For no other reason than to keep up with routine, Spartanburg woman Jackie Hodge knew it was time to see her primary care doctor for a checkup. 

But her bloodwork results revealed the unexpected: cancer. 

“He told me that I was severely anemic and that I was basically bleeding internally,” Hodge said. “I had no other symptoms. I was in complete shock.” 

Following a colonoscopy in 2022, Dr. Vikas Dembla and a team of providers at Gibbs Cancer Center confirmed borderline stage 3 colon cancer that was at risk of spreading to other essential organs. From there, Hodge’s multidisciplinary team put a treatment plan in place. 

“When I heard the news initially, I couldn’t wrap my head around it. The only thing I knew to do was pray and I just gave my disease to God,” she said. “God was very gracious to me, and he made me believe I was going to be OK.” 

Hodge underwent surgery followed by six months of chemotherapy. 

In the United States, approximately 150,000 new cases of colon cancer are diagnosed each year according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Since colorectal cancers often don’t present early symptoms before spreading to other parts of the body, it’s important to get screened. All individuals 45 and older should be screened for colorectal cancer by getting a routine colonoscopy, according to the American Cancer Society, regardless of whether they have any risk factors. 

Hodge has been in remission and has follow-up scans and appointments every three months to ensure the cancer has not come back. Apart from those checkups, she is back to living a normal and full life. 

“If I had not had my routine bloodwork done, I would have been dead. I have no doubt,” Hodge said. 

She said the experience has deepened her relationship with God and showed her to be thankful in all circumstances. 

“You have to be thankful for everything you have and have a grateful heart. That’s the most healing thing I can think of,” Hodge said. “It’s all in His hands.”