The simple blood test that led to an unexpected colon cancer diagnosis
Initially reluctant because she ‘felt fine’, Bernice says the Galleri® test at Medcan was one of her best decisions
The cancer was found before it had spread, surgery was successful, and today I am looking forward to the future.- Bernice Smith Horne, Medcan client
When Bernice arrived at Medcan for her Annual Health Assessment, cancer was not on her radar. She felt well, had no symptoms, and had been reluctant to book the appointment in the first place. In fact, it was her husband, Ian, and son, Liam, who’d spent months encouraging her to go.
Liam, an ambitious business professional in his thirties, had always taken a proactive approach to his health and first discovered Medcan through his own research. For months, he had been encouraging his parents to prioritize preventive care and book an Annual Health Assessment.
After Liam raised the idea, Ian was quick to get on board. Living with atrial fibrillation (AFib) – a heart rhythm disorder that can increase the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular complications – he was eager to gain a deeper understanding of his overall health. Bernice, however, took a little more convincing. “I kept putting it off,” she said. “I kept saying, ‘I feel fine, so why would I do it?’”
Still, Liam saw it differently. An avid wellness enthusiast, he believes strongly in the value of being proactive – instead of being reactive and waiting for symptoms – when it comes to health. He continued to encourage his parents given they were past the midlife stage to look beyond how they felt today and invest in a test that could show them what could be happening beneath the surface.
Eventually, Bernice and Ian booked their assessments as a preventative step toward better health, and one that led to an unexpected cancer diagnosis.
A family history of cancer
As part of their Annual Health Assessments, Bernice and Ian were offered the opportunity to add the Galleri® multi-cancer early detection blood test to their day. The test, which requires only a single blood draw, can detect 50+ cancer types, and can be done on the same day as an Annual Health Assessment or as a standalone test.
At first, Bernice hesitated. “My first instinct was to say ‘no’ because I felt perfectly fine.”
Yet she couldn’t ignore that both sides of her family had been affected by cancer, a fact her son Liam had repeatedly reminded her of. “He kept saying, ‘Mom, you and Dad both have parents who died of cancer. You should do the Galleri test.’”
After a bit of reflection, Bernice added the test to her assessment, never imagining anything would come of it. She went on to her assessment day, surprised at how much she enjoyed the experience. “It was almost like being at a spa. I was guided through all the various stations, and it was really very nice,” she said.
But then a few weeks later, she got some unexpected news.
The phone call she didn’t expect
One afternoon, Bernice was attending a concert with a friend, when she received a phone call with MEDCAN as the caller ID.
She stepped out in the hallway to answer her phone, and this is when she experienced a moment, she recalled as, “very overwhelming.” Bernice was informed that her Galleri test had come back with a Cancer Signal Detected result, with the predicted site of origin as the colon – meaning that colon cancer might be present.
“I went very wobbly. My mind started racing. Did he say I have cancer?”
During the call, it was explained to Bernice that a Cancer Signal Detected result is not a diagnosis, and that follow-up testing would be required to investigate further. She was assured that Medcan would support her every step of the way, helping her get a definitive answer and work with the appropriate professionals to support treatment if required.
When a Galleri test comes back with a Cancer Signal Detected result, Medcan works with clients to support follow-up investigations as quickly as possible. Because the test provides a predicted site of origin, this process typically begins with targeted imaging and other diagnostic tests to look for evidence of cancer in the area identified. In many cases, a final diagnosis is confirmed through pathology, such as a biopsy, where tissue samples are examined under a microscope. (Learn more about the Galleri test and process here.)
For Bernice, the next step was a colonoscopy, which she was able to complete at Medcan. It was there that the diagnosis was confirmed: she had colon cancer.
“I was absolutely shocked,” she says. “I remember shaking, but my Medcan team was kind and supportive.”
“All I could think about was that I needed to see my son get married one day and have children. So, I wasn’t going anywhere, thank you very much!”
Bernice had no symptoms. While she was waiting for the results of the Galleri test, she also got the results of her recent fecal immunochemical test (FIT test), which is a common colorectal cancer screening tool. Bernice's FIT test result had come back normal.
“When the FIT test came back normal, I start thinking, ‘Well, maybe nothing's wrong after all.’” She said. “But then, I did a colonoscopy that confirmed the cancer was there.”
A FIT test is an at‑home test that involves collecting a small stool sample and sending it to a lab for analysis. It is part of routine screenings and is generally recommended every two years. For many years, the starting age for testing was 50. However, recently given more cases of colon cancer in younger patients, the screening age in Ontario was changed to 45. If blood is detected in a FIT sample, the next step is a colonoscopy to investigate further and rule out or diagnose colorectal cancer.
At Medcan, our standard of care is to use colonoscopy because FITs tests can miss up to 20% of cancers. This is why at Medcan we have long championed colonoscopy as a cornerstone of proactive health, rather than a reactive diagnostic tool, and have an onsite endoscopy suite at our Toronto location where we provide both OHIP funded and private pay proactive colonoscopies.
Colonoscopy allows physicians to identify and remove precancerous polyps before they progress. According to Medcan’s Clinical Director of Endoscropy, Dr. Axler, “This distinction is fundamental. Colonoscopy doesn’t just find cancer; it can stop it from developing,” Dr. Axler explains. (For more information on colorectal cancer screening and colonoscopy, read our article on this topic).
Following her diagnosis, Bernice's care team moved quickly. She was quickly referred to Etobicoke Surgical Partners where CT scan was ordered and came back negative for metastasis (the cancer had spread).
Within one month of diagnosis, she had surgery – called a lower anterior resection laparoscopically – where her cancer was removed. “People are always shocked when I tell them how quickly the treatment happened,” she says. “And thank goodness it did.”
People are always shocked when I tell them how quickly the treatment happened, and thank goodness it did.- Bernice Smith Horne, Medcan client
"Medcan moved quickly and efficiently. The referrals, specialist consultations, diagnostic testing, and follow-up appointments were coordinated in a way that removed uncertainty during an incredibly stressful time. Rather than feeling lost in a complex healthcare system, I felt supported and guided through each step. The process was streamlined, timely, and compassionate,” said Bernice.
Her surgery took place just weeks after her colonoscopy, and because her cancer was detected at an early stage, the tumor was limited to the colon only where surgery was the only treatment required. Bernice did not require chemotherapy or radiation.
“When the surgeon told me he took nearly 12 inches, that was a bit of a shock.” But, after reviewing everything following surgery, she received news that every patient hopes to hear that the cancer had been successfully removed.
From resistant to a champion for prevention and early screening
Today, Bernice is back to her normal routine and feeling well. Looking back, she sometimes finds it hard to believe the experience happened at all. "Sometimes I think, ‘Did that really happen to me?’”
She's also become a passionate advocate for proactive screening and preventive health. "I tell people about the Galleri test all the time now,” she said. “It’s really an investment in your health and your life.”
I tell people about the Galleri test all the time now. It’s really an investment in your health and your life.- Bernice Smith Horne, Medcan client
For Liam, the experience reinforced a tenant he’s long believed in that early detection can save lives. “I’ve always been of the mindset that we don’t know exactly how to cure cancer, but if you detect it early, that’s the best scenario to be in.” he said.
For Bernice, a single decision made during a routine health assessment ultimately changed the course of her future.
“Looking back, I still find it difficult to believe how fortunate I was. I had no symptoms whatsoever. I felt healthy, energetic, and active. I exercised regularly, enjoyed yoga, Zumba, strength training, and maintained a healthy diet, never smoked, and rarely drank alcohol. Cancer was the furthest thing from my mind.”
Take action
The Galleri® test by GRAIL sets the standard for multi-cancer early detection and is ideal for those who are seeking a more proactive approach to cancer screening. Through a single blood draw, this innovative, clinically validated test screens for 50+ cancer types, like pancreatic and ovarian, before they become symptomatic, maximizing the opportunity for early diagnosis, when treatment can be most effective. It is meant to complement, not replace, routine cancer screenings as part of a comprehensive approach to cancer prevention and early detection. Learn more.
This article was written by Medcan’s editorial team in collaboration with Medcan’s innovation team. The client has given consent to share this story.
This content is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult a Medcan clinician or your healthcare provider for guidance tailored to your health needs.
Galleri is a registered trademark of GRAIL, Inc.
Important Safety Information: The Galleri test is recommended for use in adults with an elevated risk for cancer, such as those age 50 or older. The test does not detect all cancers and should be used in addition to routine cancer screening tests recommended by a healthcare provider. The Galleri test is intended to detect cancer signals and predict where in the body the cancer signal is located. Use of the test is not recommended in individuals who are pregnant, 21 years old or younger, or undergoing active cancer treatment. Results should be interpreted by a healthcare provider in the context of medical history, clinical signs, and symptoms. A test result of No Cancer Signal Detected does not rule out cancer. A test result of Cancer Signal Detected requires confirmatory diagnostic evaluation by medically established procedures (e.g., imaging) to confirm cancer. If cancer is not confirmed with further testing, it could mean that cancer is not present or testing was insufficient to detect cancer, including due to the cancer being located in a different part of the body. False positive (a cancer signal detected when cancer is not present) and false negative (a cancer signal not detected when cancer is present) test results do occur.
Lab / Test information: The GRAIL clinical laboratory is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) and accredited by the College of American Pathologists. The Galleri test was developed and its performance characteristics were determined by GRAIL. The Galleri test has not been cleared or approved by the Food and Drug Administration. This test is not Health Canada or FDA approved, and has not been endorsed by any professional medical societies at this time. The GRAIL clinical laboratory is regulated under CLIA to perform high-complexity testing. The Galleri test is intended for clinical purposes.
