Standing Up to Cancer with Lynch Syndrome

Georgia Hurst is a fierce patient advocate for those with Lynch syndrome. Catch up on all of Georgia's blogs here!

What does standing up to cancer mean to me? It means showing up for my life, even knowing that cancer is not a distant possibility but a biological reality. As a Lynch syndrome previvor, I carry a genetic mutation that drastically increases my lifetime risk of developing cancers like colorectal, endometrial and ovarian. It is a weight I live with every day, but it has also given me clarity: cancer is the price we pay for being multicellular organisms. Our cells divide, mutate and adapt over time — it’sthe same process that makes complex life possible, and also makes it fragile.

Knowing that, I choose to fight where I can. Standing up to cancer for me is not a single heroic act. It’s a series of intentional choices, repeated every day. It’s in my morning routine, in the foods I eat, in the miles I walk, in the conversations I have with my doctors.

I follow a rigorous surveillance schedule. Frequent colonoscopies and endoscopies are a cornerstone of managing my risk. These screenings are uncomfortable, inconvenient and sometimes anxiety-inducing, but they are lifesaving. They allow me to catch abnormal growths early, when intervention is possible. For someone like me, waiting is not an option — vigilance is a matter of life and death.

I’ve also taken aspirin therapy, informed by research and reporting I’ve done on the subject, as another layer of protection. Aspirin may reduce colorectal cancer risk in people with Lynch syndrome, and while no intervention is perfect, it’s a measure that helps tip the odds in my favor. I am proactive, yet realistic. There are no guarantees.

Standing up to cancer is also about lifestyle choices that strengthen my body and mind. I prioritize exercise to maintain my heart health, bone density and overall resilience. I pay attention to what I eat, focusing on whole foods, fiber, fruits, vegetables and lean proteins, and avoiding processed foods. Each healthy meal and each workout is a small, tangible way of taking back control in a world where so much feels uncertain.

But standing up to cancer is not just about what I do for myself; it’s about sharing what I’ve learned and helping others navigate their risk. I write, speak and connect with people facing similar diagnoses, because knowledge is power. I translate complex medical research into actionable steps, sharing my experience with colonoscopies, surgical decisions, aspirin therapy, diet and exercise. I do it because I know how isolating it can feel to live with hereditary cancer risk, and I want no one to feel they are alone.

I’ve learned that courage isn’t the absence of fear — it’s acting despite it. I’ve grieved the body I had before preventive surgeries, the version of me that never thought about the cellular mechanics of cancer. I’ve faced surgical menopause, hot flashes, joint pain and the emotional toll of living with constant risk. I’ve also experienced hope: clean scans, days without pain, birthdays celebrated, milestones reached. These are my victories. They may seem small to others, but to me, they are proof that vigilance, lifestyle choices and courage can make a difference.

Standing up to cancer also means embracing perspective. Understanding that cancer is a natural consequence of being a multicellular organism allows me to see my risk not as a personal failure — it is part of the cost of being human. It reframes the fight: I am not confronting a weakness or flaw in myself; I am facing a fundamental biological reality. That perspective has given me both acceptance and resolve.

Ultimately, standing up to cancer is about living fully. It involves scheduling a colonoscopy, even when I dread it; choosing a salad over fast food; taking a walk on a gray afternoon; advocating for myself in the exam room; and writing to inform and uplift others. It is about showing up again and again, in both the quiet and visible moments of life.

What does standing up to cancer mean to me? It means taking control in a life constantly marked by risk; yet, making thoughtful, evidence-based decisions about my body, trusting my doctors, and caring for both my physical and emotional well-being. It means sharing my story and work to guide others through uncertainty and fear. It means acknowledging the realities of biology while refusing to let them define or limit me.

Cancer is a risk we cannot eliminate, but we can fight where we can, and we can live fully while doing it. Standing up to cancer is my daily choice — in my screenings, my diet, my exercise, my advocacy and my writing. It is a commitment to life, resilience and hope. It is not a one-time act; it is the art of living courageously in the face of a risk we all inherit simply by being human.

This piece reflects the author’s personal experience and perspective. For medical advice, please consult your health care provider.

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