From delay to diagnosis—a former IU Health Bloomington healthcare worker’s cancer journey

“I have worked in the healthcare field for nearly 40 years,” says former IU Health Bloomington nursing tech Kimberly Prunty. “It enhances your awareness and realization that one day you may be the one in need of care, but it doesn’t make you immune to the temptation of ignoring symptoms.”

Prunty knew the recommended age and guidelines for routine colonoscopies, but life was busy and she found herself putting the screening off again and again. Eventually, worsening symptoms led her to a primary care appointment, where her physician urged her to get a colonoscopy as soon as possible.

“During my procedure, my IU Health gastroenterologist, Bret Spier, MD, removed a large 5-centimeter polyp that tested positive for cancer,” Prunty says. “The news caused so many thoughts to swirl through my mind: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, missed days of work, and depending on family to get me to appointments that I might not be able to drive to on my own.”

She followed up with Spier, who said he was confident the cancer was completely removed but encouraged her to follow up with an oncologist. David Alejos, MD, confirmed chemotherapy and radiation were not necessary.

Her six-month follow-up colonoscopy was last February, and Prunty remains cancer-free.

“I praise the Lord for this outcome; it could have been much worse,” she says. “However, if I had not put off scheduling a colonoscopy, the polyp would have most likely been discovered before it developed into cancer.”

Prunty’s experience underscores the importance of regular colonoscopies to identify and remove polyps, especially those that are pre-cancerous, before the growths have the chance to turn cancerous.

Talk with your healthcare provider about if it’s time for you to schedule a colonoscopy.