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.

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.

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.

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.

11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET

Health 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

Health 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:
‍

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

Health 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:
‍

5:00 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. ET

Glance at Day 2. Closing Remarks from CCRAN’s President & CEO
‍