The phone call came like a thunderbolt. Uncle Ren was at home in Xihu District, Hangzhou city, China, when the community doctor’s voice broke the news. “When I received the call from the community doctor, I was completely stunned.” Participating in the gastrointestinal tumor screening project had seemed like no big deal at the time—a simple check-up offered at the community health service center. He hadn’t thought much about it. But now, holding the positive report in his hands, disbelief washed over him. How could this happen? He felt fine.

Just two days later, under the guidance of his family doctor, he was following detailed instructions for the colonoscopy: a low-fiber diet starting three days before, then a clear-liquid diet the day before the procedure. Everything felt surreal. He told himself that this was all routine, that it was just a precaution, but deep down, the uncertainty gnawed at him.

The moment he let his guard down, another shock came. After the colonoscopy, the hospital called: “The results of the colonoscopy were not optimistic, and you need to be hospitalized for further surgery for diagnosis and treatment.” The words echoed in his mind, heavy with implications.

“I have prepared for the worst in my heart,” Uncle Ren admitted, as his family stood by his side, quietly accompanying him back to the hospital. They waited together as he was wheeled into the operating room. Every second felt like an eternity until, at last, they saw him being pushed out on a hospital bed, still groggy but alive. The operation had taken seven or eight hours, but it was over.

The doctor’s words, though sobering, carried relief: the cancer had been caught early. There would be no need for chemotherapy. Uncle Ren could return home soon, with only follow-up checks every few months. The worst had been avoided.

Lying in the hospital bed, he reflected on his narrow escape. He knew the outcome could have been much worse if he had ignored the screening opportunity. He grabbed his phone, calling relatives, friends, and colleagues, recounting his experience with heartfelt urgency. “You all need to go to the community for this screening,” he urged. He didn’t want anyone else to miss the chance that had saved his life.

“I was usually in good health and didn’t show any abnormalities. No one in my family had ever suffered from such a disease,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief. “It was really dangerous. If I hadn’t participated in this screening project, I don’t know when I would have discovered it.”

The screening program that saved Uncle Ren was part of a larger initiative carried out by the Health Bureau of Xihu District in collaboration with BGI Genomics. It covered 19,000 people, using a dual approach to catch colorectal cancer early: a fecal DNA methylation test for initial screening, followed by a colonoscopy for high-risk individuals.

“For people over 40 years old, the ‘fecal DNA methylation test (initial screening) + colorectal endoscopy (fine screening)’ model will effectively improve the prevention and control efficiency of this disease,” explained Zhou Shuangtao, East District General Manager of BGI Genomics.

The success of the project lies in identifying high-risk cases like Uncle Ren’s as well as ensuring follow-up care and treatment. Zhou emphasized that “early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment” can improve patient outcomes, reduce medical costs, and ease the burden on families and society.

For Uncle Ren, he had come too close to danger to stay silent. Each time he shared his story, he knew that someone might take action and potentially save their life, just as he had saved his own. And with each person he convinced to get screened, Uncle Ren felt a small but significant victory. His experience had become more than a personal battle—it was now a mission.

About COLOTECT®

COLOTECT® is a non-invasive fecal DNA test developed by BGI Genomics for detecting CRC and precancerous lesions. It uses multiplex methylation-specific PCR (MSP) technology to trace abnormal DNA-methylation biomarkers in CRC from stool samples. It has 88% CRC sensitivity, and for early detection, its sensitivity for advanced adenoma is 46%, which are both superior to conventional fecal tests.  

About BGI Genomics

BGI Genomics, headquartered in Shenzhen, China, is the world's leading integrated solutions provider of precision medicine. Its services cover more than 100 countries and regions, involving more than 2,300 medical institutions and 10,000 employees worldwide. In July 2017, as a subsidiary of BGI Group, BGI Genomics (300676.SZ) officially began trading on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.