Survivor Turns Experience Into a Commitment and Career Choice

Andrea's Story: Diagnosis at 25, Stage I colon cancer

Andrea Bruno was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at the age of 16. She was so embarrassed by her symptoms that she hid it from her friends and family. When she finally got the courage to join a support group, she discovered it was "okay" to open up about her experience. She was doing well accepting her condition and was successful at keeping her Crohn's at bay.

At age 25, she began experiencing worrisome symptoms. For more than a year, these symptoms were misdiagnosed because of her youth. Through her own research, she knew that Crohn's disease increased her risk of developing colon cancer, so she began looking for a physician who understood her risks. Her doctor found a stricture during a colonoscopy, and biopsies confirmed that the stricture had become malignant.

Andrea is a great example of how to be your own advocate, and she has turned her experience into something positive. "At the time of my diagnosis I realized the career path I had originally chosen wasn't for me (business)," says Andrea. "Through all of my research both before and after my diagnosis, I became very interested in endoscopy. With encouragement from my doctor, I switched career gears and started training to become an endoscopy technician. I'm also currently furthering my education in healthcare. Through my battle with Crohn's and cancer, I've found my calling."

She’s come a long way from the embarrassment experienced in her youth. Today, Andrea is a very vocal advocate for early detection via screening. In addition to her job as an endoscopy technician at Gulf Coast Endoscopy Center in Fort Myers, Florida, she travels regularly to other local healthcare facilities and clinics to speak with doctors, advocating early screening for their patients and highlighting some of the risk factors that can be found in younger populations. Andrea also serves as a committee member, and is the support group facilitator, for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, Fort Myers Chapter.

Today, Andrea has begun taking her story of survivorship public and is committed more than ever to educating others about screening, early detection and the importance of "listening" to your own body.