Oftentimes, we assume health issues will appear with sirens, but what happens when they show up silently? Haleema Burton was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in April 2023, and she didn’t have any evident signs or symptoms.
“I was in complete shock and felt like I’d been hit by a truck,” Burton says about learning she had Stage 1 colorectal cancer at the age of 45. The diagnosis also came as a shock because she didn’t have a family history of the disease. “I could not fully comprehend what the diagnosis meant.”
Colorectal cancer, which affects the colon or rectum, is the third most common cancer worldwide and accounts for around 10% of cases. When symptoms do show up, they can look like changes in bowel movements, rectal bleeding, abnormally dark stool, cramping, and sudden weight loss. Several weeks after being diagnosed, Burton met with her oncologist, who helped her better understand the diagnosis and next steps.
Prior to that diagnosis, it was a TV commercial that changed everything. During COVID, she saw several ads about the colonoscopy screening age decreasing from 50 to 45, which prompted her to mention it during a routine doctor’s appointment. Her physician then referred her to see a gastroenterologist when she turned 45 a few months later.
“There really was no one thing that made me bring it up to my doctor. It was just a task to check off my medical to-do list,” she shares.
That task potentially saved Burton’s life, and that’s why she encourages others not to wait to get screened even if they don’t have any symptoms.
“I felt healthy and had no reason to think that I wasn’t. It would have been very easy for me to dismiss going to get the colonoscopy for six months to even a few years,” she says.
Stage 1 colon cancer is primarily treated with surgery—polypectomy or partial colectomy—to remove the tumor. The 5-year survival rate also exceeds 90%, which is why early detection is key.
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is highest amongst Black, Alaska Native, and American Indians. Burton was able to find solace in the Black Outreach Subcommittee for Screening (BOSS), a Colorectal Cancer Alliance aimed at increasing awareness and reducing disparities within the Black community.
“The group provided me with a community of those who were at various stages in their colorectal cancer journey, along with allies whose loved ones had been affected by the disease,” Burton explains. “It was a safe space to listen, share, and feel connected to those who were experiencing a similar diagnosis.”
Burton has beaten cancer and is in an observation period for the next five years. Every six months, she’s required to do CEA bloodwork, which is used to monitor treatment effectiveness and detect cancer recurrence, especially in colorectal cancers. She still needs colonoscopy screenings, but has graduated to having them every three years.
She is currently doing advocacy work with BOSS, including sharing her story to raise awareness.
“I am typically a very private person, but through BOSS and the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, I have found that my story needs to be told because this disease disproportionately affects the Black community and there is an increase in diagnosis under the age of 50,” she says.
Post-cancer, Burton is intentional about how she spends her time and thoughtful about curating meaningful experiences. She’s living life to the fullest, and while doing so, maintaining her health is a top priority.
“I focus on ensuring that I continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle both mentally, physically, and nutritionally,” she says. “I also find myself encouraging others to get screened almost every day during conversations. It’s become a part of who I am now.”