Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center Events and Resources

Subscribe to the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center E-Newsletter

The Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center distributes an e-Newsletter filled with research updates, news from the Center, and patient stories and resources. All are welcome to subscribe.

View the latest issue

Email to Subscribe to Our E-Newsletter

We’re here to help our patients with colon or rectal cancer learn more about their disease and find support within a community of other young adults who can relate. 

Each year, we hold events to increase public awareness about the rise of colorectal cancer in young adults, such as our annual Patient and Family Forum. We also offer educational resources including podcasts, webinars, and our Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center patient newsletter.

Engage and Participate

Annual Patient and Family Forum

Saturday, March 29, 2025, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Join our full day of free educational events for persons with young-onset colorectal cancer (diagnosed under 50 years old) and their supporters at our 6th Annual Patient and Family Forum! We’re pleased to welcome keynote speaker Marisa Peters author, producer, speaker, vocalist, and survivor. Attendees will also hear from experts on colorectal cancer research, social work, and caregiver support. 

We’re thrilled to offer the forum in a hybrid format. This event is taking place at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Boston and a virtual option is also available.

Registration is required to attend this event in-person or virtually.

Jimmy Fund Walk

Our Center is proud to have our own Jimmy Fund Walk team: Team Beyond CRC! For the last five years, Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center patients, friends, and staff have walked alongside each other to raise money for colorectal cancer research. Our team has even received the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk Excellence in Fundraising award. This award is presented to the team with five or more members that raises the most money. To join our team and walk with us at next year’s Jimmy Fund Walk, please email YoungCRC@dfci.harvard.edu.

young-onset-walk-2024-913x500.jpg


One-to-One Telephone Support for Patients and Caregivers

For those navigating a cancer diagnosis, our free telephone support program connects patients and their caregivers with peers who understand. Peer mentors are here offer heartfelt support and guidance. Learn more about the One-to-One program.

Adult Patient and Family Advisory Council (APFAC)

Share your voice, guide projects, and help shape the patient care and family experience at Dana-Farber. Learn more about the Adult Patient and Family Advisory Council and how you can participate.

Learn and Explore

Cancer Questions

Cancer Questions is a podcast produced by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute that addresses some of the most common questions surrounding cancer risk and prevention. In this episode, Founding Director of the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center, Dr. Kimmie Ng, answers how – and when – different people should consider getting screened for colorectal cancer.

How and When Should I Get Screened for Colorectal Cancer?

In this episode, Kimmie Ng, MD, MPH, a medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, highlights the latest guidelines for colorectal cancer screening from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

"Gut Instincts" Webinar Series

This educational webinar series features updates on cutting-edge research and treatment options for colorectal cancer and other gastrointestinal diseases. Explore the most recent installments of the series below.

Gut Instincts: Best Practices for Rectal Cancer

Dana-Farber’s Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center's Gut Instincts series continued on Monday, September 26, 2022, with an educational workshop on Best Practices for Rectal Cancer. Topics included chemotherapy, advances in radiation and its side effects, surgical management of rectal cancer, and a patient's perspective.

Patient and Family Forums

Each year, our colorectal cancer support forum offers inspiration and information from experts in the field. Below are highlights from some of our past events.

2024 Patient and Family Forum Highlights

On March 2, 2024 we held our 5th annual Patient and Family Forum. It was a day full of free educational events for individuals with young-onset colorectal cancer (diagnosed under 50 years old) and their supporters. The Center welcomed keynote speaker, Simone Ledward-Boseman, an artist and caregiver who spoke about her personal experience with young-onset colorectal cancer and the importance of colorectal cancer awareness. Her continued advocacy honors the incredible legacy of her late husband, Chadwick Boseman. Attendees also heard from experts about colorectal cancer research, social work, managing symptoms, and more.

Keynote: Simone Ledward-Boseman

At the 5th Annual Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center Patient and Family Forum, Simone Ledward-Boseman, an artist, caregiver, and the widow of the late actor Chadwick Boseman, gave an incredible and inspiring keynote address.

Research Keynote: Myriam Chalabi, MD, PhD

At our fourth annual Patient and Family Forum, gastrointestinal oncologist and clinician scientist Myriam Chalabi, MD, PhD, joined us from the Netherlands Cancer Institute to present her research on early innovative combination immunotherapy trials. Dr. Chalabi’s research is focused on better understanding the drivers of response in these tumors and finding novel immunotherapy treatments.

Subscribe to Our E-Newsletter

Our e-newsletter is filled with research updates, personal stories from our brave patients, and other resources focused on colorectal cancer in young adults. Subscribe to get information about upcoming events and other helpful tips to navigate your cancer journey.

View the current issue

Previous issues:

Spring 2024
Winter 2024
Fall 2023
Summer 2023
Winter 2022
Summer 2021
Spring 2021
Winter 2021
Fall 2020
Summer 2020
Spring 2020
Winter 2020
Fall 2019
Summer 2019

Email to subscribe