I almost skipped my colonoscopy. I’m glad my mom convinced me to go.
As a founding member of the band Braid, Chris Broach spent decades performing and traveling the world. But in December 2019, he was forced to hit pause.
Chris was experiencing pain and discomfort on the left side of his abdomen. A scan revealed diverticulitis that improved after antibiotics. His doctor also recommended a colonoscopy to check for diverticulosis in his colon.
At the same time, Chris and his wife were planning a move overseas after she received a job offer. He was feeling better and getting ready to move the family to Sweden, so Chris said he decided not to bother with any follow-up.
“I almost skipped the colonoscopy,” he said.
But his mother, a former nurse, found out his doctor recommended a colonoscopy, offered to babysit the kids and urged Chris to undergo the procedure. So, Chris did have that colonoscopy. It revealed what would later be diagnosed as Stage 3 rectal cancer at age 44.
“I just had another colonoscopy that was clear,” said Chris, now 49. “I’m lucky to be here.”
During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March, Chris is sharing his story to help raise awareness around the importance of screenings and paying attention to possible symptoms of colorectal cancer (CRC).
The endoscopist who performed the colonoscopy marked the tumor for further evaluation but was fairly certain it was cancer. Thinking back, Chris said he couldn’t recall any symptoms. He did recall some blood in his stool, which he dismissed as “nothing major.” He didn’t recognize this as a possible CRC symptom and attributed it to his heavy drinking at the time. Chris wonders now if years of drinking could have contributed to his cancer.
The diagnosis was followed by radiation treatment and surgery in February 2020 to remove the cancer. When he woke up after surgery, Chris said he was “panicked,” “floored” and “frightened” to learn the cancer was Stage 3 and that he had what would be a temporary ileostomy. The surgeon also removed lymph nodes and a diseased portion of the colon affected by diverticulosis.
After surgery, Chris began chemotherapy, which resulted in pain throughout his body and what felt like constant sickness. He eventually found himself in an ambulance enroute to the hospital, when he suffered a heart attack induced by the 5FU (florouracil) treatment the same day it started.
In 2022, Chris underwent another surgery to remove 10 percent of his left lung after the cancer spread. He’s had a cardiac ablation procedure, regular CT scans and MRIs and numb fingertips and residual neuropathy in his feet from chemotherapy.
“So, you can see that not getting screened early can lead to many, many, many problems,” Chris said. "But I’m remaining positive about it because what else are you going to do.”
After his diagnosis, Chris urged his siblings to get screened. His brother and sister have since had colonoscopies, and his brother had polyps removed. Polyps have the potential to develop into cancer.
As a father of three, his cancer diagnosis refocused his efforts to address his challenges with alcohol and fight to get healthy for his children. The experience also inspired his work as a professional musician, motivating him to produce his own solo album and perform more as a guitarist in the indie emo rock band, Braid.
He’s reflected on a previous suggestion from his physician to consider taking a stool-based screening test, a suggestion that he didn’t think was necessary at the time.
“It just wasn’t on my radar as something I should have worried about,” he said.
Chris acknowledges that it can be difficult or embarrassing to talk about bathroom habits and your colon health. But if you see any symptoms, if your body is trying to tell you something, pay attention and don’t be afraid to see your doctor, he said. After all, who better to have embarrassing conversations with than your physician?
“If there are any problems or something you notice that’s not normal, don’t just live with it, go find out what’s going on,”
“If there are any problems or something you notice that’s not normal, don’t just live with it, go find out what’s going on,” Chris said. “You’d rather know early than to know too late.”
Visit colonoscopytoday.com to learn more about colonoscopies and colorectal cancer.
Visit the Colorectal Cancer Alliance’s Never Too Young (N2Y) Program for more information on young-onset colorectal cancer.
Chris Broach’s statements are his own and based on his experiences. You should speak to your doctor regarding your care as your doctor is your best source for information.
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Colorectal Cance Basics.” Rev. June 2024
