Screening for pancreatic cancer

However, if your family may have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, it is recommended that you are referred to a specialist cancer genetics centre, where you will be counselled about your personal risk and offered the chance to take part in screening.

In the UK, the national co-ordinating centre for screening for people at high risk of pancreatic cancer is the European Registry for Familial Pancreatic Cancer and Hereditary Pancreatitis (EUROPAC).|

The aim of screening is to try to detect pancreatic cancer early, if it occurs. It isn't clear how effective screening for pancreatic cancer is or which tests should be used. So you may be offered screening as part of a clinical trial.

EUROPAC runs a screening programme for people over 40 years of age with a strong family history of cancer of the pancreas and for people with hereditary pancreatitis. However, each family is considered on an individual basis and screening may be offered at an earlier age depending on the family history.

The screening involves blood tests, CT and ultrasound scans and a test called an endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography| (ERCP). These tests are repeated every 1-3 years. 

EUROPAC is also currently running a study to try to find out which genes cause familial pancreatic cancer. If you take part in this study it involves filling out a questionnaire, and having blood samples taken and your name put on a register.

If you have a family history of cancer of the pancreas and would like to know more you can contact EUROPAC at the address below or through your GP or hospital doctor.

EUROPAC

Ms Sara Harrison
EUROPAC Data Manager
Division of Surgery and Oncology
5th Floor UCD Block
Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Daulby Street
Liverpool L69 3GA
United Kingdom
Tel 0151 706 4168
Fax  0151 706 5826
Email europac@liverpool.ac.uk|