Anne’s story: Get screened and get screened on time
Meet Anne
Colon Health Advocate, Screened with the Cologuard® test
At a glance
- With no personal or family history of colon cancer, Anne didn’t think much of it when her gynecologist suggested a colonoscopy during an annual exam.
- Wanting a less intimidating way to screen, Anne used a Cologuard test.
- Her positive result took Anne by surprise, prompting her to get a follow-up colonoscopy.
- It detected three large polyps, all non-cancerous, but they’ve placed Anne in the high-risk category.
- Anne is now an advocate for timely screenings, especially for people who are at average risk for colon cancer.
“Cologuard is such a great place to start because it’s so easy.”
As an entrepreneur and a staunch advocate for women’s sports, Anne leads an active and purpose-driven life. Having health issues in the past made her even more determined to stay fit and healthy. So at 46, when asked during an annual exam about getting screened for colon cancer, Anne wasn’t opposed to the idea, especially when her doctor suggested the Cologuard test.
“I was familiar with Cologuard,” Anne shares. “So when my gynecologist raised it, it wasn’t news to me. Maybe it was the nudge I needed to act on it. Cologuard is such a great place to start because it’s so easy. I remember being told, ‘If you want something that’s easy and less intimidating, you should look into Cologuard.’"
When her Cologuard test result came back positive, Anne underwent a follow-up colonoscopy.
Three polyps were removed, all sessile serrated, and two were low-grade dysplasia. Thankfully, none were cancerous. But based on their size — they were quite large — Anne recalls her doctors saying, ‘It’s really good that we caught this.’
“They made me come back a year later,” Anne relates. The following year, they found three more polyps that were removed. None of them were cancerous, but two were adenomatous. Her most recent colonoscopy turned out to be clear, but now that she has a history, Anne is considered a high risk for colon cancer.
“What I want is to try to get more people to get screened.”
Now, Anne wants to get the word out. “I’m feeling lucky, feeling grateful – that's the word I would use. I was just feeling we caught something that could’ve been bad or lethal. What I want is to try to get more people to get screened. You can do Cologuard on your schedule, on your own time, and in the privacy of your home — really straightforward, especially for average-risk younger people aged 45+.”
Her gratitude extends to her gynecologist, who has since retired. “I wrote her a note at her retirement, just thanking her for suggesting Cologuard and for encouraging me to screen. It’s so important. Those little moments matter.”
This story reflects one individual’s experience. Not every person will have the same treatment, experience, outcome, or result. The Cologuard test is prescribed by a health care provider. Talk to your health care provider about available screening options and whether the Cologuard test may be right for you. There are potential risks associated with the Cologuard test and it may not be appropriate for all patients. For more information about the risks, talk to your health care provider or visit Cologuard.com/risk-information for more information.