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# A Thank You from Heather’s Son, Christopher
- URL: https://busy-cuscus.pikapod.net/a-thank-you-from-heathers-son-christopher/
- Published: 2024-10-23T23:45:38.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T00:18:23.000Z
- Description: Over 500 people have signed the petition, but we need more voices. We can’t change what happened to my mom, but together, we can build a better system—one where no patient is left behind.
- Author: Christopher Cutler
- Tags: Change.org, petition

ℹ️

**This update was shared on the petition’s page as* [**A Thank You from Heather’s Son, Christopher*](https://www.change.org/p/ensuring-canada-s-commitment-to-increasing-pancreatic-cancer-survival-rates-e-5186/u/32984197?ref=busy-cuscus.pikapod.net) *on October 22, 2024.*

Hello everyone, 👋 I’m Christopher, Heather’s son and the founder of the Heather Cutler Foundation. I want to say ***thank you* to the over 500** of you who have taken the time to sign the petition. *Your support means more than I can express.*

When my mom, Heather, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, **we trusted the system**. At first, it seemed like things were going well—her chemotherapy was working, and we had reason to be hopeful. But soon, **we hit roadblocks**.

Access to somatic testing was *delayed* because her oncologist, based on experience, felt too few patients saw actionable results to justify it. 

So, it was up to us—**sorting through options on our own, staying up late to organize possibilities into Airtable, and applying for trials ourselves**. We fought hard to stay ahead, asking for treatments that should have been standard.

During this time, we sought second opinions. Twice, a specialist in Toronto “reassured” my mom that she had already surpassed expectations by making it this far and advised her to *make peace with things.*

 I’ll never forget when she broke down on the phone, telling the doctor,

> **“I’m not stupid. I know it’s in my omentum.”**

She wasn’t ready to go, and **we weren’t ready to back down**. We believed in the possibility of more options, and we kept pushing forward.

Towards the end, through family connections, we made it to **Johns Hopkins in Baltimore**, where we found a glimmer of hope. There were **clinical trials targeting her specific mutation**, and for a moment, it felt like we were on the right path.

But by then, the cancer had progressed too far. Things went downhill quickly after that. **Five months after her passing**, I can’t help but wonder: *what if we had made it to Baltimore sooner?*

There were so many missed opportunities along the way. My sister and I *asked* her oncologist to start her on pancreatic enzymes—something simple that studies show improves survival—but **were never proactively offered**. A **nerve block** could have eased her dependency on opioids, but by the time it was suggested, the tumour had grown too large, making the procedure *impossible*.

We spent months navigating a healthcare system that should have been there to guide us. Instead, we were often **delayed**, **dismissed**, and left fighting for every bit of care she deserved. *We learned to never make assumptions or trust in the system.*

**This is why the petition matters.**

No family should have to **take on the role of oncologist** just to access care. We need **national guidelines** to ensure that patients receive the testing, trials, and treatments they need—regardless of where they live.

It’s not enough to have trials available only in major cities; we need **remote access** solutions to make these trials available across the country. Programs like **CRAFT** and **Health Canada’s Clinical Trial Modernization** offer hope, but they need **meaningful investment** to truly make a difference.

And patients can’t wait—**we need solutions now.**

Over 500 people have signed the petition, but **weneed more voices**. We can’t change what happened to my mom, but together, **we can build** **a better system**—one where no patient is left behind.

 It’s such a simple process: **Provide every patient with uniform guidelines** on the latest best practices.

If my mom’s story resonates with you, **please add your name** and help us make sure no one else has to go through what we did.

[Sign the PetitionEnsuring Canada’s Commitment to Increasing Pancreatic Cancer Survival Rates (e-5186)![](https://static.change.org/favicons/favicon-114x114.png)Change.org![](https://assets.change.org/photos/7/km/wo/IhkmwOGwUBYvSzR-1600x900-noPad.jpg?1729640450)](https://www.change.org/p/ensuring-canada-s-commitment-to-increasing-pancreatic-cancer-survival-rates-e-5186?ref=busy-cuscus.pikapod.net)

**Sign the petition**—Every signature brings us closer to real change. For more on my mother’s story and our advocacy work, please read our [Intro to Advocacy](https://busy-cuscus.pikapod.net/tag/intro-to-advocacy-series/) series.

For anyone else out there going through this with a family member, know that **we’re always here for you.** 

*Christopher can be reached through email at christopher@heathercutler.ca*