Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
How to find a genetic counsellor in India | CION Cancer Clinics
The fastest route is usually inside the hospital already treating you, not a fresh search. This page sets out the four real starting points for genetic counselling in India, what changes if you live outside a major city, and the questions to ask before you book anywhere. At CION Cancer Clinics in Hyderabad, our oncologists review your family history with you and guide you to the right genetic counselling and testing.
NG
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
17+specialists on panel
15,000+patients treated
35+centres across Telangana & AP
4.8★ / 800+Google rating
On this page
- Where do you actually start looking for a genetic counsellor?
- Where genetic counselling in India is actually offered
- Turning a name into an actual appointment
- What these service names actually mean
- What is available in a metro versus a district town
- What this page cannot tell you
- Four things people assume about finding a counsellor
- Common questions about finding a genetic counsellor
The short answer
Where do you actually start looking for a genetic counsellor?
Start with the oncology team already treating you or your relative, not a search engine. Most genetic counselling in cancer care begins from inside a hospital, because the most useful first step is usually testing the relative who already has cancer, and that team already knows the case.
If nobody in the family has been treated yet
Start at a comprehensive cancer centre rather than a general hospital. Larger centres run a genetics or counselling service alongside oncology, and their front desk can point you to it directly without you needing to know the exact department name in advance.
If you live outside a major city
Distance is not the barrier it used to be. Several centres now offer a first counselling conversation by phone or video, with the blood sample collected locally and sent to the main laboratory. You do not need to travel for the conversation itself, only for the sample, and often not even for that if a local diagnostic centre can draw it and courier it on your behalf.
What to do while you decide where to go
Start writing down the family history now, before you make any calls. List who was diagnosed, with what type of cancer, and at roughly what age, on both your mother's and your father's side. Whichever route you choose, this is the first thing anyone will ask you for, and having it ready saves a second call.
The fastest route is usually the one already inside your hospital, not a new search.Four starting points
Where genetic counselling in India is actually offered
Each route suits a different situation. None is wrong, but one will usually be faster for you than the others.
Your own oncology team
If someone in the family already has cancer, this is the fastest route. The treating doctor already has the reports and can refer within the same hospital or to a partner service.
A comprehensive cancer centre's genetics clinic
Larger centres run a dedicated service, seeing families with no current diagnosis as well as patients. This suits someone starting purely from a worrying family history.
The laboratory running the test
Some diagnostic laboratories bundle a counselling call with the test itself. Ask plainly who you will actually speak to and what their training is, since this varies between laboratories.
Remote or telegenetic counselling
A video or phone appointment with a counsellor attached to a distant centre, with the sample collected near you. Built for families outside the cities where most services sit.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistMaking it happen
Turning a name into an actual appointment
Ask your oncologist first
Even if they do not personally offer counselling, they usually know exactly where to send you and can write the referral in one line.
Write down the family history before you call
Who was diagnosed, with what, and at roughly what age, on both sides of the family. Whoever books your appointment will ask for this.
Call and ask about cost and format upfront
Ask whether the first conversation is in person or remote, and what it costs, before you travel anywhere.
Confirm what you should bring
Reports, scan discs and any earlier test results, even ones you think are unrelated or old.
Terms you will meet while searching
What these service names actually mean
- Genetics clinic
- A hospital department dedicated to inherited conditions, usually staffed by a genetic counsellor, a clinical geneticist, or both.
- Referral
- A note from your treating doctor asking another service to see you. It usually moves you through the system faster than booking cold.
- Panel test laboratory
- The company that actually runs the genetic test. Some also offer counselling; some only process the sample.
- Telegenetic counselling
- A counselling appointment conducted by phone or video rather than in person, usually paired with a local sample collection.
- In-house counsellor
- A counsellor employed directly by the hospital treating you, as opposed to one working for the testing laboratory.
Leave a number, we will call you
One field. No form to fill in, and no charge for the call.
Where you live changes the route
What is available in a metro versus a district town
In a metro
In a district town
A dedicated genetics clinic is often on site
Usually a remote appointment with a distant centre
Same-week appointments are common
Waiting for a visiting specialist may add time
Sample collection happens on site
A local lab or clinic draws the sample and couriers it
Follow-up conversations are usually in person
Follow-up is usually by phone or video
Being straight with you
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot name the one counsellor who is right for your family. That depends on where you are, what has already been diagnosed, and which hospital you already trust, none of which a general page can know.
It cannot promise a same-day appointment
Most genetics appointments are booked in advance rather than walked into. If your situation feels urgent, say so clearly when you call, rather than assuming urgency is obvious.
Who this does not apply to
If your treating hospital already runs its own genetics service, you do not need to search elsewhere. This page is mainly for people starting from a family history alone, with no hospital yet involved, or for someone who has been told to "look into genetic testing" without being told where.
It cannot tell you what the test will find
Finding the right service is a separate question from what your family's actual risk turns out to be. Nothing changes about your result because of which route you took to get there; the route only affects how quickly and how comfortably you get to that conversation.
If you are not sure where to start, call the helpline and describe your situation. Someone will point you to the right service.Commonly believed
Four things people assume about finding a counsellor
"This is only available in the big cities."
Remote counselling has closed much of that gap. What still usually needs a city is the laboratory itself, not the conversation.
"Any lab offering a genetic test also gives proper counselling."
Some do, well. Others offer a short call from someone without dedicated training. Ask plainly who you will speak to before you assume it is covered.
"You need a private clinic; there is no public option."
Several government teaching hospitals and cancer institutes run genetics services. They are often busier, but they exist.
"Waiting a few weeks means losing your chance."
Genetic counselling is rarely a same-day emergency. Taking time to find the right service and gather your family history properly makes the appointment more useful, not less.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about finding a genetic counsellor
Do I need a doctor's referral to see a genetic counsellor?
Not always, but it helps. A referral usually moves you faster and brings your reports with it. Some genetics clinics also accept people who book directly.
What if my hospital does not have a genetics service?
Ask your oncologist to refer you to a comprehensive cancer centre that does. Most district hospitals work with a partner centre for exactly this reason.
Can I get counselling without travelling to a city?
Often yes, through a phone or video appointment with a counsellor at a distant centre. A local clinic can usually collect the sample and send it on.
Is counselling from a testing laboratory good enough?
It can be, but quality varies. Ask who exactly you will speak to and what their training is before assuming a bundled call meets the same standard as a hospital-based counsellor.
How long does it take to get an appointment?
It depends on the centre and demand in your area. Ask when you call, and mention clearly if a relative's treatment decision is waiting on the result.
Should I look for a specific gene specialist, or is general genetics counselling fine?
A general cancer genetics counsellor is the right starting point for almost everyone. They will refer you further if your situation turns out to need a narrower specialist.
Can I find a counsellor without anyone in the family having had cancer?
Yes. Comprehensive cancer centres see people purely on family history, with no current diagnosis in the room.
Who do I call if I am not sure where to start?
Call the CION helpline and describe your family history in plain terms. Someone will tell you honestly whether it is worth a referral, and to where.
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.
Book Free ConsultationBook an appointment with our specialist
Share your name and number — we'll call you back within 30 minutes to schedule your consultation.
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
Genetic counselling in India: training and certificationWhat to check once you have found someoneDo you need a referral for genetic counselling?Whether you can book directly or need a doctor firstBooking a genetic counselling appointmentWhat happens once you have a service in mindTelegenetic counselling and remote appointmentsMore detail on the remote route
Talk to us
Not sure where to start looking?
Describe your situation and we will tell you which service to approach first, at CION or elsewhere. One helpline serves every CION centre.