genetics

Genetic counselling and testing for cancer

Name: Genetic counselling and testing for cancer
Price: 150.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

If you have a family history of cancer, understanding your risk is a positive step. At Check4Cancer, our genetic counselling and genetic testing services can give you clear answers, along with personalised recommendations and advice on your future health.

Whether you’re concerned about the inherited risk or have been referred by your doctor, genetic testing can empower you to make informed decisions and feel more in control.

A 1-hour telephone or virtual consultation with a genetic counsellor.

£150

Private genetic counselling services from Check4Cancer

Genetic counselling and testing help you understand whether you have inherited genes that may increase your risk of developing certain cancers.

It begins with a consultation with one of our highly-regarded specialists about your lifestyle, medical history, and family history, who will assess whether genetic testing is appropriate. If recommended, a simple saliva test can be used to identify the risk further.

The aim is to give you clear, informed guidance to help you understand your risk and decide on possible next steps.

Our genetic counselling and testing services help you:

Understand your personal cancer risk based on your family history

Explore whether genetic testing is suitable for you

Interpret genetic test results clearly and accurately

Plan next steps for screening, prevention or treatment

grandmother, daughter and granddaughter image for genetic testing page

The benefits of genetic cancer testing

Empower yourself: Understand if you carry an inherited genetic change, giving you valuable insight into your risk of cancer.
Plan for the future: Make informed decisions about screening, prevention and long-term health, particularly if you are at higher risk.
Protect your family: Help your children or other family members understand their own risk of getting cancer and whether they may benefit from predictive genetic testing.
Improve treatment: For patients already diagnosed with cancer, genetic testing can help guide personalised treatment.

Who should consider genetic testing for cancer?

You may benefit from genetic counselling if you have:

A strong family history of cancer involving multiple relatives
Family members diagnosed at a younger age (for example, under 50)
A pattern of specific cancers, such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer or prostate cancer
Personal or family experience of more than one cancer diagnosis

In many cases, people are referred for genetic testing by doctors following a review of their family history.

What cancer types can genetic testing identify risk for?

An increased risk of cancer is often linked to changes in specific genes, such as the BRCA genes. At Check4Cancer, our genetic testing can identify inherited risk linked to several types of cancer, including:

Breast cancer
Ovarian cancer
Prostate cancer
Cancers associated with Lynch syndrome, such as bowel cancer
Other genes linked to certain inherited cancers

Why choose Check4Cancer for genetic testing?

Genetic testing can naturally feel daunting, but our service is designed to give you more than a test result. You receive specialist guidance, clear explanations and personalised support at every stage, from your initial consultation to results and beyond.

Support throughout the process

You will meet with a genetic counsellor who will assess your personal and family history. If testing is recommended, they will talk you through your results and recommended next steps.

Flexible, private and convenient

Appointments take place from the comfort of home via phone or video call. Your simple, non-invasive saliva test can also be completed at home. All samples are analysed at a specialist UK-based laboratory.

Personalised next steps

Using your results and family history, our experts will offer tailored guidance and advice, including screening, prevention, and treatment options if appropriate.

What to expect from genetic testing

Genetic testing offers a safe and accurate way of identifying whether you are at an increased risk of developing cancer.

Our genetic testing service is available to individuals aged 18+ of all genders. It includes pre- and post-test genetic counselling to ensure you are supported at every stage.

1. Initial consultation

Your first appointment is a 60-minute session with a genetic counsellor.

During this consultation, we will:

Review your personal and family history
Assess your risk of developing cancer
Discuss appropriate genetic testing options
Explain the benefits and limitations of testing

2. Testing process

If you decide to proceed:

You will receive an at-home saliva test kit
Your sample is analysed in a specialist laboratory
Results are typically ready within a few weeks

This form of testing is widely used in modern medicine and provides highly accurate insights into inherited risk.

3. Post-Test counselling

Once your genetic test results are available, you will be invited to a follow-up appointment, where your genetic counsellor will:

Clearly explain your results
Help you understand your risk of cancer
Discuss next steps, including screening or treatment
Provide guidance for family members and children

At Check4Cancer, we always provide personalised guidance, whether your result is positive, negative, or inconclusive.

Our cancer genetics healthcare professionals

Our cancer genetics service is delivered by experienced healthcare professionals, including registered genetic counsellors.

They specialise in:

Assessing inherited cancer risk
Supporting patients through genetic counselling
Explaining results in a clear and helpful way
Providing ongoing support for patients and their families

Professor Andrew Beggs

Clinical Advisor for Bowel Cancer & Genetics

Professor Andrew Beggs is a Professor of Cancer Genetics & Surgery at the University of Birmingham and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. He runs a diverse research group of scientists and clinicians studying the molecular determinants of response to cancer treatments using organoid models and next-generation sequencing models. He is also an active cancer clinician, running a familial cancer clinic for the West Midlands Region and one of the national gastrointestinal polyposis centres. Professor Beggs acts as a scientific adviser to the UK Department of Health and Social Care and Genomics England.

Find out more

Book your genetic consultation today

Taking the first step to understand your cancer risk is a big decision, but you don’t have to do it alone. Our team is here to talk, support and guide you through your genetic testing journey, helping you understand your risk and your options.

Contact us to arrange a genetic counselling appointment at a time that suits you.

Frequently asked questions about our genetic counselling service

What is genetic counselling for cancer?

Genetic counselling is a specialist consultation that assesses your risk of certain types of cancer based on your family history, personal health, and inherited genes. It comes before genetic testing to assess whether it's appropriate. If so, you will also have a counselling session after your results to explain them in full and discuss next steps.

What happens during my consultation?

We will review your personal and family medical history, assess your risk, outline testing options, and discuss prevention, screening and potential treatment strategies.

How reliable is genetic testing?

Genetic testing uses advanced laboratory techniques and is highly accurate. However, not all cancer-related genes are fully understood, so results are always interpreted with a qualified genetic counsellor.

What are the possible test outcomes?

A positive result: a genetic fault linked to increased risk is identified
A negative result: no inherited risk is detected
A variant of uncertain significance: a gene change is found, but its impact is unclear

All results are carefully explained, with clear next steps and support.

Should I still consider doing genetic testing even if I have no family history of cancer?

In most cases, genetic testing is recommended based on family history. However, if you have concerns about your risk, one of our genetic counsellors will be happy to offer an assessment.