Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
Questions to ask before you agree to a genetic test | CION Cancer Clinics
Before you agree to a genetic test, ask why it is being suggested, what it can find, what it will cost in total and who will explain the result. Ask who can see it and what happens to your sample. If an answer is vague, you can wait. This page groups the questions that matter and shows what a good answer sounds like. 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 ask before you agree to a genetic test?
- Which questions cover the things that matter?
- How do you use these questions in the appointment?
- The words you will meet, in plain language
- What does a good answer sound like?
- What this page cannot tell you
- Four things families tell us, and what is actually true
- Common questions before agreeing to a test
The short answer
What should you ask before you agree to a genetic test?
Ask why this test is being suggested, what it can and cannot find, what it will cost in total, and who will explain the result. Ask what happens to your sample and who can see the result. If any answer is vague, you are entitled to wait until it is not.
Why the questions matter more than the test
A genetic test is simple to take and hard to undo. Once you know a result, you cannot un-know it, and neither can relatives you share it with. The time to be clear about what you are agreeing to is before the sample is taken, not after the report arrives.
Why it matters especially in India
India has no dedicated law on genetic information. Laboratories vary a great deal in what they test and how they report it. Some tests are sold directly, with no counselling at all. Asking the right questions is how you protect yourself in that gap.
You are allowed to pause
Agreeing to counselling is not agreeing to a test. You can go home, talk to your family, and decide later. A good counsellor will expect that and never rush you.
The questions, grouped
Which questions cover the things that matter?
You do not need to ask all of them. Pick the ones that worry you most and write them down before the appointment.
About the test
- Why are you suggesting this test for me?
- Which genes will it look at, and why those?
- Should someone else in my family be tested first?
- Is this a test of my genes or of the tumour?
About the result
- What results could come back?
- What happens if the result is uncertain?
- Who will explain it to me, and how?
- How long will it take?
About money
- What is the full price, counselling included?
- Will my insurer or a scheme cover any of it?
- What will testing my relatives cost later?
About privacy and family
- Who will be able to see my result?
- What happens to my sample afterwards?
- Could this affect my insurance?
- How do I tell my relatives if a fault is found?
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistIn practice
How do you use these questions in the appointment?
Write them down at home
Choose the questions that matter to you and write them on paper or on your phone. Worry makes it easy to forget them once you are in the room.
Bring someone with you
A son, daughter or spouse can listen, take notes and ask what you forget. They may also be affected by the result, so hearing the explanation first-hand helps.
Ask one at a time
Let the counsellor answer fully before moving on. If an answer uses words you do not understand, ask them to say it again more simply, in Telugu if that is easier.
Read the consent form before signing
It should say what is tested, what happens to the sample and who receives the result. If it says something the counsellor did not mention, ask about it.
Take time if you need it
If you are unsure, say so and come back. Unless treatment decisions depend on the result soon, waiting a little does no harm.
On the consent form
The words you will meet, in plain language
- Informed consent
- Your agreement to the test, given after it has been explained to you. It is only real if you understood what you agreed to.
- Panel
- The list of genes the laboratory will read. Bigger is not always better, because more genes means more uncertain results.
- Secondary findings
- Results about genes unrelated to why you were tested. Some forms let you choose whether you want to hear them.
- Variant of uncertain significance
- A change the laboratory cannot yet call harmful or harmless. It should not change your care.
- Reclassification
- When a laboratory changes its view of a variant as new evidence appears. Ask how you would be told.
- Sample storage
- What happens to your blood or saliva after testing. You can ask for it to be destroyed, or agree to storage.
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Side by side
What does a good answer sound like?
A reassuring answer
A reason to pause
"We test the relative with cancer first, if we can."
"It makes no difference who is tested first."
"Here is the full price, with counselling included."
"We will tell you the final price later."
"A counsellor will explain your result in person."
"The report will be emailed to you."
"Some results are uncertain, and this is what we do then."
"The test will tell you everything."
"Take the time you need to decide."
"You need to decide today."
Being straight with you
What this page cannot tell you
It cannot tell you whether to have the test. That depends on your own cancer, your family tree and what you would do with the result. A genetic counsellor can help you weigh that up, and can also tell you honestly if a test is unlikely to help.
It cannot answer questions about a result you already have
What your specific variant means is a question for the counsellor who ordered the test. If you tested without counselling, ask your oncologist to refer you to one before you act on the report.
It does not cover tumour testing
If your oncologist is suggesting a test of the tumour to choose treatment, the questions are different. That is explained on our targeted therapy pages.
Who this does not apply to
If nobody has suggested a test and your family has no pattern that points to one, you probably do not need these questions yet. Most people never need a genetic test at all.
Commonly believed
Four things families tell us, and what is actually true
"Asking too many questions will annoy the doctor."
Questions are part of the process. Counsellors are trained to expect them, and a test you understand is safer than one you agreed to quietly.
"The bigger the gene panel, the better the test."
A larger panel reads more genes, but it also finds more uncertain results. The right panel is the one that fits the cancers in your family.
"Once the sample is taken, I cannot change my mind."
You can usually ask for the test to be stopped, or for the result not to be released to you yet. Ask how this works before giving the sample.
"Signing the form means my family will be told."
Your result is yours. You decide who to tell, and the counsellor can help you plan how. Nobody should contact your relatives without your agreement.
Questions we are asked
Common questions before agreeing to a test
Do I have to decide on the day of counselling?
No. Unless a treatment decision depends on the result soon, you can take time to think and talk to family. Say you would like to decide later. A counsellor who pressures you to decide on the spot is not following good practice.
Can I ask for counselling in Telugu?
You can and should ask. Understanding the explanation matters more than the language it is given in. If a Telugu speaker is not available, bring a relative who can help, and ask the counsellor to slow down.
What if I do not want to know about other genes?
Say so before the test. Some consent forms let you choose whether to hear about findings unrelated to your cancer. The counsellor can also suggest a smaller panel that looks only at the genes that fit your family.
Should I ask about insurance before testing?
Yes. India has no dedicated law on genetic information and insurance. Ask your counsellor how a result could matter for health or life cover. Some people arrange cover before they test. This is a fair thing to consider.
Who will see my result?
Usually you and the doctor or counsellor who ordered it. Ask whether it goes into your hospital record, and whether anyone else receives a copy. You can ask that it is shared only with your agreement.
What happens to my sample after the test?
Laboratories differ. Some destroy samples, some store them, and some ask to use them for research. Your consent form should say which. You can refuse research use without affecting your test.
Can I get a second opinion before testing?
Yes. If a test was suggested without much explanation, it is reasonable to see a genetic counsellor or another oncologist first. A second view on whether the test is needed can save money and worry.
Where do I start?
Write down the questions that matter most to you, along with your family history. Take both to your oncologist or a genetic counsellor. Call the CION helpline if you are not sure who to ask, and someone will guide 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
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Sources
- National Cancer Institute — Genetic Testing for Inherited Cancer Susceptibility Syndromes
- MedlinePlus Genetics — What is informed consent?
- MedlinePlus Genetics — What are the risks and limitations of genetic testing?
- NHS — Predictive genetic tests for cancer risk genes
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
Pre-test counsellingWhat happens in the conversation where these questions get askedInformed consent for genetic testingWhat the consent form should cover, line by lineWhat the price of a genetic test includesHow to compare quotes without surprises laterBuying insurance before testingThe insurance question to settle before the sample is taken
Talk to us
Been offered a genetic test and not sure what to ask?
Tell us what test was suggested and why. We will help you work out whether it is the right test and connect you with a counsellor who can explain it. One helpline serves every CION centre.