While approximately 80 per cent of patients with colorectal cancer have sporadic disease, the remaining 20 per cent appear to have a genetic or familial component to their condition. Screening for familial cases of colorectal cancer, especially for the specific syndromes of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer and familial adenomatous polyposis, enables early diagnosis of cancer in the relevant patient group. This article describes a nurse-led family history clinic that has been established for colorectal cancer screening, and support for those patients with a family history of the disease.