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Colorectal cancer is no longer a disease affecting only older adults. Rates among younger populations are rising rapidly, with more people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s facing diagnoses often caught too late. Through lived experience, we have seen firsthand how urgently the system needs to evolve.
The Colorectal Foundation was created to help close the gap — improving early detection, helping patients access the right care sooner, and advocating for a world where people can continue living and working through treatment with dignity and support.
Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related death in adults under 50.
Nearly half of new diagnoses occur before age 65. Yet many younger patients still struggle to access timely screening because symptoms are overlooked or dismissed.
Most young-onset patients experience a significant delay between the onset of symptoms and receiving a diagnosis — months that define treatment options and outcomes.
Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related death in adults under 50, and nearly half of new diagnoses occur before age 65. Yet many younger patients still struggle to access timely screening because symptoms are overlooked or dismissed.
We believe awareness and early action are critical.
A colonoscopy remains the most effective tool for identifying and removing precancerous polyps before cancer develops. Our foundation advocates for symptom-driven screening, increased awareness, and earlier conversations around colorectal health — especially for younger adults.
Our immediate goal is to work with partner organizations and advocates to create impactful awareness campaigns that promote proactive screening and earlier detection.
A colorectal cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming, especially in the first days and weeks when critical decisions must be made quickly.
We know how difficult this period can be because we have lived it.
The foundation will help newly diagnosed patients understand treatment options, access leading cancer centers, coordinate consultations, and build the strongest possible care team early in the process.
Our goal is to ensure that geography, financial limitations, or lack of access do not prevent patients from receiving informed, strategic care. We believe every patient deserves access to the right doctors, the right information, and the right plan from the very beginning.
In the short term, the foundation plans to work directly with up to 25 patients at a time to help navigate the critical first 8 weeks following diagnosis — including understanding treatment options, coordinating consultations, and establishing a care plan and medical team. Patients interested in receiving pro bono support may contact us at info@thecolorectalfoundation.com
Cancer is increasingly becoming a chronic condition — one that many people live and work through for years. Yet most workplaces are not designed to support employees navigating long-term treatment and recovery.
The physical and emotional realities of treatment are often invisible: fatigue, neuropathy, cognitive challenges, and the pressure to continue performing professionally while managing ongoing care.
The foundation is committed to changing that.
We will support individuals navigating employment during treatment while also advocating for broader workplace evolution — including stronger protections, more thoughtful policies, and greater understanding around serious illness.
Work is more than income. It provides identity, stability, community, and purpose. As more people live through cancer while continuing their careers, workplace support must evolve alongside modern survivorship.
In the short term, we will provide individuals who contact us with educational resources, guidance, and referrals to experienced attorneys and professionals who can help them better understand how to protect their income, benefits, and employment stability while navigating treatment.
We also aim to help patients learn how to communicate with employers and request accommodations in a thoughtful and protected manner. Over time, we hope to expand these efforts into broader toolkits, workplace resources, and legislative advocacy focused on modern cancer survivorship and employment protections.
In lieu of traditional wedding gifts, Ron and Trevor are asking their family and friends to support something deeply personal to them: the launch of The Colorectal Foundation. Your support will help create meaningful resources, expand awareness, and provide hope and guidance to patients and families navigating colorectal cancer.
