Welcome to the Early Age Onset Colorectal Cancer (EAOCRC) Hub!

Early age onset colorectal cancer patients have unique needs and challenges in their journeys. This space will furnish you with support and information on your disease. You will be able to find documents with statistics and information on diagnosis and treatment options, as well as contact information to reach our warm and committed staff. We have launched our new live chatbot, which now appears in the bottom right hand corner of your screen. We are so happy to be able to help you on your journey.

Please watch this compelling video featuring some of our wonderful young patients who persevere tirelessly, whose journeys have inspired this section of our website.

Warmly,

Cassandra Macaulay

National Patient Programs Manager
1 833 79 CCRAN (22726)
Ext 1001
Warmly,

Dr. Petra Wildgoose

Primary Care Physician Lead, Young Adult Colorectal Cancer Clinic, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Warmly,

Hayley Painter

Early Age Onset CRC Patient Program Manager

Education & Treatment

A diagnosis of early age onset colorectal cancer (EAOCRC) can be overwhelming, but having knowledge of the disease and of potential therapies available to you can make it more manageable. We have created several resources that thoroughly outline pertinent information on colorectal cancer and its treatment options. Please see below to learn more about EAOCRC and potential therapeutic treatments.

Patient Testimonials

What our members have to say about CCRAN’s Early Age Onset programs and services.

Len E.

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I reached out to several organizations, and it is the advocacy and action that stood out with CCRAN – more than just offering a list of resources or courses.
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Len E.

Jessica Dasler

STAGE IV PATIENT

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I have plans in the works for treatment after discovering my cancer is also in my spine and rib (but still limited). I feel less overwhelmed knowing I can call, text or email Filomena anytime when another issue arises.
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Jessica Dasler

STAGE IV PATIENT

Manal Ghamlouche

STAGE III SURVIVOR

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I remember being referred to Filomena’s group -she was amazing, accommodating and from the beginning made me feel so comfortable. Going to support groups and getting reassurance and advice was invaluable and helped me understand my disease.
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Manal Ghamlouche

STAGE III SURVIVOR

Meagan Lockhart

Stage IV Patient

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Filomena helped me navigate my care, speaking with a thoracic surgeon, giving me questions to ask, information on upcoming trials, and the knowledge on how to navigate the next steps in this journey.
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Meagan Lockhart

Stage IV Patient

Dan Wadsworth

Stage IV Patient

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I was very fortunate to be referred to Filomena and the team at CCRAN. After that very first discussion with Filomena, I felt something that had been very elusive to me – hope in this journey and a path/plan forward.
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Dan Wadsworth

Stage IV Patient

Armina Ligaya

Stage III Survivor

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I made it through the ordeal, somehow, thanks to my amazing, resourceful and dedicated husband Dave, my parents and mother-in-law, the support of family and friends who knew what I was going through, the stellar doctors and nurses at Sunnybrook Hospital, CCRAN and countless others.
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Armina Ligaya

Stage III Survivor

Christina Halladay

Caregiver

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I wish that I had found them 3 years ago because that moment, that day when I reached out to Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network (CCRAN), our life changed, our fight changed, and our outcome changed.
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Christina Halladay

Caregiver

Gus Valdez

Caregiver

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The amazing PATIENT ADVOCACY provided by CCRAN is what sets this organization apart from all others. I have never witnessed so much passion and dedication. Both Ana and I are grateful to be under CCRAN’s wing.
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Gus Valdez

Caregiver

Ana Bettencourt

Stage IV Patient

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With the support of family, friends, CCRAN and my medical team, my journey would be fought with passion, knowledgeable action and research.
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Ana Bettencourt

Stage IV Patient

Hayley Painter

STAGE IV SURVIVOR

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The need to arm myself with current medical literature on the disease further empowered me to have thoughtful and informed conversations with my care providers.
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Hayley Painter

STAGE IV SURVIVOR

Steve Slack

STAGE IV PATIENT

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Having navigated that first year on my own without the incredible support offered by CCRAN, I can say unequivocally that my life would have been much easier had I known about CCRAN and reached out for support right from the get-go! Every new colorectal cancer patient should join CCRAN.
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Steve Slack

STAGE IV PATIENT

Rob Letson

Stage IV Cancer “Thriver”

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Fortunately, today, I have a wonderful oncologist and because of her efforts, and knowing that Filomena and CCRAN are there now - it gives me hope that maybe, just maybe - there may come a day where there is no evidence of disease.
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Rob Letson

Stage IV Cancer “Thriver”

Jason Abramovitch

STAGE IV PATIENT

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Through some incredible friends I’ve made over my journey, I was provided information about CCRAN and reached out immediately. I was contacted by Filomena and Cassandra that same day and quickly had an appointment set up for the following day. This meeting was such a huge relief as I was provided with clear and accurate information that I was able to understand that helped me have a better understanding of my situation. Importantly, this gave me confidence, hope, and some direction in a very emotional and difficult few days upon navigating this news.
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Jason Abramovitch

STAGE IV PATIENT

Mike Schiller

A 4 Minute Must Read

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Through all of this I was introduced to CCRAN – Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network, led by Filomena Servidio. To say she is amazing is an understatement. Along with my formal healthcare team, she was able to put my situation into simpler terms. She was also able to give additional guidance and direction and has an amazing patient advisory council to lean on. She was available to me 24/7 and Sunday morning chats were not out of the ordinary.
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Mike Schiller

A 4 Minute Must Read

Tim Hoskin

A Story of Hope

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CCRAN has been instrumental in connecting me with my mentor Steve, and we have become fast friends with so much shared background and circumstance. In addition, the support groups offer insights and support of other patients and survivors. CCRAN has helped navigate an often-confusing medical system by shedding light on options and arming patients with questions to ask medical teams.
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Tim Hoskin

A Story of Hope

Eric

Stage IV Patient

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I reached out to CCRAN because Filomena has a reputation for fiercely advocating for patients. After hearing my story, she gave me hope that I have a fighting chance of seeing my children grow up. She and her team continue to be a source of support and valuable advice for me and my family. I would recommend that anyone diagnosed with colorectal cancer reach out to CCRAN for support.
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Eric

Stage IV Patient

Kama Money

Stage IV Patient

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Thank you to CCRAN for providing us with hope and out of the box approaches to healing late-stage colorectal cancer! Our lives are worth trying to do everything we can!
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Kama Money

Stage IV Patient

Chat with us

Click on the Chatbot at the bottom right-hand side of the screen to connect with us. You will have an opportunity to ask questions of our experts from our Medical & Scientific Advisory Board regarding your case. Messages to our Medical & Scientific Advisory Board members will be triaged, sent accordingly, and responded to in a timely manner.

The following physicians have graciously agreed to serve as the experts for this program:

  1. Dr. Petra Wildgoose, Primary Care Physician Lead, Young Adult Colorectal Cancer Clinic, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
  2. Dr. Paul Karanicolas, Surgical Oncologist, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
  3. Dr. Gonzalo Sapisochin, Hepatobiliary Surgical Oncologist, University Health Network
  4. Dr. Anand Govindarajan, Peritoneal & Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncologist, Mt. Sinai Hospital
  5. Dr. Marcelo Cypel, Thoracic Surgical Oncologist, University Health Network
  6. Dr. Rebecca Wong, Hepatobiliary Radiation Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
  7. Dr. Michael Raphael, Medical Oncologist, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
  8. Dr. Carl J. Brown, Colorectal Surgical Oncologist, BC Cancer Agency

We look forward to chatting with you! For any help with troubleshooting, please email Cassandra Macaulay at cassandra.m@ccran.org.

Young Adult Colorectal Cancer Clinic

CCRAN is proud to partner with Sunnybrook's Young Adult Colorectal Cancer Clinic in Toronto, Ontario.
People under the age of 50 may have unique challenges and concerns related to a colorectal cancer diagnosis. These challenges and concerns may include:

  • Relationships with family and friends
  • Fertility concerns and issues
  • Young children at home
  • Dating/intimacy issues
  • Challenges at work
  • Concerns about hereditary cancer
  • Psychological stress due to any or all of the above


The Young Adult Colorectal Cancer Clinic offers a multidisciplinary team of experts to address these unique challenges, to assist patients throughout their colorectal cancer journey, and to create an individualized treatment plan. Their team offers high-quality and comprehensive care to help fill the gap for young adult patients with colorectal cancer.
To learn more, please click below to visit the Sunnybrook Young Adult Cancer Clinic site.

Virtual Symposia

In 2021, CCRAN held the first of a series of symposia dedicated to early age onset colorectal cancer, targeting primary care physicians as our primary audience at the first symposium, in addition to patients, individuals and organizations from the cancer care community, other health care professionals, researchers, academia, and policy makers.   

Why Was The Symposium Held?
In recent years, unprecedented numbers of younger people have approached the Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network (CCRAN) for information and support after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Our perceptions of colorectal cancer as a disease of older people have been altered after hearing the dramatic stories from people in their 20s, 30s and 40s whose lives have been devastated by this disease.  When CCRAN’s Scientific Advisory Panel confirmed our suspicions that early-age-onset colorectal cancer was indeed an escalating concern, we decided to take action. We were concerned with the rising incidence, within Canada and around the world, of colorectal tumours occurring in people under the age of 50. Tumours in this age group are found to be at a later stage when diagnosed and, consequently, the treatment protocols are aggressive, and outcomes are poor. The impact on the patients and their families is enormous, and we have lost so many with full and promising lives ahead of them.

The concept of the first symposium was to start the conversation in Canada. Our objectives for this meeting were:
1. To strategize a response to the rise in early age onset colorectal cancer in Canada.
2. To “set the stage” and educate on the issues related to colorectal cancer in people under 50.
3. To influence practice change amongst primary care physicians to support early diagnosis.

During the second symposium (October 27-28, 2022), we offered two half-days of patient and expert panels to explore the following topics, among others:
1. Identify and address the needs of young patients with colorectal cancer, as they may differ from those diagnosed after the age of 50.
2. Explore opportunities to promote early detection and comprehensive colorectal cancer care patient pathways.
3. Share best practices from the US- and Canada-based young adult colorectal cancer clinics and discuss how to optimize EAOCRC management.
4. Review advancements in colorectal cancer diagnoses and treatments.

CCRAN's 3rd Early Age Onset Cancer (EAOC) Symposium (October 26-27, 2023) brought together over 60 clinical and health policy experts, patients, caregivers and researchers for two days of insightful discussions, practical solutions and invaluable connections.
In 2023, the symposium expanded its objective to include multiple tumour types and key topics of discussion included:
1. Improving awareness around the incidence and prevalence of EAOC.
2.  Addressing system-level challenges limiting early detection of EAOC with discussion through a value-based healthcare lens.
3. Stimulating discourse on optimal care and treatment pathways, including the relevance of real-world evidence & the value of comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) in helping to ameliorate the patient’s journey.
4. Presenting strategies to enhance the survivorship journey to ameliorate the EAOC patient’s quality of life.The outcomes of the symposia series have been captured in publications, which may be viewed HERE.SAVE THE DATE! CCRAN’s 4th Annual Early Age Onset Cancer Symposium is scheduled for November 14 – 15, 2024 and will address additional tumour types! 

2023 EARLY AGE ONSET CANCER VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM

2022 EARLY AGE ONSET CRC VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM
2021 EARLY AGE ONSET CRC VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM


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