two patients share their paths to a colorectal cancer diagnosis
colorectal cancer rates are rising among canadians under 50, making increased awareness and early screening more important than ever
published mar 31, 2026
5 minute read
5 minute read
steve slack (second from left) started experiencing subtle symptoms of colorectal cancer in his mid-forties. supplied
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steve slack, a 53-year-old resident of bowmanville, ont., reminisces about how “normal” his life was five years ago.
“my wife and i were involved in our two boys’ activities and in our community. i was pursuing my career at the bank, and she was teaching elementary school,” he says. “then it all sort of went sideways overnight.”
in 2021, at age 48, steve was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
he began experiencing symptoms about two years earlier, in his mid-forties, but didn’t realize how serious they were. “i started having random abdominal pain and occasional changes in my bowel habits, but my doctor told me it was probably just food sensitivities,” he says.
over time, steve’s symptoms grew more frequent and severe, but he chalked it up to something he had eaten. when he began seeing blood in his bowel movements, he knew something was wrong and went back to his doctor. finally, he was referred for a colonoscopy.
“i woke up from the procedure and the doctor said, ‘i’m really sorry, but you have a massive tumour. it’s cancer and it’s bad,’” recalls steve. he soon learned he had stage 4 colorectal cancer, meaning it had already spread. scans revealed 23 inoperable tumours on his liver.
“i was told that my survival would likely be just two and a half or three years,” he says. “the worst day of my life was having to come home and tell my kids. my boys were 14 and 16 at the time.”
a different kind of diagnosis
angella henry, 56, of ajax, ont., was a busy school principal when she was diagnosed. she had no symptoms but was encouraged by her doctor to get a colonoscopy after sharing that her father had colorectal cancer.
“just before the covid-19 pandemic, i got a call from my father. he was in the hospital,” she recalls. “our relationship is sparse, and he didn’t tell me exactly what was going on. but he said, ‘they cut something out of my belly.’”
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two years later, she learned he had colorectal cancer, and that it had metastasized.
despite the family history, angella delayed getting screened. “i thought i was in the best of health,” she says.
in 2024, she finally had a colonoscopy. “the doctor said, ‘angella, we found a little something, and it’s malignant.’ and honestly, i didn’t have those words in my vocabulary to even understand what that meant,” she recalls. angella was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer, which had spread to her lymph nodes. she was just 54 years old at the time.
as a woman of colour, angella wants to raise awareness and foster open conversations about colorectal cancer. studies have identified a higher incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer among black people, and a canadian study showed that black individuals were less likely to be screened for colorectal cancer.
“we have to take the stigma out of cancer,” says angella. “and we have to really advocate for ourselves.”
angella henry was a busy school principal when she was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. nick kozak
understanding colorectal cancer
the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer are often easy to overlook. “the symptoms in both younger and older patients can include changes in bowel habits or blood in the stool, but they can also be non-specific, like fatigue or unintentional weight loss,” says dr. sharlene gill, professor of medicine at the university of british columbia. “those are harder to pin down.”
colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in canada. approximately 26,000 canadians are diagnosed with colorectal cancer per year, with over 9,000 deaths attributed to it.
although the canadian cancer society recommends that screening begin at age 45, current programs across canada are only available to those aged 50 to 74.
“we’re seeing an increasing population of people under age 50 being diagnosed with colorectal cancer,” says dr. gill. “because they’re younger, providers may not expect cancer, which can lead to delays in diagnosis.” as a result, many younger patients are diagnosed at a later stage.
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“when patients are diagnosed with later-stage disease, it requires much more intensive treatment,” says dr. gill.
managing complex treatment journeys
steve and angella have each undergone extensive treatment.
steve underwent surgery to remove the tumour in his colon, followed by chemotherapy and an antibody therapy drug. he also participated in a clinical trial at sunnybrook. the therapies reduced his tumours to a single persistent lesion in his liver. ultimately, he ended up receiving a life-changing living donor liver transplant.
“i’m still here, five years later,” he says. “i’m cancer-free and under surveillance. the life i had before cancer is gone. it’s been a major life adjustment. but i’m thrilled to be here.”
for angella, treatment included a colectomy and chemotherapy. the treatment was hard on her, and she still feels the effects to this day.
key therapeutic advances
advances in colorectal cancer treatment are helping to improve patients’ quality of life, especially for those with late-stage disease.
“in the 25 years i’ve been treating colorectal cancer, the last decade is the most exciting in terms of what treatments we can offer our patients,” says dr. gill. “we’re now more focused on precision oncology, using targeted treatments based on a tumour’s molecular makeup.”
these therapies, including targeted treatments and immunotherapy, have the potential to be curative for some early cancers and prolong disease control in advanced stages, dr. gill notes.
advocating for earlier screening
given the rise in people under 50 being diagnosed with colorectal cancer and the relatively young ages — 48 and 54 — at which they were diagnosed, both steve and angella strongly support lowering the screening age to 45.
“i’ve read that a polyp takes at least 10 years to become malignant,” says angella. “i think earlier screening would have changed things for me. my cancer could have been detected at an earlier stage.”
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“if i’d been screened at 45, my cancer would have been found three years sooner,” says steve. “but getting a liver transplant gave me something i was told was impossible, and that was hope for a cure. it’s a real testament to the amazing health-care professionals we have here in canada and the incredible research and advancements that are happening.”
be aware of your risk factors for colorectal cancer and talk to your health-care provider if you have concerns. visit colorectal cancer resource & action network and colorectal cancer canada to learn about what you can do to help spread awareness.
these patient stories are shared to highlight the personal experiences of individuals living with colorectal cancer. the management and treatment of colorectal cancer vary from person to person and may include a combination of drug and non-drug therapies. please consult with your healthcare provider for advice tailored to your specific condition.
this story was created by healthing content works, healthing.ca’s commercial content division, on behalf of takeda.
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