From employee to patient: Allison’s unexpected journey

As an Exact Sciences (now Abbott) employee, Allison wanted to be one of the first to try the Cancerguard test she helped launch. She never imagined she would be among the few who receive a positive result. Remembering that moment, Allison says, “It felt like something within me exploded, and I felt it through every part of my body.” Because she was familiar with how the test worked, Allison understood a positive result wasn’t the same as a cancer diagnosis. Still, she needed answers.

A series of follow-up CT scans soon brought clarity. Doctors found a 22-centimeter tumor—nearly the size of a football. Allison was diagnosed with Stage 1 mucinous ovarian cancer, a rare type of cancer often referred to as “silent” because it’s normally not found until a much later stage.

After discovering the tumor, Allison’s care team moved quickly. Her Cancerguard Care Navigator, a registered nurse, helped coordinate appointments and provided support during this overwhelming time. Soon after, Allison met with an oncologist and underwent surgery that successfully removed the cancer. Looking back, she says, “It’s remarkable how quickly everything progressed. From the day my test detected a cancer signal to the day I was declared cancer-free was only six weeks.”

For Allison’s colleagues, her experience validated all their hopes for the test. “It was a huge relief. The test worked. It’s supposed to pick up cancers that otherwise wouldn’t be found at an early stage when treatment can be effective,” explains, David Harding, SVP, MCED at Exact Sciences.

Today, Allison is cancer-free and forever changed. While she used to be a serial planner, she now embraces spontaneity and pushes herself to try new things. Her new mantra? “Live every day—and make it count.” And thanks to early detection, she has the chance to do just that.