It’s a cancer that kills over 95 per cent of all those diagnosed within five years of their diagnosis.
Pancreatic cancer, famed for subtle and symptoms that means for the vast majority of cases are only caught in its later and deadlier stages, kills almost 10,000 Brits each year, equivalent to about one person every hour.
But a new tool hopes to turn the tide and boost survival rates for the disease.
Charity Pancreatic Cancer UK, with the support of NHS England, are launching The Family History Checker an online resource which helps people assess their genetic risk of pancreatic cancer.
About one in 10 cases of the disease are thought to be caused by genes that increase a person’s risk of developing the cancer.
Rachel Smith with her brother Jim alongside his two sons Jamie (left) and harry (right). Jim sadly died from pancreatic cancer just eight months after he was diagnosed
Those identified as being at an increased risk by the tool will then be directed to specialists for a consultation.
If this increased risk is confirmed that person will then be referred for annual cancer monitoring, which includes blood tests and scans.
The hope is that if they do develop the disease, it’s proactively caught in the earlier, more treatable, stages.
One person who knows all too well the fear of inheriting pancreatic cancer is Rachel Smith.
The 42-year-old has seen both her father and brother been hit by the disease.
Tragically, for her brother Jim, the diagnosis turned out to be a fatal one.
Ms Smith has now been referred to regular monitoring for the disease due to her genetic risk in a bid to catch the disease in the early stages if she does develop it. Pictured here with her daughter Lillian
Her father was the first to be struck back in 2017 but he was one of the lucky few whose disease was caught early enough that a radical 12-hour surgery saved his life.
Jim wasn’t so lucky. Delays to diagnosis due to the Covid pandemic meant his case went from potentially operable to inoperable.
He died eight months after being diagnosed leaving a young family behind.
Ms Smith said: ‘When my brother Jim was first diagnosed, a potential genetic link was more of an after-thought.
‘We were initially just hopeful – hopeful as we’d been through it all before with Dad. It’s not until after Jim passed that we thought about the possibility of a link.’
Considering her own risk of the disease, Ms Smith enquired about genetic testing and, after an assessment similar to that of the new tool, she was invited for annual checks and given a specialist to contact if she started to experience symptoms.
She said this had been incredibly valuable: ‘Being invited for a yearly check-in is reassuring, and it’s good to know these programmes are in place for the next generation, for Jim’s children and mine.
‘Jim was diagnosed at the age of 43 – if he had been on a surveillance programme, maybe the changes in his pancreas would have been noticed earlier.
‘Getting those at risk on to these programmes as early as possible will make a huge difference. There is simply nothing that can be done if it’s too late.’
The Family History Checker, which can be visited here, will ask people for details like their family history of the disease and other genetic conditions which have been linked to increased risk of the cancer.
Pancreatic Cancer UK chief executive Diana Jupp said they hoped the tool would help not only reassure people by linking those at risk to monitoring but also save lives.
Ms Smith’s father, Michael was also hit by the disease back in 2017 but fortunately in his case the cancer was spotted early enough to be operated on
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the least survivable forms of the disease and worryingly its on the rise. Source for data: Cancer Research UK
Pancreatic cancer has been dubbed a ‘silent killer’ due to its subtle signs that are often only spotted too late
‘Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease and once someone in your family has been affected, it’s hard not to become fearful for yourself and others in your life,’ she said.
‘We are so proud to be supported by NHS England on this project, which will help alleviate anxiety around inherited risk of the disease and identify the people who most need regular monitoring.
‘It is now vital that as many people as possible use the Family History Checker, so that everyone who should be referred for regular monitoring is found.
‘The earlier pancreatic cancer is spotted, the more likely it is that people will be able to have lifesaving treatment. By reaching more people, lives could be saved.’
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS National Clinical Director for cancer added: ‘This new Family History Checker is a great tool for families where someone has had pancreatic cancer and will help the NHS to identify and support people at risk from it.
‘I know it can be daunting to find out if you are at risk of pancreatic cancer, and some people may feel they’d rather not know, but finding out early means people can get the support they need from the NHS.
Pancreatic Cancer UK launched their tool as a poll conducted by the charity of 1,000 GPs found only one in 10 knew where to refer patients for surveillance.
Rates of pancreatic cancer have increased in the UK by about 17 per cent since the 90s, with soaring obesity among Brits suspected to be behind the rise.
But some groups have seen far higher increases. MailOnline revealed earlier this year that rates of the disease have soared by 200 per cent among women under the age of 25 in the same period.
With no similar spike observed in men of the same ages experts have been unable to pin a potential cause.
Sven Goran Eriksson (pictured this week) has told Swedish radio he has cancer and may only have a year to live
The Countryfile star, 57, has told how his wedding vows allowed him to ‘cement’ his emotions after Charlie (pictured in November 2019) was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
Smiths guitarist Andy Rourke has died at the age of 59 from pancreatic cancer
A number of celebrity diagnoses within the past 12 months have thrown the disease into the spotlight.
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, recently died from the disease, aged 76.
Meanwhile, last May it was revealed that The Smiths bassist Andy Rourke had also died from the illness.
Other famous victims include legendary actors Patrick Swayze and Alan Rickman as well as Apple’s iconic founder Steve Jobs.
Brits in their 80s are most likely to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, with the risk of getting the disease, much like other cancers, broadly increasing with age.
Other known risk factors for the disease include smoking and obesity.
The pancreas is a tadpole-shaped organ that forms part of the digestive system and also performs a crucial role in hormone regulation.
Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in the 1987 romantic hit Dirty Dancing. Swayze died in 2009 at the age of 57 from pancreatic cancer
Alan Rickman who starred in a host of blockbusters including as Professor Snape in the Harry Potter films died from pancreatic cancer in 2016 at the age of 69
Apple founder Steve Jobs died of complications relating to pancreatic cancer in 2011 at the age of 56. Here he is pictured in 2009
It is located just behind the stomach and is about 25cm in length.
In its digestive role, it helps produce enzymes that help the body break down food into the nutrients it needs.
It is also critical in making hormones responsible for controlling blood sugar levels in the body.
Potential symptoms of pancreatic cancer include jaundice, where the whites of the eyes and skin turn yellow, alongside itchy skin and darker urine.
Other possible signs include loss of appetite, unintended weight loss, constipation or bloating.
While symptoms are unlikely to be cancer it is important that they are checked out by a GP early just in case, especially if people have had them for over four weeks.
