Patrick Dempsey Joins Guardant Health Campaign to Raise Colorectal Cancer Awareness and Encourage Lifesaving Screening
Guardant Health, a leading precision oncology company specializing in advanced blood-based cancer detection technologies, has launched a powerful new awareness campaign featuring actor, race car driver, and longtime cancer advocate Patrick Dempsey. The emotional initiative shines a spotlight on the devastating impact of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the United States while encouraging eligible adults to prioritize routine screening through accessible testing options, including Guardant Health’s FDA-approved Shield™ blood test.
The campaign centers on a moving tribute to the more than 55,000 Americans expected to lose their lives to colorectal cancer this year, many of whom were not up to date with recommended colorectal cancer screening. Through personal stories, heartfelt reflections from grieving families, and Dempsey’s call to action, the campaign underscores a critical public health message: colorectal cancer is often preventable and highly treatable when detected early through regular screening.
By combining emotional storytelling with education about modern screening technologies, Guardant Health hopes to increase awareness, reduce barriers to testing, and encourage millions of Americans to take proactive steps toward protecting their health.
Addressing One of America’s Deadliest Cancers
Colorectal cancer remains one of the most significant cancer-related health challenges facing the United States.
Despite major advances in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, thousands of Americans continue to die from the disease every year—many because their cancer was not detected until it had reached an advanced stage.
Medical experts consistently emphasize that early detection dramatically improves survival rates.
When colorectal cancer is identified before symptoms develop, treatment is often more effective, less invasive, and associated with substantially better long-term outcomes.
However, many eligible adults continue delaying or avoiding recommended screening.
According to Guardant Health, more than 50 million Americans who qualify for colorectal cancer screening remain overdue, leaving themselves at increased risk of developing advanced disease.
The company’s latest campaign seeks to change that reality by encouraging individuals to view screening as a simple but lifesaving preventive measure.
Patrick Dempsey’s Commitment to Cancer Awareness
Patrick Dempsey has long been recognized for his commitment to cancer advocacy.
Following his mother’s experience with ovarian cancer, Dempsey became actively involved in supporting cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and research initiatives.
His advocacy has included fundraising efforts, awareness campaigns, and support for organizations dedicated to improving cancer care.
In Guardant Health’s new campaign, Dempsey uses his public platform to encourage Americans to prioritize colorectal cancer screening before symptoms develop.
Rather than focusing solely on statistics, he emphasizes the personal impact that cancer has on families and communities.
He highlights the importance of making screening convenient and accessible while reminding viewers that early detection can save lives.
According to Dempsey, many colorectal cancer deaths are preventable through routine screening, making participation one of the most important healthcare decisions eligible adults can make.
Honoring Lives Lost to Colorectal Cancer
At the heart of the campaign is a tribute honoring individuals who lost their lives to colorectal cancer in recent years.
The film recognizes not only their personal stories but also the lasting contributions they made to their families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities.
Many featured individuals were themselves passionate advocates for colorectal cancer awareness during their lives.
By sharing these stories, Guardant Health aims to transform abstract statistics into deeply human experiences.
Each life remembered in the campaign represents someone whose legacy continues through family members now encouraging others to seek preventive screening.
The emotional storytelling reinforces that colorectal cancer affects far more than individual patients—it profoundly impacts spouses, children, parents, friends, coworkers, and entire communities.
The Importance of Early Detection
One of the campaign’s primary messages is that colorectal cancer often develops gradually, providing opportunities for early detection before symptoms appear.
Routine screening allows physicians to identify cancer at its earliest stages or even detect precancerous abnormalities before they become malignant.
Early diagnosis significantly increases treatment options and improves survival outcomes.
Unfortunately, many people postpone screening because they assume they feel healthy, fear receiving a diagnosis, or perceive screening procedures as inconvenient.
Guardant Health hopes that increasing awareness of blood-based screening options will encourage more individuals to complete recommended testing.
The campaign emphasizes that choosing to be screened represents an investment in one’s future health and the wellbeing of loved ones.
Introducing the Shield Blood Test
Central to the campaign is education about Guardant Health’s Shield™ blood test, an innovative screening option designed to make colorectal cancer testing more accessible.
Shield is a blood-based screening test developed by Guardant Health using the company’s extensive expertise in oncology blood testing.
The organization has performed more than one million blood tests, contributing significant experience to the development of precision cancer detection technologies.
Unlike traditional screening methods that may require stool sample collection or invasive procedures as an initial screening approach, Shield uses a standard blood draw to screen eligible adults for colorectal cancer.
By simplifying the testing process, Guardant Health aims to reduce barriers that have historically discouraged many individuals from participating in recommended screening programs.
A Milestone in Blood-Based Cancer Screening
Shield represents an important advancement in colorectal cancer screening because it is currently the only FDA-approved blood-based screening test included in both the American Cancer Society (ACS) and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) colorectal cancer screening guidelines.
Inclusion within these nationally recognized clinical guidelines reflects growing acceptance of blood-based screening technologies as an option for eligible average-risk adults.
Guideline recognition also provides physicians with additional evidence supporting conversations about available screening options tailored to individual patient preferences and circumstances.
Guardant Health believes broader availability of blood-based testing may help increase overall screening participation among populations that have historically been less likely to complete traditional screening methods.
Encouraging Screening Beginning at Age 45
Current clinical recommendations advise that adults at average risk for colorectal cancer begin routine screening at 45 years of age.
This recommendation reflects growing concern over increasing colorectal cancer incidence among younger adults.
Although colorectal cancer has traditionally been viewed as a disease affecting older populations, recent epidemiological data indicate rising diagnoses in individuals under age 50.
As a result, healthcare organizations have lowered the recommended starting age for average-risk screening.
Guardant Health’s campaign specifically encourages adults aged 45 and older to discuss screening options with their healthcare providers and choose an approach that best fits their needs.
Colorectal Cancer’s Growing Burden
The campaign highlights several sobering realities regarding colorectal cancer in America.
According to national cancer statistics, colorectal cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.
Even more concerning, it has become the leading cause of cancer death among adults younger than 50.
These trends emphasize the importance of improving public awareness regarding both prevention and early detection.
Healthcare professionals continue stressing that screening should occur before symptoms develop because early-stage colorectal cancer frequently causes no noticeable warning signs.
Waiting until symptoms appear often allows disease progression that could otherwise have been prevented or treated more successfully.
Families Share Personal Stories
The campaign gains much of its emotional power from families who share memories of loved ones lost to colorectal cancer.
Rather than focusing exclusively on medical information, these personal accounts illustrate the profound human consequences of delayed diagnosis.
Their stories also reinforce the importance of honoring those who have passed by encouraging others to seek preventive care.
Remembering Doug
Among those memorialized is Doug, remembered by his wife Tracy Compton.
She describes him as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, and friend whose kindness, humor, and strength positively influenced everyone around him.
Family gatherings, weekly dinners, and vacations represented the moments he cherished most.
Following his passing from colorectal cancer in 2025, Tracy has become an advocate for screening awareness.
She emphasizes that many people avoid testing because they fear discovering cancer.
However, she reminds others that colorectal cancer can often be cured when detected early.
Through sharing Doug’s story, she hopes additional families can avoid similar loss.
Honoring Rose
Another powerful story comes from Eric Hausmann, who reflects on the life of his wife Rose.
Married for more than three decades, Eric describes Rose as his lifelong companion, strongest supporter, and closest friend.
Throughout a twelve-year battle with colon cancer, she demonstrated remarkable resilience while continuing to support those around her.
Despite facing advanced illness, Rose remained deeply committed to educating others about colorectal cancer.
She frequently encouraged complete strangers to undergo screening, believing passionately that early detection saves lives.
Her advocacy continued until the end of her life.
Her story now serves as a lasting reminder of the importance of awareness, early diagnosis, and ongoing progress in colorectal cancer prevention and treatment.
Celebrating David’s Legacy
Amy Duffy shares memories of her late husband David, whose creativity and determination remained unwavering throughout his battle with stage IV colorectal cancer.
An accomplished engineer and musician, David continued composing, recording, and producing original music despite undergoing cancer treatment.
His dedication to his family and artistic passions never diminished.
Amy hopes that sharing his story encourages others to prioritize preventive healthcare before symptoms emerge.
She believes David’s legacy now extends beyond his music by inspiring individuals to take action through colorectal cancer screening.
Improving Screening Participation
One of the primary goals of Guardant Health’s campaign is increasing screening participation.
Healthcare experts recognize that effective screening programs save lives only when eligible individuals actually complete recommended tests.
Guardant Health reports encouraging real-world experience with Shield.
Among approximately 200,000 patients who have used the blood test, more than 90% successfully completed screening.
This high completion rate suggests that reducing inconvenience may significantly improve adherence compared with some traditional screening approaches.
Improved participation has the potential to increase early cancer detection across broader populations.
Reducing Barriers to Preventive Care
Several factors contribute to delayed colorectal cancer screening.
Common barriers include:
- Fear of receiving a cancer diagnosis
- Lack of symptoms
- Limited awareness of screening recommendations
- Misconceptions about personal risk
- Scheduling difficulties
- Concerns about traditional screening procedures
Blood-based screening options may help address some of these challenges by providing an additional screening method that many patients find easier to complete.
Guardant Health emphasizes that offering multiple screening options allows patients and physicians to select approaches best suited to individual preferences and clinical circumstances.
The Role of Precision Oncology
Guardant Health has become a leader in precision oncology through development of advanced blood-based technologies used across cancer detection, treatment selection, and disease monitoring.
Its expertise in analyzing circulating biomarkers has supported innovations designed to improve earlier diagnosis while reducing reliance on more invasive testing methods.
The Shield blood test reflects the company’s broader mission of making cancer detection simpler, more accessible, and more widely available.
Advances in liquid biopsy technologies continue expanding opportunities for earlier identification of disease across multiple cancer types.
A Public Health Message
Beyond promoting a specific screening option, the campaign communicates a broader public health message.
Regardless of the screening method ultimately chosen, healthcare professionals consistently emphasize that being screened is more important than delaying care.
Eligible adults are encouraged to discuss available options with their physicians and select an approach they are willing and able to complete.
The campaign therefore focuses less on replacing existing screening strategies and more on increasing overall participation among the millions of Americans who remain unscreened.
Guardant Health’s new awareness campaign featuring Patrick Dempsey combines powerful storytelling with education to address one of the nation’s most preventable yet deadly cancers. By honoring individuals who lost their lives to colorectal cancer while highlighting the importance of timely screening, the initiative reminds viewers that early detection remains one of the most effective tools for reducing cancer-related deaths.
The campaign also showcases the growing role of innovative blood-based screening technologies such as the FDA-approved Shield™ blood test, which has demonstrated strong real-world screening completion rates and is recognized in leading clinical screening guidelines. Through personal stories from affected families, insights from a respected cancer advocate, and a clear call to action, Guardant Health hopes to encourage more eligible adults to discuss colorectal cancer screening with their healthcare providers and take proactive steps toward protecting their health.
Ultimately, the message is simple but profound: routine colorectal cancer screening has the potential to save lives, preserve families, and prevent future generations from experiencing the devastating losses remembered throughout this moving tribute.
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