Day 2: November 20, 2026 
Advancing Care for Early Age Onset Cancer: Innovation, Care Pathways & the Patient Experience 

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. ET

Symposium Day 2 Opening

A brief recap of key themes, insights, and discussions from Day 1, followed by an overview of the objectives and discussions that will shape Day 2 of the Symposium.

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:
TBD

Additional speaker yet to be confirmed.

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. ET

When Care Doesn't Fit: Patient Perspectives on Navigating Cancer Within the Traditional Models of Care

For many younger adults diagnosed with cancer, there remains a disconnect between the care they receive and the realities of living with cancer during one of the most formative stages of life. Beyond clinical decisions, patients are often navigating uncertainty, fragmented communication, psychosocial and emotional challenges, and complex healthcare systems while simultaneously managing careers, young families, financial responsibilities, social pressures, and evolving identities.

This patient panel will examine the cancer journey through the lived experiences of younger adults, exploring where traditional models of care align with patient needs and where they do not. Rather than focusing solely on gaps in care, the discussion will consider what patients value most: the conversations that build trust, the supports that foster resilience, and the care experiences that help younger patients feel seen as individuals, not simply by their diagnosis. Together, these perspectives will challenge conventional approaches to care and identify opportunities to better meet the needs of younger adults diagnosed with cancer.  

Discussion themes will include: 
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Moderator:
Peter Laneas
Two-Time Testicular Cancer Survivor (Stage IIIA & IA); Advocate; Advocacy & Engagement Lead, Cancer Fatigue Services

Patient Panel:
Sundas Shamshad
Stage II HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Survivor; Founder, Sisters in Cancer YMM; Patient Advocate

James Moriarty
Stage IV Endometrial Cancer Survivor and Advocate

Christopher Mammoliti, B.Comm. (Hons)
Thyroid Cancer Survivor & Late-Stage Colon Cancer Survivor; Patient Advocate; Public School Board Trustee Candidate, Toronto Municipal Election

Teri Price
Caregiver to Late Brother Diagnosed with Testicular Cancer; Patient Safety Advocate & Executive Director, Greg’s Wings Projects

11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET

Break

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  ET

Advancements in the Management of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most complex and challenging malignancies to diagnose and treat. While historically associated with poor outcomes, recent advances in systemic therapies, biomarker-directed treatment, and precision medicine are beginning to reshape the management of pancreatic cancer. As therapeutic options continue to expand, clinicians are increasingly able to personalize treatment strategies and identify new opportunities through clinical research.  

This clinician roundtable will examine the latest advancements in the management of pancreatic cancer, highlighting evolving standards of care, emerging evidence, and innovative treatment approaches that are transforming clinical practice. Experts will discuss how these developments are improving outcomes, informing more individualized treatment decisions, and creating new opportunities for younger adults diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  

Discussion topics:
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Moderator:
Dr. Cathy Eng, MD, FACP, FASCO
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN; David H. Johnson Chair in Surgical and Medical Oncology; Professor of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology; Director for Strategic Relations; Co-Director, GI Oncology; Co-Leader, Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Program; Director, Young Adult Cancers Program; Co-Chair, NCI Gastrointestinal Steering Committee

Patient Perspective:
Jennifer Lovrics
Caregiver to husband who succumbed to Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer; Patient Advocate; Finance Professional

Clinician Roundtable:
Dr. Ravi Ramjeesingh, MD, Ph.D., FRCPC
Medical Oncologist & Assistant Professor, Chair of the HPB Cancer Disease Site Group Halifax, Division of Medical Oncology and Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Nova Scotia Cancer Centre & Dalhousie University

Dr. George Zogopoulos, MD, Ph.D., FRCS(C), FACS
Associate Professor, Surgery and Oncology, McGill University; Hepatopancreatobiliary and Transplant Surgeon, The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC)

Dr. Steven Gallinger, MD, MSc, FRCSC
Hepatobiliary/Pancreatic Surgical Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre; Professor of Surgery, University of Toronto; Co-Lead, McCain Centre for Pancreas Cancer

Dr. Patricia Tang, MD, FRCPC
Medical Oncologist, Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre; Clinical Associate Professor, University of Calgary

Additional panelists yet to be confirmed.

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. – 3:15 p.m. ET

Navigating Cancer in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities, Risks, and Responsible Use

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming an increasingly common part of the cancer journey, with patients increasingly using AI-powered tools to better understand their cancer and navigate an increasingly complex healthcare system. While these technologies offer new opportunities to improve access to information and support informed decision-making, they also raise important questions regarding accuracy, misinformation, privacy, bias, and overreliance.  

Drawing on the experiences of patient support organizations from across Canada, this roundtable will explore how AI is influencing the patient experience and the types of questions, opportunities, and challenges organizations are hearing directly from the communities they serve. Panelists will discuss how patient organizations can help support safe, informed, and responsible use of AI while maintaining trust in evidence-based cancer care.  

Experts will explore:
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Moderator:
Dr. Isabel Preeshagul, DO, MBS
Medical Oncologist; Associate Attending Physician, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Patient Group Roundtable:
Himanshi Singhvi
National Patient Support Program Manager, Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network (CCRAN)

Dani Taylor, MSW
Manager of Programs, Young Adult Cancer Canada; Stage III Colorectal Cancer (Lynch Positive) Survivor; Patient Advocate

Bukun Adegbembo
Director of Operations, Canadian Breast Cancer Network

Erin Ranger
Patient Support Manager, Craig’s Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society

Additional panelists yet to be confirmed.

3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET

Break

3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. ET 

Industry Sponsored Highlight: Innovation in Subcutaneous Drug Administration

Innovation in subcutaneous drug administration is creating new possibilities for how established cancer therapies can be delivered. This presentation will explore what it takes to develop a subcutaneous option for a therapy traditionally delivered intravenously. It will look at the work behind this innovation, from development through to clinical use, and introduce key differences in how intravenous and subcutaneous treatments are administered. The session will set the foundation for a deeper discussion of subcutaneous treatment in the panel that follows.

The presentation will address:
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Industry Sponsored Presentation: Merck Canada
Dr. Rosalyn Juergens, MD, PhD
Medical Oncologist, Juravinski Cancer Centre; Professor, Department of Oncology, McMaster University

3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. ET

Cancer Care Delivery Through Subcutaneous Treatment

How cancer treatment is delivered can have a significant impact on both the patient experience and the capacity of healthcare systems to provide timely care. Subcutaneous formulations are changing how certain cancer treatments, including immunotherapies, can be administered, offering an alternative to traditional intravenous delivery. With substantially shorter administration times, subcutaneous treatment can reduce the time patients spend receiving therapy in cancer centres.

This session will examine the role of subcutaneous treatment in cancer care delivery, consider how the shift from intravenous to subcutaneous administration may influence the patient experience and how care is delivered across cancer systems. For younger adults, reducing the time and burden associated with treatment may provide greater flexibility in balancing cancer care with work, family, and life beyond treatment. The discussion will also consider the potential for subcutaneous treatment to support healthcare system capacity and more flexible models of care, alongside the clinical and system-level considerations that will shape its integration into cancer care.

Key areas of discussion will include:
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Moderator:
TBD

Patient Perspective:
TBD

Panelists:
Filomena Servidio-Italiano, Hon B.Sc., B.Ed., M.A. 
President & CEO, Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network (CCRAN)

Jasmine MacGowan
Executive Director, Save Your Skin Foundation & Ocumel Canada

Dr. Lynne Nakashima, BSc(Pharm), PharmD, RPh, FCAPhO, FISOPP
Senior Director, Provincial Pharmacy, BC Cancer; Clinical Professor, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia

Additional panelists yet to be confirmed.

4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. ET

Session Pending Confirmation

5:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET

Day 2 Closing Remarks and Symposium Adjournment.

Filomena Servidio-Italiano, Hon B.Sc., B.Ed., M.A. 
President & CEO, Colorectal Cancer Resource & Action Network (CCRAN)

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