Back to top
On April 27, 2026, Toronto City Council declared November 19 Early Age Onset Cancer Awareness Day, making Toronto the first city in Canada to recognize this growing health concern — a motion inspired by Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network (CCRAN).
Early age onset cancer (EAOC) is a pan-tumour issue. It refers to a documented rise in cancer diagnoses among adults under 50, across cancer types including colorectal, breast, kidney, pancreatic, endometrial, and several others. Gen X and millennial Canadians are being diagnosed with certain cancers at roughly twice the rate of earlier generations at the same age, and colorectal cancer is leading this troubling trend.
For too long, this shift has gone largely unrecognized. This day is a step toward changing that, for patients facing any early age onset cancer diagnosis, not just one tumour type.
On November 19, 2026, the CN Tower will light up in lavender to mark Early Age Onset Cancer Awareness Day and honour everyone affected by a cancer diagnosis at a young age.
Lighting begins at sunset and becomes fully visible once the sky darkens, about 30 minutes later. As it does most evenings, a standard light show will also run for 5 minutes at the top and bottom of every hour.
Lighting dates are confirmed by CN Tower management but remain subject to change without notice.
This year's EAOC Awareness Day coincides with the 6th Annual Early Age Onset Cancer Symposium, taking place on November 19 and 20, 2026.
The Symposium is a free, virtual event that brings together patients, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers from across cancer types to confront the rising rates of cancer among younger Canadians and to push for system-level change.
.png){kind=logo}
