Supporting the Gastrointestinal Disease Site Committee Resides in Toronto, Ontario | CCTG Patient Representative since 2023 “As an early age onset cancer patient, I know firsthand the significant impact a diagnosis has not only on patients, but also on young children, families, and employers. I want to bring my personal perspective to the development of cancer trials so that we can make treatments more accessible, affordable and promote a longer, good quality of life. Suzanne Wood was diagnosed with Stage IV Colon cancer in July 2022 at the age of 45. At the time of her diagnosis, she was a busy professional working as a Chief Client Services Officer at one of Canada’s largest law firms. Suzanne was also an active wife and mother to three amazing sons who spent most weekends with her family skiing, camping, hiking and playing board games. Since her diagnosis, she has received chemotherapy, radiation and had three major surgeries to remove tumours her colon, liver, and ovaries. Today Suzanne is focused on maintaining an excellent quality of life while waiting for the next major breakthrough that will extend her life and keep living like she is in remission. "The pace of scientific developments in cancer research is faster than ever before. For those in the metastatic community in particular, clinical trials can offer significant hope when standard of care options have been exhausted.”
