Pancreatic cancer is a disease caused by abnormal (not normal) cells growing in the pancreas, an organ that helps with digestion and blood sugar control.
Does MSK have screening guidelines for pancreatic cancer?
Our experts do not recommend pancreatic cancer screening for most people. Studies have not shown that screening helps prevent the disease in people with average risk. This is because pancreatic cancer often grows without signs or symptoms until it’s advanced.
Pancreatic cancer screening is not like breast or colon cancer screening. Some tests may help find the disease early and lower the risk of dying from it. Today, their ability to find cancer early is limited. Researchers are working hard to improve these tests. That’s why we only screen people at high risk, often as part of a study.
What is my risk for pancreatic cancer?
A risk factor is anything that increases your chance of getting a disease, such as cancer. Your risk for pancreatic cancer may be higher if you have:
- A family history of pancreatic cancer. This means 2 or more close blood relatives (such as a parent, sibling, or child) have had pancreatic cancer. These are called first-degree relatives. They are related to you by birth, not by marriage or adoption.
- A gene change (called mutation or variant) or an inherited condition. Some people have changes in their genes that can raise their risk for pancreatic cancer. These changes may be part of a condition passed down in families, called hereditary cancer syndromes.
- Both of these.
Your genetic risk for pancreatic cancer
At MSK, we use a multi-gene panel test to look for gene changes linked to hereditary pancreatic cancer. This test uses a saliva (spit) or blood sample to check for gene changes. It can test 1 gene at a time or many genes at once. But testing many genes at the same time can help us find inherited causes of pancreatic cancer more quickly.
If you have a change in the BRCA2 gene, you may be more likely to get pancreatic cancer. This change is part of a condition called Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) syndrome. HBOC can sometimes raise your risk for pancreatic cancer.
Changes in other genes, such as the PALB2 gene and the ATM gene can raise your risk for pancreatic cancer. But these changes are less common.
Changes in other genes can also raise your risk for pancreatic cancer. They include STK11, CKDN2A/pp16, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, PRSS1, SPINK1, and TP53.
How does pancreatic cancer screening work?
Pancreatic cancer often starts in the ducts. These are tiny tubes that carry digestive juices to the intestines. With active monitoring, you get regular scans, blood tests, and check-ins with your care team. If they see any changes, they’ll help you plan the next steps right away. Active monitoring is a form of treatment. It’s not the same as having no treatment.
Experts in pancreatic screening and active monitoring
At MSK:
- We offer a screening program for people at higher risk for pancreatic cancer.
- Our team of pancreatic cancer experts is one of the largest in the country.
- We care for more people with pancreatic cancer than most hospitals in New York and across the country.
- We’re a leader in pancreatic cancer care and research.
MSK is also recognized as a National Pancreas Foundation Center of Excellence. This means:
- Our doctors meet high national standards for pancreatic cancer care.
- We offer support services, such as help with pain and symptoms, counseling, nutrition, integrative medicine, rehabilitation, prehabilitation, and more.
- We lead clinical trials to test new ways of treating pancreatic cancer.
About MSK’s screening and risk evaluation program
Learn more about our Pancreatic Cancer Screening and Risk Evaluation Program.
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