It started like any other routine clinic visit, with the familiar checklist of questions and reminders. One of them was that I was overdue for my next colonoscopy. I already knew that. I just didn’t want to deal with it.
My last colonoscopy had been such a miserable experience that I kept convincing myself I didn’t need another one. I found comfort in the stories I told myself. You’re vegan—you don’t get colon cancer. You drink tons of water every day. You exercise regularly—this doesn’t happen to people like you. Each thought made it easier to delay what I knew, deep down, I should do.
Eventually, I gave in and scheduled the colonoscopy. I expected relief once it was over. Instead, I woke up to news that stopped me cold. The doctor told me they had found and removed a malignant polyp and sent it to the lab, along with as much surrounding tissue as possible.
I remember staring at him, my mind racing. This can’t be happening. I had done everything “right.” I took care of my body. I believed that meant I was safe. In that moment, that belief fell apart.
The doctor told me how lucky I was—that the cancer had been caught early. Lucky didn’t feel like the right word. What I felt was fear. Fear of what might have happened if I had waited longer. Fear of how close I had come to never knowing until it was too late.
When the lab results confirmed it was malignant, I was told I’d need another colonoscopy in three months. The waiting was agonizing. Every day felt heavy with what ifs. When the day finally came, I walked in terrified.
This time, the news was good. Everything was clear. The relief was overwhelming—deep, emotional, and impossible to describe.
That experience changed me. I learned that taking care of yourself doesn’t make you immune. Fear and avoidance can be far more dangerous than discomfort. People with CF are five to 10 times more likely to develop colon cancer than the general population. For those who have received a transplant, the risk skyrockets to 30 times as high. Routine screenings aren’t just boxes to check—they save lives.
I won’t delay another colonoscopy again. And if this story convinces even one person to keep their appointment, then sharing it is worth it.
By: Jennifer Kyle
Current Cystic Fibrosis Foundation recommendations indicate that individuals with CF should begin screening for colon cancer at age 40 (30 post-transplant). Given the high incidence of colon cancer disease among people with CF at a younger ago, CFRI believes that conversations with one’s care team and screenings should start earlier. For more information about cystic fibrosis and colon cancer, visit https://curecf.cfri.org/3rkzjuxn.