Elsa U. Pardee Foundation
Memorial Cancer Lecture
Too Young to Worry? Think Again: Early Onset Colorectal Cancer
The early-onset of colorectal cancer is rising. Join MyMichigan Health expert’s colorectal surgeon Kristin Busch, M.D., F.A.S.C.R.S., and pathologist Randolph Sosolik, M.D., for a free lunch and learn event to help understand the disease, signs, risks and life-saving screening options for colorectal cancer.
According to a study published in January 2026 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), colorectal cancer is now the leading cancer cause of death in people under the age of 50. The news recently highlights the death of actor, James Van Der Beek, who passed away from his battle with stage 3 colorectal cancer at the age of 48. He was diagnosed in 2024.
In May 2021, screening guidelines changed recommending lowering the age of colorectal cancer screening for those at average risk from 50 to 45 years old due to the rising number of colorectal cancer cases in adults younger than 50.
The community event includes:
- Symptoms and warning signs of early-onset colorectal cancer
- Key risk factors
- Evidence-based screening options and when to start
- The basic function of the colon and intestines, and how disease can affect them.
- How polyps can develop into colorectal cancer
- How colorectal cancer is staged and treated
The Elsa U. Pardee Foundation has been instrumental in developing MyMichigan’s Oncology Services Program, as well as supporting this annual lecture.
About Our Speakers
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Kristin Busch, M.D., F.A.S.C.R.S., is a fellowship trained colon and rectal surgeon. She specializes in diagnosing and treating medical and surgical conditions of the colon, rectum, and anal area, including colon and rectal cancer, polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis, hemorrhoids, fissures, abscesses and fistulas.
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Randolph Sosolik, M.D., is a board-certified anatomic and clinical pathologist and hematopathologist. As a pathologist, he diagnoses diseases by examining tissues, organs, blood, bone marrow, lymphatic fluids and lab tests to help detect conditions like cancer, infections, and blood diseases.
