My life has been shaped by cancer — for that, I am grateful. My name is Susan Reed, and since 2015, I have served as Vice President of Oncology Services and Administrator of Montgomery Cancer Center.
In my 30s, engaged and planning a wedding to a wonderful man, I noticed my hair was thinning, and I felt exhausted. After a routine visit to my primary care physician, laboratory tests and a biopsy, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. That diagnosis continued to shape my life through surgery, radiation and years of monitoring with follow-up testing and imaging.
Two years later, cancer once again shaped my life when my husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer. Together, we braved a decade of treatments, scans, surgeries, recoveries, highs and lows, joy and sorrow. Darren passed away when he was only 51 — just one year after the traditional age of 50 when most routine colon cancer screenings begin.
Three years later, I turned 45. Because of my work with Baptist Health, I am informed on cancer screenings and have excellent health insurance. I see my primary care provider regularly, exercise and have not missed an annual mammogram since turning 40. Yet even with my experience and access to healthcare, I believed I had years before needing a colon cancer screening.
At Montgomery Cancer Center, we don’t just treat cancer, we actively promote prevention and early detection. During one of our screening events, I completed a short survey about my colon cancer risk. The outreach team congratulated me on turning 45 and explained that guidelines recommend colon cancer screening beginning at this age. I was genuinely surprised — I thought I had until 50.
I scheduled a colonoscopy, and despite the rumors, the preparation was manageable. During the procedure a polyp was discovered in my colon. Pathology confirmed it was benign, but due to its size, shape and location, it would become problematic if left untreated.
After consulting with several trusted physicians, I had a choice: undergo colonoscopies every six months to monitor the polyp, or elect prophylactic surgery to remove the right side of my colon where the polyp extended more than five centimeters. I chose surgery. On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, I underwent a right-sided colon resection, complete with a six-day hospitalization. The recovery was challenging, but the surgery was successful. I will have a follow-up colonoscopy in one year and, if clear, the intervals between screenings will gradually lengthen.
While cancer has shaped my life in many ways, it did not define my story. I was fortunate to experience a positive outcome, but that is not the reality for everyone. Colon cancer is increasingly affecting younger adults.
According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 154,000 people in the U.S. were diagnosed with colon and rectal cancer in 2025 — and one in five were under the age of 55.
Cancer screening saves lives. It saved mine. Talk with your healthcare provider about cancer screenings that may be right for you.
Visit www.montgomerycancercenter.com to learn about cancer screenings and outreach events.
