Advocacy & Awareness
Dylan’s Chemotherapy Journey
Understanding Third Line Treatment
Moving to third line treatment marks a significant and often heavy transition in the cancer journey. It means that previous treatments, including Dylan’s clinical trial, were no longer able to keep the disease under control, and a new approach became necessary.
Reaching this point comes with a mix of emotions. There is grief in closing the chapter on what once worked, and uncertainty in stepping into something new. But there is also hope. Third line treatment represents continued options, continued care, and continued effort to slow progression and preserve quality of life.
This phase combines oral chemotherapy and targeted IV therapy in a structured cycle designed to disrupt cancer growth while allowing Dylan to remain at home between treatments. It requires resilience, careful monitoring, and ongoing adjustments to ensure it remains sustainable.
Third line treatment is not an ending. It is a continuation of the fight to create more time, more memories, and more moments together.
What is Lonsurf?
Lonsurf is an oral chemotherapy medication used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer when earlier treatments are no longer effective. It is taken in pill form at home on a structured schedule.
Lonsurf works by interfering with how cancer cells grow and replicate. One of its components becomes incorporated into the DNA of cancer cells, disrupting their ability to divide and survive. The second component helps ensure the medication stays active in the body long enough to do its job.
Because Lonsurf is taken orally, it allows treatment to continue outside of the hospital setting. However, it is still a powerful chemotherapy drug and requires careful monitoring through regular bloodwork and clinical follow-up.
What is Avastin?
Avastin is an intravenous therapy given at the cancer centre. Unlike traditional chemotherapy, Avastin is a targeted therapy that works by blocking the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need in order to survive.
Cancer depends on a steady blood supply to grow and spread. Avastin interrupts this process, essentially limiting the tumor’s access to oxygen and nutrients. This can slow progression and, in some cases, enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
Avastin is administered through an IV infusion and is generally given alongside other treatments rather than on its own.
How Do Lonsurf and Avastin Work Together?
Lonsurf and Avastin work in complementary ways.
Lonsurf directly targets and disrupts cancer cells, interfering with their ability to grow and multiply. Avastin works around those cells by restricting the tumor’s blood supply, making the environment less supportive for cancer survival. Together, this combination approach targets both the cancer itself and the systems that allow it to thrive. For many patients, this pairing can help slow disease progression when previous treatment options have stopped working.
Managing Side Effects
Like all cancer treatments, Lonsurf and Avastin come with side effects that require active management and support.
Common side effects of Lonsurf include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and lowered blood cell counts, particularly white blood cells. A reduced white blood cell count can increase vulnerability to infection and may require dose adjustments or treatment delays.
Avastin can contribute to fatigue, headaches, high blood pressure, and delayed healing. Regular monitoring ensures that any complications are identified early.
Managing side effects is a critical part of treatment. This includes medication adjustments, anti-nausea support, hydration, rest, and close communication with the oncology team. The goal is not only to continue treatment, but to do so in a way that remains sustainable for the patient’s overall wellbeing.
Palliative Care: Preserving Quality of Life
Palliative care is an essential part of Dylan’s treatment plan. It focuses on managing symptoms, improving comfort, and preserving quality of life at every stage of care. Palliative care is not about giving up. It exists alongside active treatment and helps address the physical, emotional, and neurological impacts of cancer.
For Dylan, this includes managing pain, nausea, fatigue, appetite changes, and the cumulative effects of long-term treatment. It also provides access to specialized physicians who focus on symptom control and supportive care.
The purpose of palliative care is to ensure that Dylan is not only living longer, but living as well as possible. It helps him remain present in his life, his home, and his relationships, while continuing treatment.
Palliative care supports both Dylan and his family as they navigate the complexity of advanced cancer, ensuring that care is centered on comfort, dignity, and quality of life.
Understanding Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. In 2024 alone, the Canadian Cancer Society estimates that 25,200 Canadians will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and 9,400 will lose their lives to it.
Despite advancements in treatment and screening efforts, colorectal cancer continues to pose a major health burden across the country—especially because it’s often detected too late.
Colorectal cancer typically begins as noncancerous growths (polyps) in the colon or rectum. These polyps can turn cancerous over time, often without any symptoms in the early stages. When caught early, colorectal cancer is highly treatable—with Stage I patients having a five-year survival rate of approximately 90%. But once the disease spreads, that number drops sharply. By Stage IV, the five-year survival rate plummets to under 15%.
Risk factors for colorectal cancer include being over 50, having a family history of colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), poor diet, smoking, heavy alcohol use, and lack of physical activity. However, CRC doesn’t discriminate by age as much as it once did. In fact, cancer rates in young adults are rising at alarming rates, while screening access, education, and clinical attention lag far behind.
Dylan’s story is tragically common. Despite a clear family history and repeated visits to doctors and emergency rooms, his concerns were overlooked.
Common CRC Symptoms:
Persistent changes in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, narrowing of stool)
Blood in the stool (visible or hidden)
Abdominal pain, cramping, or bloating
Unexplained fatigue or weakness
Weight loss with no clear cause
The problem? Many people don’t experience any symptoms until the disease is advanced.
That’s why proactive screening matters. For average-risk individuals in Canada, a fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is recommended every two years starting at age 50. But for anyone with a family history—or persistent, unexplained symptoms—screening should happen sooner. Colonoscopies remain the most comprehensive method for detection and prevention.
Early detection can mean the difference between life and death. It’s not an exaggeration—it’s fact.
Insist on a Colonoscopy
If you’re experiencing symptoms, have a family history of colorectal cancer, or just feel like something isn’t right—insist on a colonoscopy.
Dylan visited walk-in clinics, emergency rooms, and his family doctor multiple times with clear symptoms of colorectal cancer. Every time, he was dismissed. Told he was too young. Told it was acid reflux. Told to wait another 30 days, another 30 days, another 30 days.
By the time his cancer was caught, it had spread to his lungs and abdomen. He was 39 years old.
We don’t say this to scare you—we say it because his story is not unique. And it doesn’t have to be yours.
If your doctor brushes off your concerns or is reluctant to refer you for a colonoscopy, do not take no for an answer. You are your own best advocate. Keep pushing. Ask why. Ask again. And if you keep hitting walls, take it into your own hands:
Call your local cancer centre and ask about colorectal screening options. Many cancer centers across Canada offer screening programs or can point you toward the nearest location that does. We didn’t even know this was possible until it was too late. You shouldn’t have to find out the hard way.
What to Expect from a Colonoscopy:
It’s not as scary as it sounds.
Prep takes about a day. You’ll follow a clear-liquid diet and take a prescribed laxative to empty your bowels.
The procedure itself is relatively quick—about 45 minutes.
You’ll be sedated (aka, you’ll have an amazing nap through the whole thing).
You go home the same day and feel back to normal soon after.
And the best part? It could save your life.
Whether you’re worried about the test or feel like you’re being ignored, we’re here to help you navigate the noise and get the care you deserve.
If you have questions about Dylan’s colonoscopy or need a pep talk before yours: Email him
Want help finding the nearest cancer or screening center near you? Email Alexandria
Advocacy & Awareness
Expanding Screening Guidelines
Individuals born after 1980 are 2 to 2.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer before age 50 compared to previous generations . Despite this trend, current screening programs primarily target those aged 50 to 74 .
We advocate for lowering the recommended screening age to 35, especially for individuals with risk factors such as family history. Early detection through screening can significantly improve outcomes, with a 90% five-year survival rate when colorectal cancer is caught at Stage I.
Raising Public Awareness
Awareness of colorectal cancer symptoms and risk factors remains low among younger populations. A survey revealed that 41.6% of respondents were unaware that colorectal cancer could occur in individuals under 50, and 45.2% were unfamiliar with its signs and symptoms.
We aim to educate the public about colorectal cancer symptoms, including:
Persistent changes in bowel habits
Rectal bleeding
Abdominal discomfort
Sudden and consistent acid reflux
Unexplained weight loss
Improving Healthcare Access
Access to primary healthcare is a significant concern in Canada. As of 2023, approximately 17% of Canadians do not have a regular healthcare provider . In Ontario alone, 2.5 million residents are without a family doctor. This is projected to double by 2026.
This lack of access can lead to delayed diagnoses and treatment. We advocate for systemic changes to ensure timely and equitable access to diagnostic services and primary care providers.
Advocating for Financial Support
A cancer diagnosis brings not only emotional and physical challenges but also significant financial burdens. On average, Canadian cancer patients face nearly $33,000 in out-of-pocket expenses during their treatment journey. Imagine how you would cover those costs when unable to work.
You can sign the Canadian Cancer Society’s petition to reduce the cost of cancer care in Canada here.
For families like ours, the costs are staggering. Dylan manages approximately 18 prescriptions, each with associated costs. Even with private insurance, co-pays add up quickly. While chemotherapy infusions are covered, many supportive medications and treatments are not.
We advocate for comprehensive financial support for families dealing with terminal illnesses, ensuring that no one has to choose between treatment and basic living expenses.
By sharing our story and advocating for these changes, we hope to make a difference for others facing similar battles.