Family History Checker

Pancreatic cancer is among the least survivable cancers, with a 5-year survival rate of just 7.3%. As of 2021, 80% of cases were diagnosed late. Around 10% of cases are linked to hereditary factors and surveillance is recommended for people with high inherited risk. However, this surveillance has not been implemented consistently across England. Therefore, better identification and monitoring of high-risk individuals offer a rare chance for life-saving intervention for people with pancreatic cancer.

In September 2024, Pancreatic Cancer UK and NHS England, launched the Family History Checker—an innovative online self-referral tool. This interactive, chatbot-style tool evaluates inherited pancreatic cancer risk through three simple questions. High-risk individuals receive tailored information and can self-refer directly to the pancreatic cancer surveillance programme.

During the campaign, the tool engaged 66,472 users, leading to 3,364 self-referrals to the pancreatic cancer surveillance programme. As a result, 174 people have already enrolled onto the programme, with 86 identified as eligible for active surveillance. Beyond boosting referrals, the campaign heightened awareness of hereditary pancreatic cancer and the availability of the surveillance programme. This accessible tool demonstrates the potential of self-referral mechanisms to improve early cancer diagnosis and offers a model for other conditions.