Dr. Addison Montgomery of Odgin could probably speak your ears about the importance of cancer screening. Of course, Dr. Montgomery is not a real person, but a character from ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy.” But her portrayer Kate Walsh can speak your ears just as much.
That’s because she partners with healthcare company Grail to educate people about early detection (MCED) testing options for multicancers through an initiative called possibilities.
Walsh, 57, understands that chatting with your doctor about anything can be intimidating. “I know. I’ve been playing a doctor on TV for most of the decade, and when I go to the doctor, I’m still very nervous,” she says, “to defend and argue. It could be intimidating.” Walsh usually takes her friends with her to take notes and asks questions she has forgotten.
But those uncomfortable doctor visits are worth it, she says. It can save your life.
Good question: People spend $20,000 at this resort to reveal secrets about their health. Is it worth it?
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When it comes to cancer, knowledge is power
Walsh has a close personal history with cancer. Her father died shyly on his 61st birthday, and his mother fought breast cancer. She also lost a friend with breast cancer and her parents have been diagnosed with various types.
Walsh is excited.
According to the American Cancer Society, multiple MCED tests are available. One such test is Grail’s Galleri. This is a blood test aimed at checking for more than 50 cancers in DNA fragments. It has not yet been approved by the FDA, but has been tested in clinical trials among over 385,000 participants. (I actually did a test last year so you can read more about my experience here.)
However, such tests are still unaccessible for everyone – Galleri costs $949, which is not covered by most insurance plans.
Even if a patient has access to MCED testing, this does not mean that they should skip routine cancer screenings such as breast, neck, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer scans. The long-term goal is that the MCED tests combine with all of these tests, the American Cancer Society explains. People can talk to their healthcare provider about it. Young people also need to chat with their doctors as cancer diagnosis increases between X and millennials.
But what makes early detection so fascinating is that it is an antidote to a reactive society. What if you can find cancer lurking in your body before you get sick? Knowledge is power, says Walsh.
Another “Glaze” Cancer Story: Patrick Dempsey has “anxiety” about cancer screening. Yes, even Dr. McDreamy.
“Unless someone chases me, I’m not a runner.”
Walsh faced a scared health nearly a decade before doctors discovered benign brain tumors. She had surgery and later discovered it was not cancer, but still gets scanned every few years. She thinks about life before and after the tumor.
Before she knows the details of the tumor, she says, “If this is (not fatal), I know, I’ll spend less work, more play, more time with my loved ones I’m going to continue and I kept those promises.
Walsh’s healthy lifestyle includes many staples. Yoga is a must, and she did Pilates for 20 years. She has since added weightlifting to her fitness routine. “When I was younger I thought, ‘Oh, that’s it, if you want to bulge,’ but now it’s great for bones and muscles, so I think I’m really hip to do regular weight training every week. “We’ve gotten more vulnerable as we get older,” she says.
She also loves to walk the beach. “I don’t run. I’m not a runner unless someone chases me. I don’t run with my weapon,” she jokes.
Dr. Montgomery, it sounds like a safe bet.
This story has been updated with new information.