India, Jan. 24 -- Cancer is arguably one of the most feared health conditions in contemporary times. When a person is diagnosed with the condition, it is often feared that the members of the family may contract it as well.

However, such beliefs are not always backed by scientific evidence. Taking to Instagram on January 23, Dr Jayesh Sharma, Raipur-based oncologist with over 25 years of experience, explained whether cancer can be genetically inherited and how best to deal with an increased risk.

According to Dr Sharma, the good news is that 90 to 95 percent of cancers do not present the risk of inheritance. Some cancers have a higher risk of being passed down genetically than others. These include:

It has been the observation of many p...