Back to top
Day 1: November 19, 2026
Rethinking Early Age Onset Cancer Management: Aligning Systems With a Changing Patient Reality
9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. ET
Symposium Day 1 Opening
The Symposium will begin with opening remarks, an overview of the program, and a look at the key themes that will guide discussions over the next two days.
The Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network (CCRAN) is a national, patient-focused advocacy group, dedicated to improving the longevity and quality of life for all cancer patients in Canada through their persistent efforts in support, education, and advocacy for equal and timely access to effective therapies. CCRAN's expanded mandate includes tumour types outside of the colorectal cancer space.
CCRAN's sixth annual pan-tumour Early Age Onset Cancer (EAOC) Symposium builds on the foundation established by previous symposia. Over two days, clinicians, pathologists, researchers, patients, and caregivers from across Canada and beyond will come together to examine evolving approaches to early age onset cancer care, advance optimal treatment and survivorship, and address the system-level challenges that continue to impact earlier diagnosis and equitable care.
Symposium Moderator:
Cassandra Macaulay, B.Sc., MHS, RTNM
Chief Research Officer, Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network (CCRAN)
9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. ET
Welcome from CCRAN’s President & CEO
A welcome from CCRAN's President & CEO, followed by a conversation with a patient advocate reflecting on their lived experience with early age onset cancer. Together, they will explore the realities of navigating cancer as a younger adult and how lived experience is helping challenge and reshape current models of cancer care.
Filomena Servidio-Italiano, Hon B.Sc., B.Ed., M.A.
President & CEO, Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network (CCRAN)
Patient Perspective:
Corey Lasso
Stage IV Colorectal Cancer Patient
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ET
Key Learnings from CCRAN's 2025 Early Age Onset Cancer Symposium
The objectives and outcomes of CCRAN’s 2025 Early Age Onset Cancer Symposium have been captured and summarized in Current Oncology. The lead author of the publication will present the key findings, emerging themes, and proposed calls to action identified in the paper.
Presentation:
Dr. Michael Raphael, MD, FRCPC
Medical Oncologist, Early Age Onset CRC Cancer Clinic Lead, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre; Co-Chair, Medical & Scientific Advisory Board, CCRAN
10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. ET
CCRAN Update: Advancing Change in Early Age Onset Cancer Care
This presentation will highlight CCRAN's ongoing advocacy, research, education, and policy initiatives aimed at advancing early age onset cancer care across Canada. Updates will include progress in biomarker advocacy, colorectal cancer screening, Early Age Onset Cancer Awareness Day, and other strategic initiatives focused on improving timely, equitable, and patient-centred access to age-appropriate cancer care.
Presentation:
Filomena Servidio-Italiano, Hon B.Sc., B.Ed., M.A.
President & CEO, Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network (CCRAN)
11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET
Break
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET
Colorectal Cancer Screening at 45: Implementation, Access, and System Readiness
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. ET
Break
Virtual Breakout Room (1:00 p.m. — 1:30 p.m. ET)
1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. ET
Training the Front-Line Primary Care Professionals: Embedding Early Age Onset Cancer Education Across Medical and Nursing Pathways
As rates of early age onset cancer (EAOC) continue to rise, primary care providers are increasingly encountering cancers in populations historically considered low risk. Yet educational curricula, clinical training pathways, and professional development programs have not consistently evolved at the same pace as the changing epidemiology of cancer in younger adults. Delayed recognition can contribute to delays in diagnosis and missed opportunities for earlier intervention.
This session will examine opportunities to strengthen medical and nursing education to better equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to recognize and appropriately investigate potential signs and symptoms of cancer in younger adults. Speakers will explore educational gaps, emerging initiatives, and strategies for integrating EAOC education across undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing professional education to support earlier diagnosis and improve patient outcomes.
Session focus:
Moderator:
Sarah Cleyn RN, MN, CHCPCN(C)
Advanced Practice Nurse, Cancer Care Enhancements, The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre; AYA Program Lead, Champlain Regional Cancer Program
Patient Perspective:
Alessandra De Angelis
Stage II Colon Cancer Patient; Registered Dental Hygienist
Panelists:
Trudy Matwiy, RN, MN, NP
Master of Nursing/Nurse Practitioner, Family/All Ages; Nurse Practitioner Primary Care Program (NPPCP); Director of Primary Care, Nurse Practitioner Association of Alberta
Dr. Amirrtha Srikanthan, MD, M.H.Sc., FRCPC, CHE
Medical Lead, Adolescents and Young Adults (AYA) Cancer Program, Champlain Region; Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa; Medical Oncologist, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital
Dr. Anna Wilkinson, MD, M.Sc., CCFP
Family Physician; GP Oncologist; Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa; Author
Additional panelists yet to be confirmed.
2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. ET
Understanding Your Tumour’s Biology: Unlocking Personalized Treatment Opportunities
3:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET
Break
Featured Video: Second Look Cancer — Clinical Trial Matching Tool
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET
Artificial Intelligence in Oncology: Supporting Clinical Decision-Making
Artificial intelligence (AI) is creating new opportunities to support clinical decision-making across cancer care. As oncology generates increasingly complex clinical, pathological, and molecular information, AI is emerging as a powerful tool to help clinicians interpret data, identify meaningful patterns, and support more personalized care. From tumour characterization and precision oncology to treatment planning, risk prediction, and clinical decision support, AI has the potential to enhance the quality and efficiency of oncology care.
Realizing this potential, however, requires more than technological innovation. As AI moves from research into clinical practice, important questions remain regarding clinical utility, implementation, governance, and how these technologies can be responsibly integrated into routine cancer care.
Discussion topics:
Moderator:
Dr. Jackie Bender
Scientist and Co-Lead of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Department of Supportive Care, University Health Network; Associate Professor, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
Patient Perspective:
Dillan Eisenhaur
Stage IV Colorectal Cancer Patient; Founder, Second Look Cancer
Panelists:
Dr. Rob Grant, MD, Ph.D., FRCPC
Medical Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network
Dr. John-José Nuñez, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Associate Medical Director, Supportive Care, BC Cancer Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia
Dr. Muhammad Mamdani, PharmD, M.A., MPH
Clinical Lead, Artificial Intelligence, Ontario Health; Director, Temerty Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Education in Medicine (T-CAIREM), University of Toronto; Professor, University of Toronto
Additional panelists yet to be confirmed.
5:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. ET
Glance at Day 2. Closing Remarks from CCRAN’s President & CEO.
Filomena Servidio-Italiano, Hon B.Sc., B.Ed., M.A.
President & CEO, Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network (CCRAN)
.png){kind=logo}
