Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
How genetic results are given: in person, by phone or in writing | CION Cancer Clinics
A straightforward negative result is often given by phone. A positive or unclear result is usually explained in person, because there is more to discuss. The format is chosen once the report is back, not fixed in advance. This page explains how each method works and what you are entitled to ask for. 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
- Will my genetic result be given in person, by phone, or in writing?
- How each format actually works in practice
- How your clinic decides which format to use
- Terms that come up around how a result is delivered
- In-person and phone delivery, compared
- What this page cannot tell you
- What people assume about how results are given, and what is true
- Common questions about how genetic results are given
The short answer
Will my genetic result be given in person, by phone, or in writing?
It depends on what the result shows. A straightforward negative result is often given by phone. A positive result, or one that is unclear, is usually explained in person, because there is more to discuss and more that can be misread from a phone call or a letter alone.
Why the format is not fixed in advance
Clinics generally decide the format once the result is back, rather than promising one method at the time of testing. This is not inconsistency. It reflects that a five-minute call suits a clear negative result, while a positive one benefits from a face-to-face conversation where questions can be asked immediately.
What stays the same whichever format is used
Whatever the method, the person explaining the result should be someone qualified to interpret it, usually a genetic counsellor, and you should always have a way to ask follow-up questions afterwards. A format is a delivery choice, not a shortcut around proper explanation. No matter how the news reaches you, the same standard of care and the same right to a fuller conversation afterwards applies equally.
If you are told the result over the phone and it is more complex than expected, ask for a follow-up appointment rather than settling for the call alone.The three formats
How each format actually works in practice
None of these is inherently better. Each suits a different kind of result.
In person
The most thorough option, used for positive or complicated results. You can ask questions immediately and bring a support person with you. Many families bring the son or daughter who will explain it to everyone else at home. That is welcome, and it helps.
By phone
Common for a clear negative result, or where travelling to the clinic is difficult. A follow-up call or appointment is still available if questions come up afterwards.
In writing
Rarely used on its own for cancer genetics, because written reports use technical language that is easy to misread without someone to explain it alongside.
Usually paired with
- A phone call or in-person session to walk through it
- An offer to ask questions afterwards
Telegenetic appointments
A video call can combine much of the benefit of an in-person session for families who cannot easily travel to the clinic. It suits relatives in a district town or abroad. You can ask for the conversation in Telugu, and a relative can join the call from another place.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistHow the choice gets made
How your clinic decides which format to use
The result is reviewed first
Your counsellor reads the finished report before deciding how best to explain it to you.
Complexity is weighed
A clearly negative result needs less explaining than a positive or uncertain one, which shapes the format offered.
Your own preference is considered
If you have said you would prefer to come in regardless of the result, most clinics will accommodate that.
A method is confirmed with you
You are told in advance how and when the result will be given, rather than it arriving unannounced.
Useful to know
Terms that come up around how a result is delivered
- Telegenetic counselling
- Genetic counselling delivered by video call rather than in the clinic, used for both testing and result appointments.
- Result disclosure
- The formal term for the appointment or call where your result is explained to you.
- Written summary
- A plain-language document some clinics provide after a verbal session, for you to keep and refer back to.
- Follow-up call
- A further conversation offered if questions come up after the result has already been explained once.
- Support person
- Someone you choose to be present, in person or on the call, when your result is given.
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Side by side
In-person and phone delivery, compared
In person
By phone
Best for a positive or uncertain result
Usually reserved for a clear negative result
A support person can sit in the room with you
A support person can still listen on speaker
Requires travelling to the clinic
Can be taken from home
More time is usually set aside
Usually a shorter, more focused conversation
Being straight with you
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot tell you which format your own result will be given in. That decision is made by your clinic once the report is back, based on what the result actually shows, not on a rule set in advance.
It cannot promise a specific method regardless of the result
If you have a strong preference, for example wanting to come in person whatever the result says, it is worth telling your counsellor at the time of testing. Most clinics will try to accommodate a stated preference, but a positive or unclear result may still need more time than a single phone call allows, and your counsellor may reasonably suggest a fuller appointment even if that was not what you originally asked for.
Who this does not apply to
Families who live a long way from a clinic, or in a different city altogether, are often better served by a telegenetic appointment than by either a plain phone call or an in-person visit that is hard to arrange. Ask whether this is available to you.
Whatever format you are offered, you are entitled to ask for it to be followed up with a further conversation if you need one.Commonly believed
What people assume about how results are given, and what is true
"A phone call means the result is being treated casually."
A phone call is usually chosen because the result is clear and straightforward, not because less care is being taken. The format reflects the complexity of the result, not its importance.
"Being called in must mean bad news."
An in-person appointment is standard practice for any result that benefits from a fuller conversation, which includes some negative results with an unusual family history, not only positive ones.
"A written report is enough on its own."
Reports are written for clinicians and commonly misread without someone qualified to walk through them. A written summary is usually meant to accompany a conversation, not replace one.
"A video call is a lesser substitute for an in-person visit."
Telegenetic appointments are a recognised, properly supported way of delivering genetic counselling, not a fallback used only when nothing better is available.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about how genetic results are given
Can I ask for my result in person even if it is negative?
Yes. If you would prefer an in-person appointment regardless of the outcome, tell your counsellor at the time of testing and most clinics will arrange it.
Will I be warned in advance if the result is being given in person?
Usually, yes. Clinics generally confirm the format and timing with you before the appointment, rather than surprising you with the news of a change in plan.
Is a phone result less accurate than an in-person one?
No. The format does not change the accuracy of the result itself, only how much time is set aside to explain it and answer questions.
Can I request a video call instead of travelling to the clinic?
Many clinics now offer telegenetic appointments for exactly this reason. Ask when you book whether it is available for your result session.
What if I miss the phone call for my result?
The clinic will normally try again or offer to reschedule. Results are not typically left as a voicemail message without a follow-up conversation.
Can a family member receive my result on my behalf?
Generally, no, unless you have specifically arranged this in advance with the clinic. Results are given directly to the person tested, with a support person present if you choose.
Do I get a written copy even if the result is given by phone?
Many clinics will send a written summary afterwards for your records, even when the initial conversation was by phone. Ask if this is not offered automatically.
Who do I contact if I am unhappy with how my result was given?
Speak to the clinic directly, or call the CION helpline if you are unsure who to raise it with. A follow-up conversation can usually be arranged.
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
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Sources
- GeneReviews (NCBI) — Genetic Counseling Principles
- NHS — Predictive genetic tests for cancer risk genes
- National Cancer Institute — Genetic Testing for Inherited Cancer Susceptibility Syndromes
- Cancer Research UK — Inherited cancer genes and increased cancer risk
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
Post-test counselling: the result sessionWhat is covered once the result is being explainedTelegenetic counselling and remote appointmentsThe video-call option in more detailWhat you should leave the appointment withWhat to expect regardless of how the result was givenGenetic counselling in TeluguLanguage options for the same appointment
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