Are you thinking about joining our program? Here’s what you need to know to help you decide.
What is the Pancreatic Cancer Screening and Risk Evaluation Program?
This program is for people who have a higher risk of getting pancreatic cancer. It is co-led by Dr. Vineet Rolston and Dr. Mengmeng Du. The program offers routine screening with scans and lab tests. The goal is to find cancer early, when treatment may work better.
You can only take part in screening if you join the research study. National guidelines say pancreatic cancer screening should be part of a study. This helps experts use health data (without names) to help make screening better for others.
Who can join the program?
You may be eligible if you have a family history of pancreatic cancer, certain changes in genes (such as the BRCA gene), or both.
Most people start screening at age 50. Some may need to start sooner. We’ll help you figure out what’s right for you.
What to expect at your first visit
You’ll meet with Dr. Rolston or another MSK provider to talk about your risk. Dr. Rolston is a gastroenterologist (GAS-troh-EN-teh-RAH-loh-jist), a doctor with special training in the gastrointestinal system, including the pancreas.
During your visit, we’ll ask about your personal and family health history. This helps us understand your risk. We’ll also answer any questions you have about the program.
If you want to join, we’ll ask for your consent to take part in the program. All visits must be in person. We do not offer video visits for this program.
We may also be able to do blood tests and scans the same day as your first visit. When you set up your visit, let our staff know if you’d like that.
If you decide not to join, that’s okay. The first visit is so you can see if the program is a good fit.
What tests are part of screening?
We use tests to look for early signs of cancer in the pancreas. The 2 main tests are:
- Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP): This is a special type of MRI. It uses radio waves, a strong magnet, and a computer to take pictures of pancreatic ducts and bile ducts.
- Endoscopic ultrasound: This is a test that uses ultrasound waves and a thin tube to take pictures of your pancreas from inside your body. You’ll have anesthesia, which is medicine to make you sleep.
You may also get blood tests, such as:
- CA 19-9: A protein that may be linked to cancer.
- Hemoglobin A1c: A test that measures your blood sugar during the last 3 to 4 months to check for diabetes.
You are allowed to eat and drink before your blood tests.
These tests are all part of routine care. They are not experimental.
How often is screening done?
Screening happens every 6 to 12 months, based on your risk. You’ll also need to come in once a year for a checkup and blood tests.
Costs and health insurance
Your health insurance will be billed for the clinic visits, scans, lab tests, and other services that are part of the study. Most health insurance plans cover these types of services. You might still have to pay deductibles, co-pays, or co-insurance. Please call the phone number on the back of your insurance card to see what your plan covers and what you may owe.
If you have questions, contact our program’s Patient Financial Navigator, Nour Nekab, at 929-687-5549 or [email protected].
About the research study
MSK’s screening program is linked to our larger Pancreatic Tumor Registry, also co-led by Dr. Vineet Rolston and Dr. Mengmeng Du. Dr. Du is an epidemiologist (ee-puh-dee-mee-AH-loh-jist), a researcher who studies patterns and causes of disease.
This research study includes people in our screening program, people who have pancreatic cancer and their family members, and people who do not have the disease.
We use this research to help improve screening and care for people with pancreatic cancer.
If you join our program, you will hear from research project associate Jeffin Naduparambil about the study.
Risks and limits of screening
Screening can help find cancer early, but it’s not perfect. Some risks are:
- A false positive: A test that shows a health issue when there is none. This may lead to more tests you don’t need.
- A false negative: A test that shows no health issue when there is one. This may lead to a delayed or missed diagnosis.
- Side effects from tests such as an endoscopic ultrasound.
Some people might get cancer between screenings. Cancer can also come back after surgery.
If screening shows something that might be cancer, your provider will explain what they found and help you plan the next steps. This may include more scans or a biopsy. When results are ready, your provider will talk with you about treatment options so you can make a care plan.
How to join MSK’s Pancreatic Cancer Screening and Risk Evaluation Program
To join the program, call Dr. Rolston’s office at 212-639-4822.
You can also use our screening eligibility tool. If your answers show you’re a good fit, someone from our team will contact you.
Our social workers are here to support you even before you meet with a doctor. You can talk with them before or after your screening visits.
We offer screenings at:
We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week