Brian Cross doesn’t take a single day outside for granted.

At 77, the lifelong Vermonter and Jericho resident loves to be on the move—whether he’s snowmobiling in winter, four-wheeling through the woods, hunting in the fall, or squeezing in a round of golf when the weather cooperates. Staying active has always been part of who he is. Today, it’s also something he feels deeply thankful for.

Brian is a two-time colon cancer survivor, and he credits regular colorectal cancer screening with saving his life.

More than 20 years ago, Brian was diagnosed with colon cancer for the first time. The tumor was caught early during a routine screening and removed before it could spread. After that experience, regular colonoscopies became a nonnegotiable part of his health care routine. For years, those screenings were uneventful. No cancer, no bad news.

Still, Brian kept showing up.

“The truth of the matter is,” he says, “if I’d have put this off six months to a year, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

During a routine colonoscopy in 2025, Brian’s physician, Jesse Moore, M.D., noticed a subtle abnormality. It was small—but it was cancer. And once again, it was caught early.

Brian doesn’t hesitate when he talks about what that means.

“He saved my life,” Brian says of Dr. Moore. “It was his diligence. He saw something that could have been missed.”

The experience has reshaped how he looks at time, health, and joy. And even though he’s had to take some days off snowmobiling, what he has done feels different now, richer somehow.

“I’ve missed a bunch this season,” he said, “but I’ve enjoyed what I’ve done perhaps more than I have in years.”

That perspective fuels Brian’s determination to speak up. He’s a vocal advocate for consistent, regular colorectal cancer screening, even when everything feels fine and previous tests have been clear.

“I want people to understand,” he said. “Years of negative screening results doesn’t mean you stop. You just keep going.”

For Brian, screening isn’t just about following guidelines. It’s about giving himself the chance to keep living the life he loves, with the people he loves, in the place he’s always called home.

“I’m still here,” Brian said simply. “And I plan to keep going as long as I can.”

Learn more about colorectal cancer screening options here.