As an employee of Rochester Regional Health, Maura Mayer is curious and attentive.
Maura, 35, has worked for 8 ½ years as a Patient Experience and Compliance Manager in Potsdam. In summer 2025, she received an email about GenoWell – a community health research program offering no-cost genetic screening.
“I have always been interested in genetics,” Maura said. “My father was adopted, so an entire half of my family’s health history has always been somewhat of an unknown.”
Starting the GenoWell screening process
Maura visited a Rochester Regional Health lab in Potsdam in July 2025 and took part in the screening through a simple blood draw.
“Everyone was very thorough,” Maura said.
While she did not know her father’s health history, Maura’s grandparents had colon cancer and pancreatic cancer, which made her cautious.
“If there is something in my DNA that could mean I should start certain screenings earlier, be monitored more closely, or simply have a conversation with my healthcare provider, I would rather know and have the opportunity to do something about it,” she said.
After a few weeks, Maura’s test results came back and the GenoWell team gave her a call to talk about the results.
Maura had a positive result for a harmful genetic mutation associated with Lynch Syndrome – the most common cause of inherited colorectal cancer, and other cancers including endometrial cancers.
Learning the results and taking the next steps
Shortly after receiving her results, Maura was contacted by a genetic counselor with GenoWell to discuss preventive screenings available to her.
Based on that conversation and in coordination with her primary care provider - Emily Wood, MD - Maura had an EGD (upper endoscopy) and colonoscopy, and was encouraged to undergo an annual skin exam, urine cancer screening, endometrial biopsy, and MRCP (pancreatic and biliary imaging).
The results led to conversations with her mother and siblings about genetic screenings.
“I was literally telling everyone about it. You just have to do these tests and it’s easy,” Maura said.
Both her mother and sister signed up for GenoWell and received their results – both of which showed a positive result for the genetic mutation associated with Lynch Syndrome.
Genetic screenings offer clarity
Finding the answers that she needed for herself and her family gave Maura clarity.
“More than anything, I want to be here for my kids. They are my biggest reason for wanting to take care of myself and be proactive about my health,” Maura said.
Beyond that, she hopes that sharing her experience with others could make a difference for someone else’s health.
“Knowing that my participation could have an impact beyond just my own health makes being part of GenoWell even more meaningful to me,” Maura said.
Better Health Is In Your Genes
Learn about your genetic risk for colorectal cancer through no-cost genetic screening with GenoWell, our community health research program.
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