Doctors have been debating about the benefits of screening for pancreatic cancer. Doctors hope that screening may be a way to catch this typically fatal disease early on, as symptoms for this disease do not appear until the cancer has sufficiently spread. Dr. Emmy Ludwig offered pancreatic screenings to 309 individuals who had immediate family members who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. 109 accepted this offer, and abnormalities were found in 9 of these individuals. All of these individuals were over the age of 65. These patients underwent endoscopic ultrasounds, where a probe is entered into the mouth of that patient and lowered to the area of the pancreas. Six of these patients then underwent preventative surgery, while the other patients declined surgical intervention, yet planned to continue screenings.
Because abnormal test results were found in patients over 65, Dr. Ludwig believes that screening may be particularly beneficial for senior citizens in high risk families.
A similar study was conducted in Germany; however, out of 76 patients (who had immediate relatives diagnosed with pancreatic cancer), only 1 patient was reported with having abnormal test results.
Dr. Ludwig, as well as many other doctors, affirm that there is still much uncertainty surrounding the benefits of screening for pancreatic cancer, and if it actually yields informative results. Though there are positive indications for screening senior citizens, doctors are still unsure of what immediate family members would benefit most from this screening, and at what age screening can begin. In addition, needless screening can have adverse effects, such as "false-positives," which can cause patient anxiety and worry. Furthermore, most insurance companies do not cover the costly price of pancreatic screening. At present, the consensus seems to be that more tests must take place in order for the medical world to determine the benefits of screening for pancreatic cancer.
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