Survivor Martie Grof-Ianelli shares her experience and highlights the importance of screening.
March 27, 2023
(London, Ontario) – In 2010, at the age of 56, Martie Grof-Iannelli underwent her first colonoscopy at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). Despite having no family history of colon cancer, her symptoms of extreme fatigue and being at an age of increased risk of colon cancer prompted her primary care physician to refer her for a diagnostic colonoscopy.
It’s a good thing she underwent the test because she was diagnosed with late-stage colon cancer.
“At first I thought I was just fighting a cold or flu or another illness like that. I had no other symptoms that would indicate it was colon cancer,” says Martie Grof-Iannelli, colon cancer survivor and LHSC patient. “I am so grateful that my doctor suggested a colonoscopy,” Martie expresses. “I am alive today because of my doctor and because of the people at LHSC.”
Since Martie was diagnosed with late-stage cancer, she was able to get surgery to remove the cancer about 10 days after the biopsy results confirmed her diagnosis. After undergoing surgery, she was told that based on the advanced nature of the disease, she had probably been living with cancer for about 10 years. If she had started screening regularly at age 50, they may have caught the cancer sooner.
Following surgery, Martie began chemotherapy, experiencing a range of side effects such as dry mouth and numb hands and feet. Despite the enormity of Martie’s diagnosis, her positive and solution-oriented attitude served her well through her treatment. She relied on her sense of humour and solid support network to get her through some of the toughest times.
“I gave myself no other choice than to believe I was going to get through it all,” Martie says. “I feel like we put ourselves into a mental box as soon as we’re given difficult news like a cancer diagnosis. I truly think that mental perspective has an impact on how and whether you recover. Not to say it hasn’t been challenging. I had my bad days when I was experiencing side effects from the chemo where I felt like I couldn’t go on, but my husband was there by my side to remind me that that wasn’t the mindset I wanted to keep. He kept me focused on my goal of getting better.”
Thirteen years later, Martie remains cancer free. She continues to monitor her condition and gets screened regularly for other cancers because cancer cells can migrate through the body and she wants to catch it early.
Martie is grateful for the excellent care she received. “Bless the nurses and doctors, they were truly angels of mercy. They kept me alive and I’m forever grateful for their compassion, patience and amazing care.”
Adults aged 50-74 should get checked for colon cancer, even if no one in their family has had the disease. Getting tested for cancer regularly is critical for early detection and treatment. Today’s screening guidelines recommend starting Fecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT) at age 50 to reduce your risk of colon cancer through early detection.
You can access a FIT test through your primary care provider. More information about screening for colorectal cancer can be found on Ontario Health’s website.
Visual assets for media
Credit: Luc Lemieux
Martie is available to speak to the media about her story, and the importance of colon cancer screening.
For more information, please contact:
Elizabeth (Beth) Summers
Senior Media Relations Consultant
London Health Sciences Centre
519-685-8500 x 77767
media@lhsc.on.ca
