Understanding family history

Most cancers occur by chance when DNA changes cause our cells to divide and grow out of control. However, pancreatic cancer can sometimes run in families. Around 10% of all pancreatic cancer cases are hereditary.

Your risk of pancreatic cancer increases if you have two or more first-degree relatives (parent, sibling or child) who have had the disease, or a first-degree relative who developed the disease before they were 50 years old.

Worried about pancreatic cancer in your family?

Worried about pancreatic cancer in your family?

By answering a few quick questions about your family history, we can check your family risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

The table below shows pancreatic cancer risk based on family history.

Familial pancreatic cancer

Lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer by age 80

No relatives with pancreatic cancer

1.3%

One relative with pancreatic cancer

4%

Familial pancreatic cancer (two relatives)

8–12%

Familial pancreatic cancer (three relatives)

16–30%

Source: eviQ, Pancreatic cancer (increased risk) – risk management

Inherited gene changes

Sometimes a gene fault (called a “genetic mutation”), like those listed in the table below, is identified as the reason certain families are more prone to pancreatic cancer. If someone has one of these mutations, their close relatives (such as children or siblings) have a 50% (1 in 2) chance of inheriting the same faulty gene. 

The table below shows some of the inherited gene changes that are known to increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. If you have one of these gene changes, your children have a 50% (1 in 2) chance of inheriting the gene. Other close relatives, including your siblings, may also have inherited the gene.

Faulty gene

Associated condition

Lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer by age 80

STK11

Peutz‒Jeghers syndrome

11‒26%

PRSS1

Hereditary pancreatitis

20‒40% (higher in smokers)

CDKN2A

Familial melanoma

20.7% by age 70 years with the CDKN2A c.225_243del variant

BRCA1/BRCA2

Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer

3‒4%

PALB2

Hereditary breast cancer

2-3%

MLH1/PMS2/MSH2/MSH6

Lynch syndrome

3.6%

ATM

-

9.5%

Source: APGI Pancreatic Cancer Factsheet and eviQ- Risk Management

Having a family history of pancreatic cancer, or an inherited gene change, does not mean that you or your relatives will develop pancreatic cancer.

For more information about family history and genetic testing for pancreatic cancer, speak to your GP. It can help to write down everything you know about your family’s history of pancreatic cancer to aid in that discussion.

Your GP may organise a referral to a Family Cancer Clinic, where you can speak to a genetic counsellor about your risk.  

APRISE High-Risk screening program

Pankind refers people who have an inherited risk of pancreatic cancer to the APRISE program, a national screening study for people at high risk.(Sites available in NSW, TAS, Qld, SA, WA and Vic). Those accepted into the program will receive regular monitoring such as MRIs or endoscopic ultrasound. This program will evaluate the possibility of early detection and the effects of access to earlier intervention.

Pankind is proud to be investing $500,000 over 5 years in APRISE with the Jreissati Pancreatic Centre at Epworth, our largest single research investment to date

It’s the first of its kind in Australia and aims to build robust national data to support a long-term, government-backed screening program for those most at risk in Australia. 

Where can I take part?

The APRISE Study is running at hospitals across Australia.

APRISE High-Risk Screening study

Contact Dianne, Support Navigator

Contact Dianne, Support Navigator

on 1800 003 800 for information and find out about the services and support that may be available for you and your family.