to inherited genetic changes passed from parent to child. These changes can increase cancer risk, but they don’t mean a person will definitely develop cancer. Most cancers are not caused by inherited genetic changes. Learn more from the National Cancer Institute.

Cancer diagnosed at a young age, multiple relatives with the same or related cancers, or one person developing more than one type of cancer may signal a need to explore hereditary risk. However, family history is only one piece of the picture. Your personal health history, the types of cancer in your family, and the ages at diagnosis can all help your healthcare team assess your risk.

Start with your family history. Bag It Cancer’s My Companion Guidebook includes a Family History Form to help you organize important information about cancer in your family. Completing it can be a practical first step toward a more informed conversation with your healthcare team. If possible, ask relatives about their cancer diagnoses and the ages at which they were diagnosed. Even details that seem small may help identify patterns worth discussing.

If your family history raises concerns, ask your healthcare provider whether genetic counseling may be appropriate. A genetic counselor can help you understand your options, the potential benefits and limitations of genetic testing, and what results could mean for you and your family.

Bag It News:

Breakfast with Bag It Coming Up

Help Us Meet the $5,000 Challenge Grant!

NOVA Home Loans has challenged Bag It to reach a fundraising goal—and we need your help!

If we meet the challenge, NOVA Home Loans will contribute $5,000 to Bag It to support our mission of providing trusted information, practical resources, and support to people impacted by cancer.

Your gift helps Bag It ensure that people facing cancer have access to the information and resources they need throughout their journey. Every donation brings us one step closer to unlocking this generous contribution.

Make your gift today and help us unlock $5,000 for Bag It!

Help Bag It Unlock $5,000!

Enter to Win and Support Bag It!

Our Breakfast with Bag It raffle is another way to make a difference. You don't have to attend the event to participate, so you can purchase raffle tickets and support Bag It from wherever you are!

You don't want to miss out on these amazing prizes!

Enter the Raffle to WIN BIG!

Partner Spotlight

Bag It has partnered with THANC (Thyroid, Head & Neck Cancer Foundation) to create a Bag It Bag specific to the head & neck community.

THANC is dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by head and neck cancers through education, advocacy, and patient-centered resources. Their programs provide individuals and families with reliable information, support, and guidance—helping them better understand their diagnosis and navigate treatment, recovery and survivorship.

We’re grateful to partner with THANC to help extend these resources even further. Their commitment to empowering patients and caregivers makes a meaningful difference in the cancer community.

Learn more about THANC Foundation and their guide.

If you or someone you know was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, order a head & neck cancer Bag It Bag today, with the code BINEWS25. Each bag is filled with trusted educational resources to help patients and caregivers navigate diagnosis and treatment with confidence.

Looking for information on another cancer type? Explore all of our cancer-specific Bag It Bags here.

Healthcare providers interested in ordering Bag It Bags for their patients can contact us at hcpoutreach@bagitcancer.org.

Mark Your Calendar

Bag It Sessions for Healthcare Providers (virtual)

If you are interested in learning more about how you can have Bag It Bags in your practice for your patients, join us for an upcoming Info Session.

Thursday, October 15 | 8:00 am AZ/11:00 am EST

Wednesday, November 18 | 10:00 am AZ/12:00 pm EST

Going Beyond: Survivorship Celebration (Tucson, AZ)

Saturday, October 17 | 9:0 am - 12:00 pm

Bag It is hosting a table at this special morning celebrating the strength, courage, and resilience of cancer survivors. This event is free to attend, but registration is required. Register Here

Tackle Cancer Challenge (virtual)

October 17 - November 1

The Tackle Cancer Challenge is a free global sports movement powered by the Oncidium foundation. Throughout the Challenge, people across the world walk, run, ride, and hike for one reason: to help cancer patients reach the treatment they need. From October 17 to November 1, every time the community reaches 5,000 km together, our partners donate one more dose through RLT-Connect, the foundation's treatment donation program.

Breakfast with Bag It (Tucson, AZ)

Thursday, October 29 | 7:30 - 9:00 am

Join us for an inspiring morning of education, connection, and hope. This year’s Breakfast with Bag It will feature an educational presentation on genetic and hereditary cancer testing, a personal cancer journey, and an opportunity to learn more about the impact of Bag It Cancer’s programs.

Triage Cancer Conference (virtual)

Friday and Saturday, November 6-7

Triage Cancer® offers a series of FREE educational conferences on cancer-related topics including navigating finances, health and disability insurance, employment rights, advocacy, and more. Conferences are designed for individuals diagnosed with cancer, caregivers, advocates, and oncology health care professionals. Register Here

AONN Annual Conference 2026 (Grapevine, TX)

November 11-14th

Bag It will be at the AONN+ Annual Conference! Stop by booth #433 in the Exhibit Hall to learn how Bag It supports cancer patients and helps empower them to navigate their cancer journey. You can also hear Mindy Griffith's poster presentation, From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Evaluating the Impact of the Bag It Bag on Cancer Patient Navigation and Self-Advocacy Among Individuals Affected by Cancer.

Share Your Thoughts

Provide Feedback on

the Bag It Bag!

Share your experience with a Bag It Bag by completing our feedback form or submitting a written testimonial. As a thank you, you'll be entered into our quarterly drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card.

Next drawing: December 31st!

Leave a Bag It

Google Review!

Help others discover Bag It by leaving us a Google review. Even a few sentences about your experience can make a meaningful difference for someone searching for trusted cancer resources.

Bag It helps patients, caregivers, and cancer advocates to Fight the Fear of Cancer through our two key programs: the Bag It Bag and Escape to THRIVE. The Bag helps anyone with any type of cancer to cope with their diagnosis and become active members of their treatment team. Escape to THRIVE is a national leadership conference to support cancer advocates.

Bag it Cancer | 5049 E Broadway Blvd Ste 155 | Tucson, AZ 85711 US

Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice