It’s been over twenty years.

This year, 7,100 Canadians will find they have a cancer whose survival rate hasn’t budged in twenty years. 90% of them will be told it’s too late and advised to get their affairs in order.

Pancreatic Cancer in Canada

Team Heather: Advocacy, Awareness and Education for People Living With Pancreatic Cancer in Canada.

Team Heather is dedicated to supporting those fighting pancreatic cancer by focusing on funding for research, and patient advocacy. Our mission is to improve survival rates and support life-saving research through community engagement, expert involvement and sharing our story with you.

In the heart of Canada's smaller communities, far from the bustling urban cancer centre's, a often silent but nevertheless powerful movement has emerged. Residents are using their voices to challenge treatment plans and demand better healthcare outcomes.

BIG Voices in Small Towns is an upcoming educational campaign by the Heather Cutler Foundation (HCF) that highlights the significant impact people from small-town communities can achieve through knowledge and advocacy.

In 2023, the Canadian Cancer Society identified ten communities underserved by the healthcare system. Living in a rural area with pancreatic cancer places individuals at a significant disadvantage, both because they do not have access to high-volume cancer centres nor clinical trials. With pancreatic cancer projected to become one of the top cancer deaths in Canada by 2030, immediate action is crucial.

Join us in advocating for progress in your town. Our goal is to inspire community activation through individual ambassadors.

We lost our mother on May 4th, 2024, after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Thanks to advocacy organizations like Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PANCAN) and Craig’s Cause, we were able to compare and advocate for the most up-to-date standards of care in pancreatic cancer, even within our small provincial healthcare system.

Shortly after advocating for molecular profiling of our tumor, despite the low likelihood of actionable mutations, pancreatic cancer patients in Newfoundland were offered next-generation sequencing by default. Never underestimate the power of you.

Get Involved

Meet Heather, and the Family Behind Heather Cutler Foundation.

This publication is in loving memory of the late Heather Cutler and her two-year battle with Pancreatic Cancer that brought her from the small province of Newfoundland, to the top minds in Pancreatic Cancer research at Johns Hopkins. Read first-hand accounts from Heather’s family.

Discover Heather’s Journey

Educational Resources

Demystify and familiarize yourself with the wave of medical jargon coming your way with our easy-to-understand Glossary of Pancreatic Cancer Terminology. Explore the symptoms and risk factors. Take a closer look at some of the treatment options, testing and diagnosis.

Access Resources

Blog

Explore some of the issues affecting people living with Pancreatic Cancer, with a focus on improving patient outcomes through advocacy and research. From deciding when to seek a second opinion, to making the most of your appointments with your oncologist, here are some common tips and tricks to support you along your journey.

Get Support

Access our directory of support services available to Canadians at the provincial, federal and international level, which are crucial for enhancing patient outcomes. These services range from palliative care, peer support programs, and mental health supports to financial support programs available in Canada.

Explore Supports

Learn How to Advocate

You are not the period at the end of your diagnosis. Our advocacy began with our mom, Heather. Through our persistence as a family, we fought for somatic testing, which led to Eastern Health proactively offering somatic testing to patients moving forward—From there, we launched a petition on Change.org, and today, e-5186 stands as an authorized petition to the House of Commons, demonstrating the power of advocacy at every level. Discover the questions to ask, the knowledge to arm yourself with, and how to push forward when the system holds you back.

Find your voice