The importance of colonoscopy screening - Cancer survivor Mary Van Heukelom

Mary Van Heukelom is someone who is dedicated to her health and the health and well-being of others. As program director of the nonprofit organization Above + Beyond Cancer, she helps cancer survivors find and achieve a quality of life well beyond their cancer diagnosis.

Other than taking maternity leave for her children, Mary says she literally never took a day of sick leave during her professional career. Mary says she considered herself to have a top bill of health but that didn’t change her vigilance and self-care. It is the reason she called her doctor when she had a concern.

“In July 2021, I had my 50^th birthday,” said Mary. “It was on my radar to have a colonoscopy screening. When I noticed some blood in my stool, a possible sign of colon cancer, I immediately contacted my primary care provider.”

Mary received a colonoscopy, and her results became the first step in her cancer journey.

“I was very shocked when the colonoscopy showed I had a mass in my colon.” said Mary. “I was not expecting that, but I was very thankful they found it.”

Mary says surgery was able to remove her cancer and she has not needed radiation treatments or chemotherapy. She believes her colonoscopy made a difference in her case and can help others — especially since the recommended screening age has been lowered to age 45.

“I think if I had a screening at age 45 how much sooner this would have been discovered,” Mary said. “My mass might not have gotten as large or as intrusive. I am very thankful that the screening recommendations have been lowered to 45. I think this will be lifesaving and life-changing.”

Convincing people to get colonoscopy screenings has always been challenging. Cancer experts are concerned there could be an uptick in many cancer cases nationally because of COVID-19. The pandemic resulted in a reduced number of all cancer screenings. In some cases, access was impacted and in others, people just stayed away from scheduled appointments. Mary says this makes getting a colonoscopy even more important.

“People need to plan a colonoscopy into their schedule. You are carving out just a few hours from an entire year for the exam. What’s going to be more time consuming, the exam or a late-stage cancer diagnosis? Late-stage cancer isn’t just time consuming; it is life-changing and quality of life altering.”