Telehealth Boosts Genetic Care for Childhood Cancer Survivors

Remote genetic services improve access to counseling and testing for those at higher cancer risk

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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A recent clinical trial found that providing genetic services via remote centralized telehealth, in collaboration with primary care providers, increased the uptake of genetic counseling and testing among adult survivors of childhood cancers. This is significant as these survivors are at higher risk for developing new cancers due to their previous cancer treatments, and identifying those with hereditary cancer predisposition allows for personalized survivorship care.

Why it matters

Childhood cancer survivors face an elevated risk of developing new cancers later in life, often due to the treatments they received. Identifying those with hereditary cancer risk factors is crucial for implementing early screening and preventive measures. This study demonstrates that telehealth-based genetic services can improve access to this important care, which can ultimately reduce morbidity and mortality in this vulnerable population.

The details

The study included 391 participants with a mean age of 44 years. All were provided information on the benefits of genetic testing. After 6 months, 43% of those in the telehealth services group had received genetic counseling and testing, compared to only 15% in the usual care group. Notably, 10% of the telehealth group had actionable genetic results, highlighting the significant impact of this intervention.

  • The study was published in Lancet Regional Health – Americas in 2026.

The players

Tara Henderson, MD, MPH

Childhood cancer survivorship expert and Chair of Pediatrics at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, as well as Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

A nonprofit organization committed to providing access to exceptional care for every child, and the only independent, research-driven children's hospital in Illinois.

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What they’re saying

“Identifying survivors with cancer-predisposing genetic variants allows personalized survivorship care with early screenings and preventive measures.”

— Tara Henderson, MD, MPH, Childhood cancer survivorship expert and Chair of Pediatrics (Lancet Regional Health – Americas)

“Notably, 10 percent of participants who completed genetic testing in the telehealth group had actionable results, which underscores the significant impact of this intervention for the survivors and their families.”

— Tara Henderson, MD, MPH, Childhood cancer survivorship expert and Chair of Pediatrics (Lancet Regional Health – Americas)

What’s next

Researchers plan to further study ways to enhance motivation for genetic testing among childhood cancer survivors, such as through personalized decision aids, additional education on the benefits, and financial support to address cost concerns.

The takeaway

This study demonstrates that integrating remote genetic services into primary care can significantly improve access to crucial cancer screening and prevention for adult survivors of childhood cancers. Expanding telehealth-based genetic counseling and testing has the potential to reduce morbidity and mortality in this high-risk population.