Lori Ballinger, a genetics counselor at the University of New Mexico, also raised concerns over the accuracy of a Web site that merely requests information about first-degree relatives (parents and siblings) and does not take their age of cancer onset into account.

Developing cancer at an early age is a sign of a genetic predisposition to the disease, while later onset may signal environmental factors as the source.

Still, some counselors said the CCP site is better than similar attempts at other universities.

"I particularly liked that you could get explanation of the various risk factors, as well as a list of things you could do to lower your cancer risk," one genetics counselor wrote.

Thune also praised the site, commenting on its accessibility.

"It's quick and easy to use and provides some useful information," he said.

The test on the Web site was originally developed for a pen and paper version, but users had difficulty calculating their own risk.

"One of the nice things about the interactive component is that it can be a teaching about the risk factors," Hunter said.

The CCP plans to add eight more types of cancer to its Web site by June and will translate its content into Spanish for a wider audience.

Hunter added that he did not want the test's on-line presence to be perceived as "catering to the educated elite" and keeps pen and paper versions of the test available as well.

Pilot tests are now being conducted in conjunction with Harvard Vanguard to determine if similar computer-based surveys could be useful in doctors' waiting rooms.

Such availability, according to Hunter, would provide doctors with quick information and allow them to spend more valuable time with their patients "in tightly scheduled environments."

The Web site has no data capture

component and thus collects no personal information. However, the CCP will be gathering statistics on how many users visit the site and where they are coming from.

The Web site is being promoted mostly through press releases and on-line links and has been named a Hot Site on the USA Today Web site.