Written by Yla Flores
Have you ever experienced a seemingly small moment that ended up changing your life forever? Whether it’s turning left instead of right, going out one night or staying in, I think about the ripple effect often. Mine was in 2020, when I knew it was time to make a well-woman exam appointment for a routine checkup. Among other tests, my doctor recommended Cologuard, an at-home colorectal cancer screening test. After putting it off for a few days, I eventually followed the instructions, packaged it back up, and sent it in.
It was shocking to me that four days later, I got a call from the doctor’s office with a positive result. I cried. At that point, I had to have a colonoscopy.
I was able to get into the doctor for my colonoscopy on March 19th, 2020. If you remember, around that time was when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States. I was my doctor’s last colonoscopy before everything shut down. One day later and I could’ve had a much different story.
My doctor didn’t know yet if it was cancer but referred me to have surgery that was needed either way. From there, it was a plan in motion: blood work, a scan, surgery. I was scared and in shock, but I didn’t have time to sit, think, cry, or process—I had to have these things done and I had to move forward. I was like a soldier who had to keep going. After I finished my CT scan, they put a sign on the door that they were closing due to the pandemic.
I was 54 years old and diagnosed with stage III colon cancer. How did this happen? It’s hard to believe. No signs, no symptoms, no family history—nothing that I could point to. Two days later I had surgery and started chemo. It was a grueling six-month process that I’m still recovering from, but that without, I might not be here today.
All of these small moments, circumstances, and decisions changed my life forever. Was it luck? I must have a purpose.
Today, I am cancer free. I have my energy back and I’m working full time. I have a close-knit group of friends that I love to travel with. Anywhere I go – I am also advocating for people to get screened for cancer and explaining how using Cologuard ultimately led me to get the medical care that saved my life.
As I reflect on the past five years, one of the biggest takeaways I’ve had from my journey is that cancer does not discriminate. Cancer doesn’t care who you are. It doesn’t care about your gender, age or race. Everyone is at risk. In fact, I learned colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among Hispanic men and the third cause of cancer death among Hispanic women, like myself. Despite this, Hispanics are the least likely to get screened, likely because of language and cultural differences and lack of access, but also because most people don’t realize that screening should start at age 45.
Before I had colorectal cancer, I didn’t know this. I thought it was something I didn’t need to worry about until I was older.
People think, “Oh, that’s not going to be me.”
But the reality is, it could be you, and if caught in early stages, colorectal cancer is preventable. Screening is like brushing and flossing your teeth—it’s quick and easy and could prevent you from going through the same surgeries and treatments I had.
I tell my story because I didn’t go through this journey to be silent about it. It’s important to make noise. I didn’t ask for this—no one signs up for this, but you embrace it. Now, it’s all about helping others. I tell people when I’m traveling, in line at the grocery store, wherever I am – get screened. It can change the trajectory of your life—it could even save your life. Cologuard has been used over 16 million times in the past ten years — millions of chances for people to catch their cancer early. If you can prevent yourself from going through the worst, that is a gift. That’s the gift of being tested.
About the Author
Yla Flores lives in Florida, where she loves spending time with her friends and family. She is an avid traveler, a full-time realtor – and a colorectal cancer (CRC) survivor. Diagnosed at age 54 with stage III CRC, her personal journey has inspired her to raise awareness of the importance of CRC screening and early cancer detection, especially for those 45 and older.