The road ahead
Understand the steps after a diagnosis, and the questions to ask your care team.
Programs
National Pancreatic Cancer Support Line
A free, confidential phone line in development — trained volunteer advocates helping Canadians affected by pancreatic cancer find information, services and support.
Planned
In development — not yet taking calls
The foundation is building the support line now, starting with a verified knowledge base of Canadian cancer services, checked directly with the organizations and programs that run them — so the guidance callers receive is accurate: what a service actually offers, who is eligible, and how to reach it.
The first phase will serve Newfoundland and Labrador, growing to a national service as trained volunteer advocates are recruited and trained. When the line opens, this page will carry the phone number, hours, and languages available.
What the support line will help with
Programs and financial help
Find practical help — financial assistance, travel support, and services in your province or territory.
Trials and testing
Understand clinical trials and biomarker testing, and how to raise them with your care team.
Emotional and peer support
Talk through the emotional side of pancreatic cancer, and connect with peer support.
Referrals where you live
Get referred to the right local service instead of searching on your own.
A starter kit after your call
Educational materials and a guide to services, offered by email or mail after every call.
What it will not do
The support line provides information and guidance — it is not medical advice. Advocates will not diagnose, interpret results, or recommend treatments; those decisions belong with your care team. It is also not a crisis service: if you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call 911 or Canada's Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, free, at any hour.
Who will answer
Trained volunteer advocates
Training covers trauma-informed support, privacy and confidentiality, the basics of pancreatic cancer, and referral pathways to oncology, social work, financial assistance and palliative care. Advocates are supervised and sign confidentiality agreements before taking calls.
Your privacy
Calls are confidential. The service is being built so caller information stays in Canada and is handled under Canadian privacy law (PIPEDA). Nothing about a call is shared outside the foundation without the caller's consent, except where safety or the law requires it.
Need help today?
Patient resources
Clear information and practical support, open now.
Port to Care
$500 travel grants for Atlantic Canadians travelling for pancreatic cancer care — open.
Provincial and territorial guides
Cancer-care contacts and assistance where you live.
Questions in the meantime: support@heathercutler.ca
Help build it
The support line will run on trained volunteers. If you would like to help answer the line when it opens, start with the volunteer page. If your organization provides services to people affected by pancreatic cancer and would like them described accurately in the knowledge base, contact support@heathercutler.ca.