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Three areas of work, chosen because they are where earlier support changes the most: how cancer is found, what happens in the first weeks, and whether life can continue alongside treatment.
Colorectal cancer is no longer a disease affecting only older adults. Rates among younger populations are rising, 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.
Nearly half of new colorectal cancer diagnoses are now in adults younger than 65, and among those diagnosed before 50, three in four cancers are already at a regional or distant stage. 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. The American Cancer Society recommends adults at average risk begin regular screening at age 45 — and symptoms at any age deserve follow-up. We advocate 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 here.
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.
Nearly half of new colorectal cancer diagnoses in the United States are in adults younger than 65. American Cancer Society, Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures
Among adults diagnosed before age 50, roughly three in four colorectal cancers are found at a regional or distant stage, when treatment is more difficult and outcomes are worse. American Cancer Society, Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures
The American Cancer Society recommends that adults at average risk begin regular colorectal cancer screening at age 45. People with a family history or symptoms may need to start earlier. American Cancer Society colorectal cancer screening guideline
Figures are approximate and reflect the most recent published data available to us. This page is educational and is not medical advice — screening decisions should always be made with a qualified health professional.
Your gift helps create meaningful resources, expand awareness, and provide guidance to patients and families navigating colorectal cancer.
