Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Booking a genetic counselling appointment | CION Cancer Clinics
You will usually speak to a coordinator first, who asks a short set of questions about your family history and offers you a date. It is a scheduling step, not an assessment of whether you qualify. This page sets out what to have ready and what happens between your call and your first appointment. At CION Cancer Clinics in Hyderabad, our oncologists review your family history with you and guide you to the right genetic counselling and testing.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Naresh GunduConsultant Medical Oncologist · MBBS, DNB (Internal Medicine), DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- What actually happens when you call to book?
- What to have ready when you call
- The booking process, step by step
- Words you will hear while arranging the appointment
- Booking in person versus booking remote
- What this page cannot tell you
- Four things people assume about booking
- Common questions about booking a genetic counselling appointment
The short answer
What actually happens when you call to book?
You will usually speak to a coordinator first, not the counsellor themselves. They will ask a short set of questions about who in the family has been diagnosed and roughly when, offer you a date, and tell you what to bring. The appointment itself comes later.
Why the screening call exists
Genetics services use this short conversation to work out roughly how much time your case needs and whether any paperwork should be completed before you arrive. It is not a test of whether you deserve an appointment, and almost nobody is turned away at this stage. Think of it as scheduling logistics dressed up as a clinical question, not the other way round.
What to expect after you book
Most services send a short instruction, by message or email, listing what to bring and whether the first session is in person or remote. Read it properly rather than assuming it repeats what you were told on the call, since it often adds a detail or two, such as a form to complete before you arrive or a change in which building to go to.
How the appointment length is decided
A straightforward family history with one affected relative usually needs a shorter slot than a family with several people affected across generations, or one where more than one type of cancer has appeared. The screening call is partly how the service works out which of these you are, so that the right amount of time is set aside and you are not rushed once you are in the room.
The booking call is a scheduling step, not an assessment of whether you qualify.Before you dial
What to have ready when you call
Having these four things ready turns a slow call into a short one.
Your family history, written down
Who was diagnosed, with what, and at roughly what age, on both sides. Approximate ages are fine, and it is worth including relatives who died of cancer as well as those currently living.
Any existing reports
Pathology or scan reports for the relative who was diagnosed, even if you only have a scanned photo of an old one. A discharge summary from an old hospital stay can also be useful.
A decision on who is coming with you
Deciding this before you call makes it easier to book a slot long enough for everyone who wants to attend, rather than adding people on the day. The relative who has had cancer is usually the most useful person to bring, if they are well enough.
A rough sense of urgency
Say plainly if a treatment decision is waiting on this appointment, so it can be scheduled with that in mind rather than joining a general queue. Mention the date of any planned surgery too.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistStart to finish
The booking process, step by step
You call or enquire
By phone in most cases, though some services also accept an online enquiry form.
A short screening conversation
A handful of questions about the family history, mainly to judge how much time the appointment needs.
A date and format are offered
In person or remote, depending on where you are and what the service offers.
Instructions are sent ahead of time
What to bring, and any form to complete before you arrive.
You attend with your documents
Bring everything asked for, plus anything else you think might be relevant, even if you are not sure it matters.
Terms in the booking process
Words you will hear while arranging the appointment
- Intake call
- The initial screening conversation used to gather basic family history before an appointment is booked.
- Pre-test paperwork
- Consent and history forms some services ask you to complete before your first session, to save time in the room.
- Waitlist
- A queue for the next available slot, usually shorter than it sounds and rarely more than a few weeks.
- Teleconsultation slot
- A booked appointment conducted by phone or video rather than in person.
- Appointment coordinator
- The staff member who schedules appointments, distinct from the counsellor who will actually see you.
Leave a number, we will call you
One field. No form to fill in, and no charge for the call.
Choosing the format
Booking in person versus booking remote
In person
Remote
Sample can often be drawn the same visit
Sample is arranged separately, nearer to you
Whole family can attend together easily
Relatives in different cities can still join one call
Documents are handed over directly
Documents are usually shared digitally beforehand
Requires travel to the centre
Requires a stable phone or internet connection
Being straight with you
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot promise a same-day appointment. Genetics appointments are almost always booked in advance rather than walked into, because the session needs proper time set aside, not a rushed slot between other patients.
It cannot tell you exactly how long the wait will be
This varies by centre and by how busy the service is when you call. Ask directly when you book, and say clearly if a decision is waiting on the appointment, since urgent cases are usually prioritised.
Who this does not apply to
If your oncologist books the appointment on your behalf as part of your existing treatment, you will not need to go through this process yourself. This page is mainly for people arranging their first genetics appointment on their own, often for a relative who is not currently being treated anywhere.
It cannot tell you what will be discussed
Booking is purely logistics. What actually gets covered in the room, whether testing is recommended, and what it might mean for your family are separate questions answered in the appointment itself, not by anything decided during the booking call.
If you are unsure what to bring, call ahead and ask. It is a normal question, not an oversight.Commonly believed
Four things people assume about booking
"Booking an appointment means you will definitely be tested that day."
The first appointment is a conversation, not a test. Whether testing goes ahead, and when, is decided in that session, not before it.
"You need every relative's exact medical record before you can even book."
Approximate details are enough to start. Exact records help once they exist, but their absence should not stop you from calling.
"This is a routine checkup you can walk into."
Genetics appointments run on a proper time slot, booked ahead, because the conversation cannot be rushed the way a quick checkup can.
"Once you book, you cannot change your mind."
You can cancel or reschedule, and you can stop the process at any stage, including after arriving, without needing to explain yourself.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about booking a genetic counselling appointment
How far ahead should I expect to book?
It varies by centre, but a few weeks is common for a non-urgent appointment. Say clearly if a treatment decision is waiting on it, since urgent cases are usually seen sooner.
Will I speak to the counsellor on my first call?
Usually not. Your first call is normally with a coordinator who schedules the appointment and gathers basic information for the counsellor to review beforehand.
What if I do not have exact dates of diagnosis for relatives?
Approximate ages and years are enough to book. You can add detail later if you find old records before your appointment.
Can I book for the whole family at once?
Often yes, especially for an in-person session. Mention this when you call so a long enough slot is arranged.
What if I need to cancel or move the date?
Call and reschedule as early as you can. This is routine, and holding a slot you cannot use only delays someone else.
Do I need to complete any forms before I arrive?
Some services send a short history or consent form ahead of time. Complete it before the appointment where you can, since it saves time in the room.
Is there a cost just to book, before the appointment?
Booking itself is not usually charged separately. Ask what the appointment fee covers when you call, so there are no surprises.
Who do I call if I am not sure how to start booking?
Call the CION helpline and describe your situation. Someone will walk you through what is needed and arrange the appointment with you.
Your Specialists
Meet CION's oncologists. Bring your family history or genetic report to them.
Our medical oncologists see people with a strong family history of cancer, arrange genetic counselling and testing where it fits, and plan the checks that follow.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Want a specific doctor for your case? Mention them when booking.
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Sources
- National Cancer Institute — Genetic Testing for Inherited Cancer Susceptibility Syndromes
- Cancer Research UK — Inherited cancer genes and increased cancer risk
- NHS — Predictive genetic tests for cancer risk genes
- MedlinePlus Genetics — What does it mean to have a genetic predisposition to a disease?
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
How to find a genetic counsellor in IndiaWhere to direct your call in the first placeWhat to bring to your first appointmentThe full list, in more detailDo you need a referral for genetic counselling?Whether a doctor's letter changes this processWho should come with youDeciding who to bring before you call
Talk to us
Ready to book, but not sure what to bring?
Call us and we will tell you exactly what to have ready before your appointment. One helpline serves every CION centre.