Jodie Sweetin on Why Colorectal Cancer Screening Can’t Wait

Colorectal cancer is a conversation more people should be having, and a new campaign is making that easier to start. Abbott—the parent company of Cologuard, an at-home colorectal cancer screening test—recently launched “The (Second) Talk,” a nostalgic, sitcom-style commercial reuniting former Full House co-stars Jodie Sweetin and John Stamos to spotlight the importance of screening—and how simple it can be.

The timing feels especially urgent: Colorectal cancer remains the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. and the leading cause of cancer death among people under 50, yet many still delay or skip screening altogether. For Sweetin, it hits close to home. Keep scrolling to watch the commercial, then read our interview, where she opens up to NewBeauty about the experiences that shaped her perspective, how approaching 45 has shifted the way she thinks about prevention and the small, realistic steps she believes can make a meaningful difference.

I’d love to hear what drew you to speaking out about colorectal cancer right now.

“We’ve been talking a lot about it, and it’s the number two cancer killer in the country right now, but it is the number one killer of people under 50. It is being diagnosed so often in so many people who are younger and younger and younger.

I have several bits of personal experience with colorectal cancer. My best friend’s younger sister, who was in her early 40s, left behind her children and was not diagnosed until she had a C-section with her last kid. She passed not long after because it was stage four, and they couldn’t catch it.

Then another very dear friend of mine, right around the beginning of the pandemic, had been dealing with Crohn’s—or what they thought was Crohn’s—and it was getting worse and worse. She saw a new doctor, and they said, ‘Take this Cologuard test and let’s eliminate that.’ Within like 10 days, she was starting radiation and chemo and had part of her colon removed.

I know firsthand just how much it impacts people and how much we miss by not screening or thinking that screening has to be only a colonoscopy. Who wants to be drinking the prep? If there is an easier way that your doctor recommends, then why not? To be able to do it at home, there’s kind of no excuse. Oftentimes with colon cancer, you show no symptoms until it is really bad.”

Has learning more about colorectal cancer changed the way you approach your own health or preventative care?

“I probably worry a lot more about what I eat. It doesn’t mean I’m always eating healthy, but knowing that 45 is when they want people to start screening—I’ll be 45 in January—it’s made me much more conscious of what I’m putting in my body and trying to balance it with fiber, fruits and vegetables.

It’s hard. Our economy does not make eating healthy easy or cheap. Even fast food right now—you go to McDonald’s for three people, and it’s like $45. A lot of people are really struggling with eating foods that can help prevent certain cancers.

I have daughters who are almost 18 and almost 16, so I’m trying to remind them how important eating healthy is. Sometimes it sticks, and sometimes they eat Hot Cheetos for lunch, but it’s in the back of their head, and that’s what’s important.”

What stood out to you most when you learned how common colorectal cancer is and how many people still aren’t getting screened?

“I think people aren’t getting screened because of this hesitation that it’s an ordeal—that it involves drinking prep and staying home the night before and going somewhere in a gown.

Those are still incredibly important, but if we can make screening more accessible and less overwhelming, people are going to start earlier and feel less intimidated. With Cologuard, you do it at home. You ask your doctor about it, you don’t have to go anywhere. Better to know than not.

There are also a lot of people who can’t take days off work or can’t afford certain medical procedures. Hopefully, this brings screening and early detection to more people.”

I’m curious whether most people even know you can take a test at home…

“They will after they see our commercial. We definitely stress that it’s easy, it’s at home and we ship it to you.

People don’t want to leave their house to go get food these days, let alone go get a medical procedure. If we can make those early stages of screening as easy as possible, we’re going to catch more people early when it’s treatable.

If you can make healthcare and testing less intimidating and overwhelming, you’re going to save lives.”

As you approach 45, how are you thinking about staying on top of your health in a more intentional way?

“I’ve gotten back into a really good workout routine. I have a trainer one or two days a week, and I do heavy weight training, because women in perimenopausal age need to be lifting heavy weights.

I also do Pilates, dance and ride my bike—I try to stay active. I started doing it for my mental health a couple of years ago, and I noticed such a difference in my energy and how I feel.

When I’m moving my body, I’m more conscious of what I’m eating. Sometimes you still need the cheeseburger, but it all works together. Self-care builds on itself—the more you do, the better you feel. And it can also unravel the opposite way, so it’s about breaking that cycle.”

What makes a health step feel realistic to follow through with, especially for people with busy schedules?

“Make it small. Don’t try to overhaul your entire life in one go. That’s really tempting—I’m that person too—but it doesn’t stick.

Start with something manageable. Ask your doctor about the Cologuard test and get it sent to your home. That’s a relatively small step.

Little things add up—taking the stairs, moving your body. Once you start doing it, your body and mind connect in a way that reinforces those habits.”

Is there one change you’ve made that actually stuck?

“My workout routine. It wasn’t as much of a priority before, but now I see it as self-care in the same way as anything else.

It’s not optional anymore. You’re in this body for the rest of your life—you better take care of it.”

Last but not least, what would you say to someone who keeps putting off colorectal cancer screening but knows they shouldn’t?

“Get screened. Please, please, please get screened with the Cologuard test. It is so incredibly easy.

There are lots of ways to get screened, but this is something you can do at home. You can at least answer the question: is there a problem or not? And then go from there.

Just do what you can. There’s a lot to stick around for.”