Pancreatic cancer online tool assesses risk of inheriting disease

The charity Pancreatic Cancer UK has launched an online tool for families who have lost a loved one to pancreatic cancer to assess their risk of inheriting the disease.

Supported by NHS England, the family history checker will help to identify people with inherited risk of the disease and refer them for regular monitoring, giving them the best chance of being diagnosed early.

NHSE invested £100,000 in the tool, with the objective of improving rates of earlier diagnosis by raising awareness of inherited risk and to help signpost eligible people to the surveillance programme, The European Registry of Hereditary Pancreatitis and Familial Pancreatic Cancer (EUROPAC).

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: “This new family history checker is a great tool for families where someone has had pancreatic cancer and will help the NHS to identify and support people at risk from it.

“I know it can be daunting to find out if you are at risk of pancreatic cancer, and some people may feel they’d rather not know, but finding out early means people can get the support they need from the NHS.

“We want as many people as possible to take advantage of this new tool, so they can be provided with further testing, surveillance or treatment as early as possible, if your results show you might need them”.

The tool asks three questions covering family history of pancreatic cancer, other genetic conditions associated with the disease, and pancreatitis.

Answers from these will help to identify who should be referred onwards for further risk assessment through the EUROPAC research study, a registry of people with a family history of pancreatic cancer, as well as people who have been diagnosed with hereditary pancreatitis.

People referred from the family history checker will be asked to provide more information about their family history by the EUROPAC team, which will be reviewed to identify those who should be invited to receive annual monitoring, including regular blood tests and scans.

The vast majority of people will not have increased inherited risk and will be able to receive reassurance and be signposted to symptoms information to be aware of, and details of the Pancreatic Cancer UK support line if they want to speak to the charity’s team of specialist nurses.

Diana Jupp, chief executive at Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: “Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease and once someone in your family has been affected, it’s hard not to become fearful for yourself and others in your life.

“We are so proud to be supported by NHS England on this project, which will help alleviate anxiety around inherited risk of the disease and identify the people who most need regular monitoring.

“It is now vital that as many people as possible use the family history checker, so that everyone who should be referred for regular monitoring is found.

“The earlier pancreatic cancer is spotted, the more likely it is that people will be able to have lifesaving treatment. By reaching more people, lives could be saved”.