Billings Woman's Routine Colon Cancer Screening Catches Disease Early

Minimally invasive surgery and early detection lead to better treatment options and recovery.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:05pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A translucent, ghostly X-ray image showing the detailed structure of a human colon, conveying the clinical nature of the story's focus on early cancer detection through preventive care.An X-ray image reveals the internal structure of the colon, highlighting the importance of early detection through routine screening.Billings Today

After losing her husband, Trudy Carey, a 70-year-old Billings, Montana resident, kept up with her routine colon cancer screening. The screening caught her cancer early, allowing her to undergo a successful minimally invasive surgery and avoid additional treatments like chemotherapy. Carey's experience highlights the importance of preventive care, even for older adults.

Why it matters

Colorectal cancer can develop without warning signs, and screening is crucial for early detection when treatment options are best. Carey's story shows how routine preventive care, even in the midst of personal grief, can lead to better health outcomes.

The details

During Carey's colonoscopy, doctors found a small abnormal area and sent the tissue for testing. A few days later, Carey received a call that the results showed cancer. She quickly underwent a CT scan and met with general surgeon Dr. Barry McKenzie, who performed a minimally invasive, robotic-assisted colon surgery on January 23. The surgery and Carey's subsequent recovery went smoothly, and her pathology results showed the cancer had not spread to her lymph nodes, allowing her to avoid additional treatments.

  • Carey underwent her colonoscopy screening.
  • Doctors found the small abnormal area and sent it for testing.
  • Carey received the call that the results showed cancer.
  • Carey met with Dr. McKenzie and underwent the robotic-assisted surgery on January 23.

The players

Trudy Carey

A 70-year-old Billings, Montana resident who kept up with her routine colon cancer screening after losing her husband of over 50 years.

Dr. Barry McKenzie

The general surgeon at Intermountain Health St. Vincent Regional Hospital who performed Carey's minimally invasive, robotic-assisted colon surgery.

Intermountain Health Gastroenterology team

The team that called Carey with the results of her biopsy, informing her that she had cancer.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“They said, 'We have the results, and it's cancer, and you need to get in right away for a CT scan.'”

— Trudy Carey

“The earlier we find colon cancer, the more options patients have, and the better the outcomes. Early screening lets us detect cancer before symptoms start, and when cancer is caught early, it can often be treated through surgery alone.”

— Dr. Barry McKenzie, General Surgeon

“There's just a lot of stress that goes with the recovery, especially on my own, and I was able to manage fine. I healed up amazingly well and I haven't had any problems with how the colon operates or what I could eat or anything.”

— Trudy Carey

What’s next

Carey plans to undergo another colonoscopy in one year as recommended by her physician.

The takeaway

Carey's experience highlights the importance of preventive care, even for older adults. Her story shows how routine colon cancer screening can detect the disease early, leading to better treatment options and recovery, even in the midst of personal challenges.