Pancreatic Cancer Genetic Testing on the NHS
If someone close to you has had pancreatic cancer, it’s natural to wonder whether it might run in the family. Most cases aren’t caused by a single inherited high-risk gene change, but sometimes family history gives us a reason to look more closely
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Can pancreatic cancer be inherited?
Yes. Although most pancreatic cancers aren’t inherited, research suggests that up to around 15% may be linked to inherited genetic changes that increase cancer risk.
Several genes are known to increase pancreatic cancer risk, including BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, ATM and CDKN2A. Some of these genes are also associated with other cancers.
For example:
- BRCA1 and BRCA2: Best known for their links to breast and ovarian cancer, but BRCA2 in particular is also associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.
- PALB2: Increases the risk of breast cancer and is also linked to pancreatic cancer.
- CDKN2A: Can increase the risk of both melanoma and pancreatic cancer.
- Lynch syndrome: An inherited condition most often associated with bowel and womb cancer, but which can also increase pancreatic cancer risk.
Which family patterns matter?
A family history of breast, ovarian, prostate or melanoma may sometimes be relevant when assessing inherited pancreatic cancer risk.
Importantly, you don’t need a family history of pancreatic cancer to carry an inherited gene change that increases your risk. Some people have no obvious family history of cancer at all.
Knowing about an inherited risk can make a difference. Depending on the genetic change and your individual circumstances, you may qualify for specialist pancreatic surveillance, as well as screening or preventative measures for other cancers.
Does pancreatic cancer plus melanoma matter?
Testing in someone diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
If you’ve been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, your cancer team may recommend genetic testing to help guide your treatment and identify whether you have an inherited cancer risk.
There are two different types of genetic testing, and it’s important to understand the difference.
What’s the difference between tumour testing and inherited genetic testing?
If someone has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, their cancer team may recommend genetic testing. But there are two different types of testing, and they answer different questions.
- Tumour testing (somatic testing) looks for genetic changes within the cancer itself. These changes can help doctors understand the cancer and decide which treatments might work best. Most of these changes develop during a person’s lifetime and aren’t inherited.
- Inherited genetic testing (germline testing) looks for genetic changes someone was born with, usually using a blood or saliva sample. These changes can increase the risk of developing certain cancers and may be passed on to children.
For example, a BRCA2 change found in a pancreatic tumour doesn’t automatically mean someone has inherited a BRCA2 mutation. Further testing may be needed to find out.
Why does this matter for families? If an inherited genetic change is found, close relatives may also be offered testing to see whether they carry the same change.
Sometimes both types of testing are recommended because they provide different information about treatment and inherited cancer risk.
Does having a family history of pancreatic cancer mean I need screening?
Not necessarily, but if you have a strong family history of pancreatic cancer or carry an inherited genetic change that increases your risk, you may qualify for additional screening.
For example, NICE recommends pancreatic surveillance for people with certain inherited gene changes, including BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2 and CDKN2A, who also have a parent, sibling or child who has had pancreatic cancer.
Screening is usually organised through a specialist service and may involve regular MRI scans of the pancreas or an endoscopic ultrasound, which uses a small ultrasound probe passed into the stomach.
Researchers are still working out the best ways to screen people at higher risk. The UK EUROPAC study has been investigating inherited pancreatic cancer risk and how to detect cancer earlier. Although it is no longer accepting new participants, existing surveillance programmes should continue.
What should I ask my GP?
If someone in your family has had pancreatic cancer, it’s worth talking to your GP about whether there could be an inherited risk.
You could simply say:
“My mum/dad/brother/sister had pancreatic cancer, and I’m wondering whether it could run in our family. Would genetic testing be useful for us?”
If your relative is still alive, it’s also worth asking whether they’ve already had inherited cancer genetic testing, as testing someone who has had cancer can often give the family more useful information.
Try to bring details of any other cancers in your family, particularly breast, ovarian, prostate or melanoma, and roughly how old relatives were when diagnosed.
Your GP can help you understand whether a referral to an NHS genetics service might be appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely. Inherited cancer-risk genes can be passed down through either parent, so your dad’s family history is just as important as your mum’s.
It’s also worth looking at other cancers on his side of the family, particularly breast, ovarian and prostate cancer, as these can sometimes be linked to the same inherited genes.
Yes. Although BRCA1 and BRCA2 are best known for their links to breast and ovarian cancer, they can also increase pancreatic cancer risk, particularly BRCA2.
This means someone with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer may have an inherited risk of pancreatic cancer, even if nobody in their family has previously developed it.
Yes. Some inherited changes in a gene called CDKN2A can increase the risk of both pancreatic cancer and melanoma, a type of skin cancer.
If someone in your family has had pancreatic cancer and other relatives have had melanoma, it’s worth mentioning both to your doctor.
It doesn’t necessarily mean there’s an inherited genetic risk, but it may be a reason to consider genetic testing.
Yes. You don’t need a family history of pancreatic cancer, or any other cancer, to consider private inherited cancer genetic testing.
Although family history is an important clue, it doesn’t identify everyone who carries an inherited cancer-risk gene. Some families are small, relatives’ medical histories may be unknown, or people carrying a genetic change may never have developed cancer.
NHS testing is generally offered to people who meet specific eligibility criteria, but private testing is also available to those who would like to understand more about their inherited risk.
A consultation before testing can help you understand whether testing would be useful and what the results might mean for you.
Genetic testing referrals for healthcare professionals
If you’re a gastroenterologist, pancreatic surgeon, oncologist or other healthcare professional caring for patients with pancreatic cancer or concerns about inherited cancer risk, we can help.
We know that family history alone doesn’t identify everyone who carries an inherited cancer-risk gene. Some patients may not meet NHS or insurance criteria for testing, while others may simply want to understand their risk more fully.
At Coyne Medical, we already work with consultants who want to offer genetic testing as part of the care they provide.
Our comprehensive 36-gene inherited cancer panel includes BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, ATM and CDKN2A, as well as genes associated with Lynch syndrome. Testing is performed by Nonacus Clinical Services, a UKAS-accredited UK laboratory that also provides genetic testing for NHS services.
Every patient has a doctor consultation before testing and a scheduled follow-up appointment, whether their result is positive or negative.
We can discuss screening and risk reduction, help coordinate NHS or private specialist referrals where appropriate, and share results and recommendations with you, with your patient’s consent.
We work alongside you, helping you offer your patients more comprehensive preventative care.
What if pancreatic cancer runs in your family?
If someone in your family has had pancreatic cancer, or you’ve noticed a combination of cancers such as breast, ovarian, prostate or melanoma, it’s worth finding out whether there could be an inherited risk.
A good starting point is to find out who may qualify for NHS genetic testing.
It can also help to gather information about which relatives have had cancer and how old they were when diagnosed. Our guide to understanding your family history of cancer explains what to look for and what to ask your GP.
But remember, you don’t need a family history of cancer to carry an inherited cancer-risk gene. Sometimes the first indication of an inherited risk comes from genetic testing itself.
Finding risk earlier creates choices
At Coyne Medical, we believe that understanding your inherited cancer risk can help you make more informed decisions about your future health.
Our doctor-led 36-gene inherited cancer panel includes genes associated with pancreatic cancer, with consultations before and after testing to explain your results.
We’ll help you understand what your results mean, whether you could benefit from additional screening, and what steps might help reduce your risk. Where appropriate, we can also help arrange NHS or private specialist referrals.
DR LUCY HOOPER
MB BS BSc MRCGP MA DRCOG DCH
Lucy is a GP and co-founder of Coyne Medical. She graduated with honours from Imperial College London, trained at St Mary’s Hospital, and holds a Master’s in Medical Ethics and Law. Her clinical interests span women’s health, preventive medicine, and genomics, with a particular focus on using advanced biomarkers to build a more complete picture of long-term health.
British Society for Genetic Medicine · European Atherosclerosis Society ·
Independent Doctors Federation
As seen in BBC, The Guardian, Women’s Health, The Times and Tatler
For educational purposes. This article is written by a practising GP and is intended to inform, not replace a consultation with your own doctor. It does not constitute medical advice. A note on clinical guidelines: Coyne Medical is an independent private clinic. Our approach is guided by the best available evidence, tailored to each individual. This may go beyond standard NHS or NICE guidance, which is designed for population-level care and weighted by resource constraints.
Information prepared 28 October 2026. This page is for general information, not personal medical advice or a consultation. Discuss your family history, personal screening and medical decisions with your own doctor or healthcare team. NHS pathways and criteria may change and differ across UK nations.