July 14, 2026

Most people don’t think about cancer screening when they feel healthy — no symptoms, no warning signs, no reason to worry. That’s exactly what made the following patient story so unexpected and important.

In the final episode of the miniVHAN podcast’s Cancer Screening and Prevention series, Mary Jo Wiggins shares how a routine colorectal screening led to a stage four cancer diagnosis — and why it may have saved her life.

The Moment Everything Changed

Like many people, Mary Jo approached her screening casually.

“I was healthy,” she said “I was active. I eat well. So there wasn’t any trepidation going in.”

There were no red flags until she was taken into the results room. “The doctor presents that we think it’s cancer,” she says. “There was a bit of a numbness to it.”

What followed wasn’t panic, but resolve.

“It wasn’t a real dramatic shock. I just kind of thought to myself, ‘Okay, well, let’s figure this one out.’”

Prevention Over Detection

One of the most powerful takeaways from Mary Jo’s story is how misunderstood screenings can be, especially when there are no symptoms.

“How could I feel so good and not know that this was going on?” she said. “That just screams the importance of screening.”

With colorectal cancer, screening can do even more than detect disease.

“It’s one of the screenings that can actually prevent cancer,” she says. “If you have some precancerous polyps, they remove them and then ask you to come back for more frequent checks.”

Why People Avoid Screenings

Despite the benefits, many people still delay screenings due to familiar reasons:

• Discomfort
• Inconvenience
• Fear of results

But avoiding screening carries its own risk.

“When I hear of people who have symptoms and they’re afraid to go, it kind of makes me mad,” Mary Jo admitted. “You just don’t know what’s lurking.

“Just check that box and have that peace of mind.”

Resilience Is About Moving Forward

What makes this story remarkable isn’t just the diagnosis — it’s what came next. During treatment, Mary Jo continued pursuing a goal to run a half marathon in all 50 states.

“My friend and I call them run-cations,” she shares. “We’re not going to change course because of cancer. Cancer’s not going to stop our plan.”

Even through chemotherapy, she kept moving.

“Chemo just kind of became a routine,” she said. “I’d be fine by Monday and could  go back to work. It was motivation to stay healthy and keep exercising, even though surgery changed the game a little bit,” she said. “That’s when I coined the phrase ‘wogging’ — walking and jogging.”

A New Perspective on Strength

Mary Jo’s experience challenges a common misconception: that being healthy guarantees protection from disease.

“You can’t always prevent cancer,” she said, but taking care of your health helps you to be strong enough to face it.

“Cancer is a thief. It can steal your time … but don’t let it take things. Take them back. I didn’t sideline the things that I wanted to do.”

The Real Reason Screening Matters

Beyond personal health, there’s a bigger reason to act: the people who depend on you.

“Do it for you and the people that you love.”

And talk about it.

“If you’re willing to talk about it, you might actually convince your coworker, your neighbor, your friend,” she said. “Because sometimes, one conversation is enough to change someone else’s outcome.

The Takeaway: Don’t Wait

“If you’re doing it, you don’t have to love it,” she said. “You just have to do it.”

Screenings aren’t convenient or comfortable, but they can save your life. Mary Jo’s story is a reminder that cancer doesn’t always announce itself. Sometimes, the decision to show up for a routine screening is the thing that changes everything.

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Mary Jo Wiggins