Flourish Health & Wellbeing eMag - Latest Edition - Flipbook - Page 9
The role of family history
Most pancreatic cancers
occur sporadically,
but risk can rise when
several close relatives
have been affected.
Pankind estimates that
the general population
has a lifetime risk of
approximately 1.3% by
age 80. This rises to
around 4% when one 昀椀rst
degree relative has had
pancreatic cancer, 8% to
12% with two 昀椀rst degree
relatives, and 16% to 30%
with three 昀椀rst degree
relatives.
People with a strong
family history may
bene昀椀t from speaking
with their GP. Genetic
testing or specialist
surveillance may be
appropriate for some
individuals, but it is not
routinely recommended
for everyone.
Why early diagnosis
is di昀케cult
There is currently no
widespread population
screening program for
pancreatic cancer. The
pancreas sits deep
within the abdomen,
making small tumours
dif昀椀cult to see or
feel during a physical
examination. Symptoms
may also be intermittent,
subtle or mistaken for
other health conditions.
Current diagnostic tests
may include blood tests,
ultrasound, CT scans, MRI,
PET scans, endoscopic
ultrasound and tissue
sampling. The tests
selected will depend on
the person’s symptoms,
medical history and the
suspected location and
stage of the cancer.
People with a signi昀椀cant
inherited or familial
risk may be offered
specialised monitoring
or invited to participate
in research-based
surveillance programs.
