ABSTRACT
Cancer is a collective name for a number of diseases that are characterized by the growth of malignant cells. It is known to affect one in three people at some time during their lifetime (Cancer Research UK, 2004). As it is so common, particularly among the elderly, many individuals will have some family history of cancer. Although treatment of cancer has improved dramatically and survival rates for many types of cancer (such as breast, stomach, and colon cancer) are far better than they were a generation ago (Cancer Research UK, 2004), for many people a diagnosis of cancer is interpreted as a death sentence. It is understandable that a family history of cancer can be the source of severe anxiety in some clients.
