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Primary Care

Understanding your hereditary risk of cancer

Understanding your personal cancer risk can help guide care that’s right for you.
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A personalized approach to cancer risk

As a Riverside Health primary care patient, you’re invited to take a brief hereditary cancer risk assessment to better understand whether your personal or family history may play a role in your cancer risk.

Because hereditary risk factors can influence when screening should begin, this assessment is offered earlier in adulthood, often before routine screening guidelines apply.

Understanding your personal and family history helps ensure that care decisions are based on you, not just general recommendations. The goal is to help identify who may benefit from additional guidance, and who can feel reassured continuing with routine screening.

What this risk assessment is designed to tell you

Learning about your hereditary cancer risk does not mean you have cancer or that you will develop cancer. It means you’re gaining information that helps your care team better understand your personal and family history of cancer.

For many people, this information confirms they’re on the right path. For others, it helps guide a more personalized approach to screening or prevention. Both outcomes support informed, proactive care.

With this understanding, you may be able to:

  • make screening decisions that fit you, not just general guidelines.
  • detect cancer earlier, if it ever develops.
  • identify opportunities to reduce risk.
  • feel reassured when risk is average.
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Riverside Health is inviting eligible adult primary care patients a brief hereditary cancer risk questionnaire designed to support this understanding. The questionnaire:

  • reviews personal and family health history.
  • is based on nationally recognized cancer care guidelines.
  • helps identify individuals who may benefit from additional guidance.
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If your responses suggest you may be at higher risk, you’ll be invited to schedule a no-cost genetic counseling appointment, made possible through a generous grant to the Riverside Health Foundation.

Genetic counseling for patients identified at higher risk

A genetic counselor is a trained, licensed medical professional who helps people understand how family history and genetics may influence cancer risk. Genetic counselors serve as guides, not decision makers.

Their role is to listen, explain, and help you think through what the information may mean for you, with your questions and preferences at the center of the conversation.

Together, you’ll determine what information is useful and what level of follow up feels right for you. You remain in control at every step.

Your genetic counseling visit is a conversation. You can expect it to be:

  • conducted virtually.
  • approximately 60 minutes.
  • focused on listening, learning, and clarity.


During the visit, your genetic counselor may:

  • review your personal and family health history.
  • talk through your questionnaire results in plain language.
  • help you understand whether genetics may play a role in your risk.
  • discuss possible next steps, such as genetic testing, if appropriate.​

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Care that’s personalized and connected

Your primary care provider remains at the center of your care. The genetic counselor helps interpret information and share insights. When appropriate, specialists within the Riverside Cancer Care Network are involved. 

A few common questions
No. Learning about your hereditary cancer risk does not mean you have cancer or that you will develop cancer. The assessment helps provide context about your personal and family history so your care team can better understand your risk.
The questionnaire takes only a few minutes to complete and will let you know if based on your answers, if you are at average or higher risk of developing cancer.
No. Genetic testing is not automatic. If your results suggest you may benefit from genetic counseling, that visit is a conversation focused on understanding your risk and exploring whether any next steps may be helpful.
Your genetic counselor will discuss submitting all genetic tests to your insurance. They can also provide details on direct costs and other options if insurance declines coverage for the genetic test before any genetic test is ordered.
There is a Federal Law called the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (GINA), which has been in existence since 2008. It protects against discrimination from health insurances and employers. Your genetic counselor will go over this law and the protections you have in place during your appointment.
Your genetic test result would be important for other members of your family to know, especially if there is positive result and a mutation is identified. You will receive personalized information and guidance on how the test will impact your health and the health of your family members. During the genetic counseling session, patients are encouraged to speak with family members to discuss the fact that they are undertaking genetic testing.
Yes. Your primary care provider remains at the center of your care. Information from the assessment and any genetic counseling visit is shared with your care team so recommendations are coordinated and aligned with your overall health care.
An average risk result means your risk is similar to that of the general population. It does not mean screening isn’t important. Staying up to date with routine, on time screening remains one of the most effective ways to detect cancer early. Learn more about when to be screened for those at average risk.
Yes. While some risk factors are inherited, lifestyle habits are modifiable and can play an important role in cancer prevention. Learn more about healthy choices related to nutrition, physical activity, tobacco use and alcohol can help reduce risk.