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Donna J. Gainer fuels her active lifestyle of hiking, bicycling and gardening with a health-conscious diet of mostly whole foods. So, when the 64-year-old received news that she had colorectal cancer in autumn 2025, a wave of emotions hit her.
"My first thought was the heartbreak I felt knowing I would have to call my son to tell him about the cancer diagnosis," recalls Donna. "My second thought was shock that I could have developed cancer with my lifestyle. A cancer diagnosis did not make sense."
Colon cancer screening
Donna's journey began in June 2025 after a colon cancer screening returned abnormal results. Her primary care physician then referred her to Mayo Clinic's Gastroenterology Department for a diagnostic colonoscopy, which identified two polyps in the bends of her colon and one near her appendix.
The complexity of Donna's colonoscopy results prompted further consultation with Dr. Michael Wallace, a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist. Dr. Wallace shared that, in many cases around the world, large polyps at difficult-to-reach locations in the colon are typically removed surgically.
"Fortunately, here at Mayo Clinic, we have sophisticated techniques for removing even these advanced and large polyps through endoscopy or colonoscopy," says Dr. Wallace.
A review of Donna's case with a multidisciplinary care team led to a plan using two advanced treatments that reduced the risk of recurrence while mitigating the need for more intensive surgery: endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and endoscopic mucosal resection.
Dr. Vivek Kumbhari, a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist, partnered with Dr. Wallace on Donna's care.
"Care like this is never delivered in isolation. Before the procedure, Dr. Wallace and I carefully reviewed her case and determined that a comprehensive, single-session approach was in her best interest," says Dr. Kumbhari. "That level of collaboration ensures that every decision is thoughtful, evidence-based and tailored specifically to the patient. It's one of the defining strengths of Mayo Clinic."
Donna underwent her comprehensive endoscopic resection at Mayo Clinic in November 2025. She recalls feeling less apprehensive about undergoing the resection than the colonoscopy, citing the thorough yet compassionate care from Dr. Wallace and confidence in Dr. Kumbhari's expertise and ability to operate inside the colon.
"I felt really special that (Dr. Kumbhari) was the one doing my surgery," says Donna. "What meant the most was how warm and reassuring he was when he sat with me before surgery and explained everything. I felt truly blessed to have him as my surgeon."
During the single outpatient procedure, Dr. Kumbhari removed all three polyps without incisions, preserving Donna's organ function and quality of life.
"That is exactly what modern, patient-centered cancer care should look like," says Dr. Kumbhari.
In a final review of Donna's case, her care team concluded that since Dr. Kumbhari removed all three polyps in one outpatient procedure using advanced techniques, further surgery and its associated risks — including sphincter injury, incontinence or colostomy — were not needed. Donna remains under close surveillance by Dr. Wallace, undergoing endoscopic ultrasound, CT scans and lab work every 90 days.
Since her procedure, Donna has returned to the lifestyle she enjoys, including her outdoor activities.
"I continue to live each day with gratitude, and I am humbled to have two brilliant and skilled surgeons who truly saved not only my colon, but my life," says Donna. "I was back to my daily routines within 24 hours, sometimes forgetting that I underwent a 3-hour procedure."
Donna raises awareness about colorectal cancer by sharing her story in the hope of inspiring even one person to get a screening colonoscopy, even if they consider themselves healthy.
"I want people to know that colon cancer is one of those diseases that can grow silently, without symptoms," says Donna. "Imparting that message is worth sharing a personal and private part of my life."
