Cancer Research

This week, I want to share with you a deeply important conversation that I had with a remarkable person, John-Peter Bradford, co-founder of the Life-Saving Therapies Network (LSTN). 

John-Peter’s story – and the courageous mission it has inspired him to pursue – shines a light on one of the heartbreaking truths about cancer care in Canada…

But it also shows the power of advocacy and how we can choose to move forward with courage, in the hopes of creating a better future for others. 🌿

In this conversation, we dive deeper into:

• – Why the current approval system is outdated
• – How precision medicine changes everything
• – The human cost of drug delays
• – What needs to happen now
• – How each of us can help create change

Watch “The Fight to Change Cancer Care” 👉 The Fight to Change Cancer Care: A Conversation with John-Peter Bradford 👀

When John-Peter’s wife, Anne, was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, doctors told her she had three weeks to live. 

But through determination, advocacy, and the support of her oncologist, she gained access to four experimental treatments that extended her life by 16 precious months.

16 quality months that she spent with her family.

Months she never would have had under the current system.

How our System is Failing Patients

Despite modern breakthroughs in precision oncology and targeted therapies, Canadians often wait at least two years – and often many more – to access new cancer drugs, even when these drugs have already been proven safe and effective in other countries.

These delays in treatment access contribute to an estimated 190,000 life-years lost.

And for patients facing a terminal disease, time is everything.

A New Movement for Change: Life-Saving Therapies Network

John-Peter and Dr. David Stewart (his late wife’s doctor) created an organization called Life-Saving Therapies Network to push for a new, faster, evidence-based approval pathway specifically for the treatment of lethal diseases.

Their mission is simple:

Faster access. Better treatments. More time for the people who need it most.

Life-Saving Therapies Network has published peer-reviewed papers, launched a national petition, and is calling on policymakers to finally fix the system that is costing lives.

Why This Matters to All of Us

I think we can all agree: Cancer patients shouldn’t have to fight the system and the disease at the same time.

Patients should not be denied access to therapies that match their genetic profile.

And they certainly shouldn’t lose their chance at life because of administrative delays.

How You Can Help!

If you feel moved, please consider signing or sharing the LSTN petition. Every signature brings us a step closer to creating a healthcare system that values patient time, and patient lives.

➡️ Click here to sign the petition: Reform Approval & Access to Treatments ✍️

Thank you for being part of our community, full of people who are committed to education, empowerment, and advocacy. 

Together, we can push for a future where every patient gets the care they need and deserve.

Reach out if you have any questions or thoughts. We welcome hearing from you.