As a health coach, I care deeply about helping people build healthier routines. We talk about what you eat, how you move, how you handle stress, and how you sleep, but we often overlook the importance of early screening for disease. Getting screened to catch problems early, especially for colorectal cancer, is one of the quickest ways to protect your health.

I know how busy life can feel; juggling work, family and caring for loved ones leaves little extra time, so it is easy for screenings to slip down the list. But getting screened is now easier than ever.

While traditional screening methods such as a colonoscopy are still the gold standard, the Shield test by Guardant Health, a leader in precision oncology, is making screening more accessible. Shield is the first blood test approved by the FDA for primary colorectal cancer screening in people aged 45 and older who are at average risk. It can be done during a regular doctor visit with little disruption to your day-to-day life.

Colorectal cancer is highly preventable when caught early. But even though colorectal cancer has up to a 91 percent survival rate when caught early, more than 2,240 Pennsylvanians will lose their lives to the disease this year.

Healthy habits go beyond food and exercise. Taking small steps now, like scheduling a screening, can make all the difference.

Vicki Lightcap
Pennsburg, PA