Pancare Foundation expands resources available to patients living with pancreatic cancer

Pancare Foundation are proud to announce the transition of ownership and management of dedicated pancreatic cancer website, PanSupport, from the University of Melbourne.

Developed by researchers from the University of Melbourne, in consultation with patients, their families, carers and clinicians, the website has been a valuable source of information and support since it was first launched in May 2019.

The dedicated website is a research-based supportive care resource for and by people affected by pancreatic cancer, covering their physical, psychological, social, information and spiritual requirements.

University of Melbourne Chair of Cancer Nursing, Professor Mei Krishnasamy and senior research officer, Catherine Devereux, led the website’s development. Professor Krishnasamy said the legacy of PanSupport would continue to reach more Australians under the management of Pancare Foundation.

“As the leading national advocacy group for pancreatic cancer patients and their families, I am delighted that Pancare Foundation will embed PanSupport as a key feature of their supportive care program, ensuing that the resource is available to every Australian affected by pancreatic cancer into the future.”

Pancare Foundation CEO, Doug Hawkins, thanked the University and other collaborative partners who established the project under funding received from Cancer Australia.

“I’d like to thank University of Melbourne, key partners RMIT University and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, patients and carers for their commitment to establishing an online companion for the almost 4,000 Australians that will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year. We look forward to continuing to enhance the information available on the site to help patients and their carers, overcome the many challenges they experience in living with this serious illness” he said.

“The acquisition of PanSupport is a strategic component in our longer term vision to expand our product and service offering – providing patients and their families a streamlined and end-to-end experience in the support we offer from the point of diagnosis through our dedicated Patient and Carer Support team. We will continue to enhance and expand the resource to include other upper GI cancers, such as liver, stomach, biliary and oseophageal in the future, which are among some of the lowest survival cancers in Australia.”

PanSupport offers a hub of advice, resources and information to allow pancreatic cancer patients to live as well as possible. Topics include symptoms and care, accessing support groups, legal and financial advice, and looking ahead to end of life care.

The website is available at www.pansupport.org.au