Pancreatic Cancer Prevention Program

The Pancreatic Cancer Prevention Program is designed to prevent patients from ever developing pancreatic cancer. Initial appointments are scheduled as quickly as possible. Please keep in mind, our navigator – an experienced nurse who is a key member of our Pancreatic Cancer Prevention care team – is available to answer patients questions. This includes before we see someone in-person for the first time.

What to Expect During Your First Appointment

Ten days before your first visit to the Pancreatic Cancer Prevention Program, you will receive electronic questionnaires. It is essential for you to complete them before our team sees you to provide important details about your family medical history and any pancreas-related symptoms. This information helps us understand your case better and enables us to provide the very best care for you. These questionnaires are sent through MyChart. If you are not signed up for MyChart, please let our nurse navigator know.

Imaging Needs

Depending on certain factors, diagnostic imaging may be completed before your first appointment or ordered at the time of your first visit. This includes either specialized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or 3D pancreatic computed tomography (CT scan).

If imaging has already been performed, we retrieve it for review by our UT Southwestern radiology team.

Additional Evaluation

The UTSW Pancreatic Cancer Prevention team might recommend endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for further evaluation. When needed, this is ordered at the time of your office visit.

Based on your and your family’s history, we might recommend for you to be evaluated by the UTSW Genetics Program. This comprehensive risk assessment can be arranged at the time of your Pancreatic Cancer Prevention Program appointment.

Multidisciplinary Team Review Before Your Visit

Before your first appointment, our care team reviews your medical history. Also, your prior imaging studies may be presented at our weekly multidisciplinary pancreatic cancer prevention meeting where:

• Our pancreatic surgeons, gastroenterologists, pathologists, genetic counselors, advanced practice providers, and radiologists review imaging and other test results.
• A comprehensive treatment summary and follow-up care plan is developed. (For most people, treatment plans are finalized at the time of the first visit and communicated to the referring physician and primary care physician.)