Interview, Conference Presentation
LeadersLink Michelle Stewart
- Pancreatic cancer's global burden has more than doubled in recent decades, with an average survival time of just five months post-diagnosis.
- Five-year survival rates stand at approximately 13% in Australia and 10% globally, figures that have remained stagnant for decades.
- Pankind Pancreatic Cancer Australia, founded by Avner Namani and Caroline Kelly, has set a strategic goal to triple survival rates by 2030 and improve quality of life at every stage.
- The organization addresses the risk of patients seeking unproven overseas treatments by conducting evidence-based research to dispel myths regarding miraculous cures.
- A LeadersLink capstone project identified that while "hidden cures" do not exist, clinical trials remain inaccessible and complex for diverse or rural populations.
- To improve trial navigation, Pankind has hired a pancreatic cancer clinical nurse and partnered with the platform Trial Screen to reduce bureaucratic hurdles.
- The organization is currently piloting a patient navigation system to support individuals in exploring alternatives to standard care and managing diagnostic uncertainty.
- New research indicates progress in developing treatments that could eventually manage pancreatic cancer as a chronic disease rather than a terminal diagnosis.
- Future initiatives include refining the patient navigation framework through iterative feedback from clinicians, researchers, and policymakers.
- Pankind emphasizes transparency and evidence-based advocacy to counter misinformation, specifically regarding the risks of unorthodox alternative therapies.
- The leadership team is focused on accelerating the adoption of new therapies and ensuring systems match the urgency of patient needs.
- Michelle Stewart, CEO, cites the sharing of cross-disease learnings within the LeadersLink program as a primary source of value for refining strategic impact.