Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
What to bring to your first genetic counselling appointment | CION Cancer Clinics
A written family cancer history matters more than any single medical report. This page explains what to gather before your first genetic counselling appointment, how to build a family history in one evening, and what to do if paperwork or memories are incomplete. 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 should you actually carry with you?
- The four things worth carrying in a single folder
- How to put the family history together in one evening
- Things people bring that are not actually required
- If you have full records, and if you have almost nothing
- What if you cannot get hold of everything?
- Four things families assume they need to bring
- Common questions about what to bring
The short answer
What should you actually carry with you?
Bring a written list of who in your family had cancer, what type, and roughly how old they were. Bring any pathology reports, scan reports or genetic reports you already have, even old ones. Everything else is useful but secondary.
Why the family list matters more than any single report
A genetic counsellor builds a family tree from what you tell them. One clear list covering both sides of the family, going back at least two generations, does more for that conversation than a single detailed medical file. Most families have never written this down before, and doing it beforehand saves real time in the room.
Old reports are still worth bringing
A biopsy report from years ago, or a scan report for a relative who has since died, can still answer questions a family tree alone cannot. Do not assume an old document is too out of date to matter. Even a discharge summary from a hospital stay can confirm a diagnosis that a family only ever discussed in passing.
A single folder is easier than several piles
Keeping everything, even photographs of documents, in one folder on your phone or in a physical file saves time on the day. It also means nothing gets left behind in the rush of an appointment morning.
If you are missing something, come anyway. The counsellor will tell you what still needs to be tracked down and how.What to pack
The four things worth carrying in a single folder
You do not need everything to be perfect. A rough, honest version of each of these is enough to start with.
Your family cancer history
Names are not needed. Relationships, cancer type and approximate age at diagnosis are what matter, on both your mother's and your father's side.
Any medical reports you can find
Pathology, surgery, scan or genetic reports for yourself or an affected relative. Photographs of paper reports on your phone are fine.
Your current medication list
Not because it usually changes the discussion, but because it saves time if it comes up and avoids a second call afterwards.
Your questions, written down
It is easy to forget a question once the conversation starts. A short list on paper means nothing gets left unasked.
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistBefore you go
How to put the family history together in one evening
Start with yourself and work outward
List parents, siblings and children first, then grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides.
Ask an older relative to fill the gaps
A parent or an aunt often remembers a diagnosis or an age that nobody else in the family recalls correctly.
Write down what you are unsure of too
"Some kind of stomach cancer, in his sixties" is more useful than leaving the box blank because you are not certain.
Gather documents last
Once the list exists, go looking for any reports that match the names on it. Photograph what you cannot bring physically.
What you do not need
Things people bring that are not actually required
- A completed family tree diagram
- The counsellor draws this with you. A list of names and details is all you need to bring.
- Every historical document ever issued
- The most relevant reports are the ones tied to a cancer diagnosis, not routine check-ups.
- A referral letter, in most cases
- Some clinics ask for one and some do not. Check when you book rather than assuming.
- Proof of a relative's diagnosis
- What you remember and were told is a valid starting point, even without paperwork to back it up.
- Insurance documents
- These are not part of the clinical discussion, though it is a fair question to raise separately if you have concerns.
- A decision already made
- You are not expected to arrive knowing whether you want testing. That is part of what the appointment is for.
Leave a number, we will call you
One field. No form to fill in, and no charge for the call.
Side by side
If you have full records, and if you have almost nothing
You have detailed records
You have very little written down
Bring the reports in date order
Bring your best recollection in writing
The appointment can move to options sooner
More of the visit is spent building the picture
Old reports may still need a fresh look
The counsellor may suggest tracking a record down
Testing decisions can often be made that day
A second visit may be needed once gaps are filled
Being realistic
What if you cannot get hold of everything?
Come anyway. Missing paperwork is common, not unusual, and it does not stop the appointment from being useful. Relatives who have died, moved away, or lost contact with the family are part of most people's history, and the counsellor is used to working around those gaps.
A phone call can fill a document-shaped gap
If a relative is alive but not attending, a short phone call before the appointment to confirm a diagnosis and rough age can stand in for a report you cannot locate.
Do not delay the appointment to chase paperwork
It is usually better to attend with what you have and let the counsellor tell you which specific document, if any, is worth chasing afterwards, rather than postponing the visit itself. Waiting months to track down one old report can mean waiting months longer than necessary for advice your family could already be acting on.
If a relative's old hospital has closed or records have been lost, say so. It changes how the counsellor approaches your family history, not whether they can help you.Commonly believed
Four things families assume they need to bring
"I need official medical records for every relative or it doesn't count."
What you remember and were told counts. Official records help confirm details but their absence does not stop a family history from being useful.
"There's no point going if I can't bring my father's old file."
A rough description of his diagnosis is enough to start with. The counsellor can advise whether the old file is worth pursuing afterwards.
"I should bring a printed family tree I made myself."
A list is more useful than a diagram you have drawn yourself, since the counsellor will ask questions that reshape it as you go.
"I need to decide about testing before I arrive."
The appointment exists to help you decide. Arriving with an open mind is more useful than arriving with a decision already made.
Questions we are asked
Common questions about what to bring
Do I need a doctor's referral to attend?
It depends on the clinic. Some accept self-referrals for a first genetic counselling visit and some prefer a referral from your treating doctor. Ask when you book so you are not turned away.
Can I bring photographs of documents instead of the originals?
Yes. Clear photographs on your phone are perfectly usable. Bring the originals only if you already have them with you for another reason.
What if I don't know my grandparents' medical history at all?
That is common and it is still worth attending. The counsellor will work with what is known and explain what the gap does and does not change about the assessment.
Should I bring my children to the appointment?
Usually not, unless there is nobody else to care for them. The conversation covers detailed and sometimes difficult family history that is easier to focus on without young children in the room.
Do I need to bring identification?
Bring the same identification you would to any hospital appointment for registration purposes. It is not specific to genetic counselling.
What if my family history has changed since I last checked?
Mention it as soon as you arrive. A new diagnosis in the family, even a recent one, can change the whole assessment and is worth flagging before the conversation starts.
Is it worth bringing a relative's death certificate?
Only if it states the cause of death and that is otherwise unclear. Most family history conversations do not need it, but it can help confirm an uncertain diagnosis.
Can I email documents ahead of time instead of carrying them?
Many clinics accept this. Ask when you book whether documents can be sent in advance, which can also shorten the appointment itself.
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
- National Cancer Institute — Genetic Testing for Inherited Cancer Susceptibility Syndromes
- Cancer Research UK — What happens when you see a genetic counsellor
- MedlinePlus Genetics — How can I find a genetics professional in my area?
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.
Talk to us
Not sure what counts as useful family history?
Describe what you know and we will tell you what else, if anything, is worth gathering before you come in. One helpline serves every CION centre.