A doctor is mission to encourage people to undergo screenings before their health issues escalate after diagnosing her own cancer – and finding a mass that was nothing like she had seen before.
Dr Lauren Juyia, a gynecologist and colon cancer survivor, is emphasizing the importance of attending screenings, even if symptoms are not present. It comes after she self-diagnosed her own cancer at the age of 38, before she was eligible for regular screenings.
In August 2022, Lauren, a mother-of-two, from the US, noticed some changes in her body and experienced pelvic discomfort. Suspecting an ovarian mass, she underwent an ultrasound at HCA Florida Oak Hill Hospital, which revealed large masses in her ovary. Lauren stated on Good Morning America that she had “never seen a mass of that size before”. “We knew deep down that this was not going to be good,” she added.
She was subsequently diagnosed with stage four colon cancer, and by the following month, the masses had spread to her ovaries, uterus, appendix, and abdominal area. According to the NHS, common signs of colon cancer include changes in bowel habits, such as persistent diarrhoea, constipation, weight loss, cramps, or a change in stool consistency – none of which Lauren experienced.
Her only symptom was “pelvic heaviness”, which prompted her to visit the hospital. Lauren, after being diagnosed, was swiftly put on the schedule for an operation aimed at excising the growths.
In addition, she underwent chemotherapy sessions and kept herself engaged in work as a distraction from her illness. Fortuitously, following further surgery in March 2023, it was disclosed she had “no evidence of the disease”.
Currently, as a survivor, she is driven to spread awareness and offer support to others, drawing attention to one particular issue—the age thresholds for health screenings. Via her Instagram page @thebenigngyn, she highlighted that in the US, smear tests are available from age 21, mammograms from age 40, and colonoscopies starting at age 45. At the time of her diagnosis, she was just short of the appropriate age range for screening.
In contrast, the UK presents even stricter age specifications for such examinations. The NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme conducts FIT tests (faecal immunochemical tests) biennially for individuals aged 50 to 74.
Those above 75 can still acquire a test every two years by reaching out to a designated helpline. Additionally, depending on the level of bowel cancer risk, colonoscopies occur every five years beginning either at age 55 or 40.
Smear tests in the UK are on offer for individuals starting from age 25, with invitations usually dispatched shortly before one turns 25. Regular screening letters will continue triennially up until 49 years old, and then every five years from 50 to 64. Mammogram screenings are open to those between 50 and 70 years of age.
Lauren spoke to Good Morning America, stressing the importance of being vigilant about health symptoms, even for those younger than the recommended screening age. Lauren said: “People are younger than the screening age, we should still be paying attention to our symptoms. We might not have any symptoms because our bodies our young, and more resilient.”
She emphasised the need for awareness, especially for those not yet in the screening bracket: “We just need to be aware if we are not lucky enough to be in the range that we should be screened. And if you are in the range that you should be screened, take advantage of that don’t squander that. There is a reason we want you to be screened and keep you safe.”
On her Instagram, Lauren posted a video to spread awareness, explaining: “Cancer screen is for before you have any symptoms, of course you still feel well. When you have symptoms that testing is now considered diagnostic, you are no longer a symptomatic.”
She further clarified the purpose of screenings: “The POINT of screening is to identify problems BEFORE you even have symptoms. Sometimes this means we can even prevent cancer, like when a GI doc removes polyps during a colonoscopy.”
Lauren also shared a common occurrence from her practice: “Every day in the office I will have at least one patient decline screening because ‘I feel fine and it’s not in my family’, including today.”
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