At just 30 years old, Jackie Wenzel of Little Silver, NJ, received life-altering news: she had uterine (endometrial) cancer. But for Jackie, the story didn't begin with that diagnosis; it began much earlier, written into her DNA.

Understanding the MSH2 Mutation and Lynch Syndrome

Lynch syndrome runs in Jackie's family. The MSH2 gene mutation, passed down through generations, significantly raises the lifetime risk of several cancers, including colorectal, uterine, and ovarian cancer. Jackie grew up knowing this was part of her family's story, but knowing and truly understanding her hereditary cancer risk were two different things. When it came time to pursue genetic testing, she was nervous. Learning that you carry a mutation that predisposes you to cancer is a heavy thing to sit with, and like many people, she wasn't sure she was ready for that answer.

But the testing turned out to be something she hadn't anticipated: a relief.

Knowledge as a Roadmap for Prevention

Knowing she carried the familial MSH2 mutation didn't sentence her; it empowered her. It gave her a roadmap for cancer prevention. It meant she could be proactive, informed, and prepared rather than caught off guard. That knowledge became the foundation for everything that followed.

For more than a year before her diagnosis, Jackie had experienced heavy bleeding that soaked through pads in minutes, cycles that lasted up to three weeks, and painful cramping and exhaustion. Even at 30, with a confirmed genetic risk factor in hand, medical providers brushed off her symptoms as hormone-related. But Jackie trusted her instincts and kept pushing. Her persistence finally paid off when further evaluation led to a hysteroscopy that revealed endometrioid adenocarcinoma.

Fertility-Sparing Treatment 

Faced with a devastating diagnosis and an agonizing decision, Jackie chose fertility-sparing treatment rather than an immediate hysterectomy. For nearly two years she endured repeated biopsies, several hysteroscopies, and high-dose progesterone therapy, a fight that was grueling, but deeply rooted in hope to one day start a family of her own.

Against the odds, Jackie and her husband Michael welcomed their first daughter in November 2020, and their second in June 2022. These children, she says, are her miracles.

With her family complete, Jackie made the courageous decision to have a radical hysterectomy in late 2022, removing her uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. At 35, she was thrust into surgical menopause but she was cancer-free, clear-eyed, and ready to write a new chapter.

And that chapter has a philosophy at its center: control the controllables.

The Power of Proactivity: Taking Control With Lynch Syndrome

Jackie can't change her DNA. She can't undo the MSH2 gene mutation or erase her family history. But she can show up for her regular Lynch syndrome screenings, nourish her body with intention, prioritize sleep, manage stress, and make daily choices that stack the odds in her favor. These modifiable lifestyle factors — the things within her power — became her focus, her practice, and ultimately her purpose.

Today, Jackie is a board-certified health and wellness coach and proud founder of Really Well with Jackie, where she helps other women build healthy, intentional habits to reduce their risk of chronic disease and live their best lives — especially through the unique challenges of menopause. Her coaching is personal because her why is personal: she knows firsthand what it means to face a cancer diagnosis and wish you had more tools, more knowledge, and more support.

Her advocacy reaches even further. Jackie serves on the board of Lynch Syndrome Awareness and Education, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals and the medical community with the knowledge and resources to navigate life with Lynch syndrome, working to ensure that others get the answers she had to fight so hard for.

Perhaps her most powerful message is this: "I likely wouldn't be here if I hadn't listened to my body and pushed for answers."

If you have a family history of cancer, don't wait for symptoms to demand your attention. Get tested. Understand your hereditary cancer risk and your screening schedule. And then do the work of controlling what you can. Because that work matters more than you know.

Jackie's journey is not just one of survival. It's a story of empowerment, resilience, and the profound difference that knowledge makes. When your body speaks, and when science gives you a warning, don't stop asking questions until someone listens.

jscreen is endeavoring to make hereditary cancer testing accessible and convenient. This genetic testing is guided by experts every step of the way. Patients can order testing from home and connect with a licensed genetic counselor who helps interpret their results and determine appropriate next steps. The process includes an easy at-home saliva kit, comprehensive testing through a clinical laboratory, and clear explanations of results so patients understand what they mean for their health and their family members. By removing barriers like travel, confusion about testing options, and limited access to genetics professionals, jscreen empowers you to take a proactive role in understanding your cancer risk and making informed decisions about screening, prevention, and care.

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