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New supportive health care App for patients and carers

Menchie Khairuddin October 18, 2022

2 min read

PanKind, The Australian Pancreatic Cancer Foundation launches mobile phone app “ManyHands”.

A mobile phone App that allows people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and their carers to mobilise their networks to better meet their supportive health care needs.

Pancreatic cancer is the third most common cancer killer in Australia and has a devastatingly low five-year survival rate of only 12.2 per cent. Last year the disease claimed almost as many lives as breast cancer.

Over 4000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year, and 80 per cent of patients will die within 12 months. It has the lowest survival rates of all main cancer types.

The App is the latest addition to the Patient & Carer Hub, providing an extensive range of online resources for Australians affected by pancreatic cancer, which is now the third biggest cancer killer of Australians.

ManyHands is a free clinician-led, evidence-based mobile phone app that transforms supportive care in the home and enables those dealing with a pancreatic cancer diagnosis to mobilise family, friends, and colleagues to provide the practical and emotional support needed to successfully adjust to their diagnosis, treatment and ongoing cancer journey. Research shows that up to 90% of supportive care is managed by friends and family at home, outside the hospital setting.

“We are delighted to launch ManyHands during carers week and in doing so, provide simple, practical support for those who are coordinating the supportive needs for pancreatic cancer patients,” said PanKind CEO Michelle Stewart.

“When someone is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer it is a very stressful experience for all involved. Family and friends would like to be able to help to lighten the load but channelling that willingness into practical support is difficult, time-consuming and occasionally misguided. The ManyHands App provides a simple way of coordinating the tasks that would make a meaningful difference with the people willing to take them on.”

The App is designed to provide support in a new way by engaging, informing and empowering the immediate networks of the patient and carer, to provide better supportive care, when it is most needed.

A transparent and easy-to-navigate roster system coordinates the offers of help and assistance from those closest to them, providing certainty that ongoing and regular support is available and readily accessible.

Retired engineer Milton Kirkwood experienced first-hand the gap that exists for carers of pancreatic cancer patients after his wife was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and believes the App will assist those in need at a critical time.

“The ManyHands App would have been invaluable in helping us coordinate the offers of help from family and friends, whilst also providing some important tips on how to manage our supportive care needs. The App will be a huge help to people faced with similar circumstances,” added Kirkwood.

Menchie Khairuddin

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Menchie Khairuddin is a writer Deputy Content Manager at Akolade and content producer for Third Sector News. She is passionate about social affairs specifically in mixed, multicultural heritage and not-for-profit organisations.