Zed Dhalla develops home-based colorectal cancer test prototype

Facing a diagnosis of colorectal cancer at age 35 after medical providers repeatedly denied his requests for screening, Zed Dhalla developed a prototype for a home-based fecal immunochemical test.

Key Clinical Takeaways:
• Zed Dhalla was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at age 35 after doctors previously refused his requests for a colonoscopy and screening despite his family history.
• Dhalla subsequently developed a home-based fecal immunochemical test (FIT) that yields results via a two-line indicator, currently awaiting Health Canada approval.
• Provincial screening age policies vary across Canada, with Ontario and Prince Edward Island lowering the threshold to 45 while other jurisdictions maintain a limit of 50.

A Cancer Diagnosis at Age 35

When Zed Dhalla and his wife, Marlisa Madden, celebrated their first wedding anniversary in 2025, they received news that threatened to cut their future short. Dhalla experienced changes in his bowel habits, blood in his stool, and fatigue. Diagnostic evaluations confirmed he had colorectal cancer at age 35. This development coincided with the terminal illness of his mother, Yasmin, who died of ovarian cancer around the same time. Prior to his own diagnosis, Dhalla had actively requested a colonoscopy and screening from his healthcare providers at age 33 because of his family history of the disease. Medical staff denied the requests on the grounds that he was too young. Two years later, physicians confirmed his malignancy.

Provincial Screening Age Policies Across Canada

The barrier Dhalla faced reflects broader policy thresholds across Canadian provincial healthcare systems. Ontario and Prince Edward Island lowered their publicly funded colorectal cancer screening age to 45. In June, media inquiries to remaining provinces and territories maintaining a threshold age of 50 showed no immediate commitments to lower their guidelines, though British Columbia stated it was re-evaluating its protocols. A Canadian Cancer Society report published in March noted that younger Canadians are increasingly diagnosed with colorectal cancer and dying from it. Dr. Anu Ghuman, Dhalla’s surgeon, stated that individuals born in 1980 or later face double to two-and-a-half times the risk of developing colorectal cancer before age 50 compared to their parents.

Development of a Home-Based Screening Test

Following his diagnosis and treatment, Dhalla engineered a self-administered fecal immunochemical test designed for home delivery. The diagnostic kit requires the user to collect stool samples from six distinct locations using an included tool. Dhalla explained that the test functions similarly to a rapid COVID-19 antigen assay, where a single line indicates a negative result and two lines indicate a positive result. The device is awaiting regulatory clearance from Health Canada.

Treatment Prognosis and Future Outlook

Dhalla’s medical prognosis remains favorable, mirroring the recovery of his father, Shabbir, who fought his own battle with colorectal cancer during the period Dhalla and his father competed on Amazing Race Canada in 2017. Dhalla shares his experiences on social media to address the disease with humor. He and his wife are expecting their first child in March.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.