She was being stubborn. Alyce knew her age and race put her at higher risk for colorectal cancer. But she did not want to have a colonoscopy, something she felt would be too uncomfortable. Still, her family encouraged her to schedule the procedure. “I’ll do it, if you do it,” said Alyce’s sister.

Alyce could not turn down a dare from her sister. She had a colonoscopy and it spotted cancer. Alyce was shocked. “How did I have colon cancer? I did not even have any symptoms!” After she told her family and her workplace about her diagnosis, Alyce started cancer treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK).

After surgery and 9 months of chemotherapy, Alyce was cancer free. But she secretly lived with the fear the cancer could come back. “Now I follow all of my doctor’s recommendations,” said Alyce. “Your health is your responsibility.”

Cancer screenings and preventive care are important to good health and can save lives. MSK recommends starting screening for colon cancer at age 45 for people at average risk, with no symptoms. Black adults have a higher risk for colorectal cancer. MSK recommends talking with your doctor about routine cancer screenings.

DC 37 has partnered with Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) to help raise awareness about the importance of cancer screening and prevention. Screenings help detect cancer early when it’s easier to treat. Take MSK’s short assessment here to get personalized screening recommendations and tips on how to lower your risk for cancer. In less than 5 minutes, you can take the first step toward taking charge of your health.

Take action now!