{"id":91999,"date":"2026-07-27T13:50:53","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T19:50:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=91999"},"modified":"2026-07-27T14:02:03","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T20:02:03","slug":"chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\/","title":{"rendered":"At age 35, a mutated CHEK2 gene led to breast cancer, thyroid cancer and a colon cancer scare"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
\"Karissa
A Wyoming native and outdoor enthusiast, Karissa Goossen persevered through breast cancer, thyroid cancer and ongoing cancer surveillance after learning she carries a CHEK2 gene mutation. Photo courtesy of Karissa Goossen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While dealing with physical therapy after a mountain biking accident injury to her knee, Karissa Goossen was annoyed that a torn ACL was taking time away from her favorite hobbies of fly fishing, hiking and cycling.<\/p>\n

Little did she know that the coming months would bring enormous challenges far surpassing a damaged meniscus in her knee. The young Wyoming woman would face breast cancer, thyroid cancer and the beginnings of colon cancer in the space of a few months, and all when she was just 35.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs simple as it sounds, you just have to keep going,\u201d Karissa said. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to do when you think you are at the end, but nope, there is still something to learn. I\u2019ve always been an impatient person, and this has taught me a huge lesson to take it step by step, have goals \u2013 even little ones \u2013 and always be ready for what comes next.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Karissa
After countless miles traveled for treatment, Karissa Goossen now is focused on healing, rebuilding her strength and embracing life’s simple joys. Photo courtesy of Karissa Goossen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Two years later, Karissa credits her Colorado medical team with saving her life.<\/p>\n

\u201cI truly believe I wouldn\u2019t be here if it wasn\u2019t for the amazing team I have at UCHealth. From the doctors, nurses and even my favorite valet guy who gave me a big hug at every appointment.\u00a0They kept me going.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Karissa
Karissa Goossen, bottom center, says the doctors, nurses and staff who cared for her through multiple cancer diagnoses helped keep her going during the toughest moments of her journey. Photo courtesy of Karissa Goossen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Karissa would go. And go and go.<\/p>\n

She racked up thousands of miles on her black Toyota Tacoma truck as she made the 7-hour round-trip from her hometown of Douglas, Wyoming so many times she lost count. There were scores of appointments for visits with doctors, tests, scans, chemotherapy, radiation and follow-up exams.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you are trying to take care of patient who comes from a distance, it can be challenging. As a provider, you try to make it as easy as possible to coordinate everything,\u201d said UCHealth oncology nurse practitioner Brooke Ferguson, who was part of Karissa\u2019s care team.<\/p>\n

\"Karrissa
To help save her hair during chemotherapy, Karissa Goossen used cold cap therapy while undergoing treatment for Stage 3 breast cancer. Photo courtesy of Karissa Goossen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe had tears for sure, but she would keep getting up and showing up every time something knocked her down. Breast cancer is not a sprint, it\u2019s a marathon. Cancer or not, she is someone who has touched my life \u2026 she makes me want to show up and support my patients,\u201d Ferguson said. \u201cShe\u2019s just amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Karissa
An avid fly fisher, Karissa Goossen was frustrated when a knee injury sidelined her from her favorite outdoor pursuits shortly before her cancer journey began. Photo courtesy of Karissa Goossen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cAmazing\u201d is an attribute used by everyone who knows Karissa, including breast surgeon Dr. Colleen Murphy<\/a> at the UCHealth Breast Center \u2013 Cherry Creek.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cShe was a great partner in her care,\u201d Murphy said. \u201cThis has been such a long journey for her. She put so much trust in us, and we are so humbled and grateful when a patient does that. She reminds us why we do this work. She has always come in with a smile on her face even with setbacks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Katie Egan<\/a>, who was Karissa\u2019s reconstructive breast surgeon<\/a>, called her a \u201cwarrior.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe has met any challenge with complete grace. For someone who has faced so many different types of cancer at such a young age, she is unique in how she has taken it all in stride and faced every challenge at it comes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Karissa had no idea of the depth and breadth of the difficulties that were heading her way as she nursed a sore knee. She would need to draw down deep for the strength that would propel her through a tsunami of gut-wrenching diagnoses, but she would weather them all.<\/p>\n

A healthy, active Wyoming woman is stunned by breast cancer diagnosis at 35<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Born and raised in Douglas, a small town in east-central Wyoming about 45 miles east of Casper, Karissa always has loved small-town life. She was homeschooled through third grade and then attended a \u201crural school\u201d housed in a double-wide trailer with the children of ranchers.<\/p>\n

\"Karissa
For Karissa Goossen, time outdoors is more than recreation. \u201cThat was always my medicine, and that is the best medicine for me,\u201d she said. Photo courtesy of Karissa Goossen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From fourth through eighth grade, she and the other students were taught in two classrooms taught by two teachers, with her biggest class having four other students. After she graduated from high school, she moved to Casper, but four years ago a job opportunity in Douglas lured her back.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has its perks. Once I graduated and moved to Casper, I said I was never going back to Douglas but never say never. It\u2019s definitely different living in a small town as an adult, but I really enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aside from having her appendix out when she was 7, the ACL\/meniscus surgery in January 2024 to repair her right knee from a mountain biking accident was the only injury she\u2019d suffered.<\/p>\n

In February 2024, as she completed physical therapy for her knee, she noticed a discharge from her right breast, along with a lump. Too young for annual mammograms,<\/a> Karissa wasn\u2019t too worried, since she\u2019d had a manual breast exam six months earlier during her annual OB-GYN appointment and nothing had been amiss.<\/p>\n

But she was puzzled. She was a few months shy of her 35th<\/sup> birthday and was fit and healthy. Her job in the oil industry kept her active. Both her work and her many recreational activities allowed her to spend plenty of time outside. She wondered if perhaps she had a blocked duct, some type of infection or was having a hormonal reaction to medication.<\/p>\n

\"Karissa
Karissa Goossen with her family. Karissa joined fellow cancer patients and survivors at a Colorado Avalanche Hockey Fights Cancer game, where the hockey community recognized their courage and resilience. UCHealth is the Official Health Care Partner of the Colorado Avalanche and a longtime partner in the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative. Photo courtesy of Karissa Goossen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A few weeks later, she had imaging, including a mammogram<\/a> and an ultrasound. As she was getting dressed, the technician said a biopsy was necessary, and if she had time, the team could do it immediately. Before Karissa left, staff members told her that while the definitive answer would come a few days later with the biopsy results, they suspected that the lump was cancer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just trying to process all of this and hold it together, but I had no idea what was going on. I walked out to my truck, and I just lost it. I went into the exam thinking I had a blocked duct and came out thinking I had cancer.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a long weekend waiting to get the results. I didn\u2019t want to believe it, but I knew. Monday, they called me and said it was cancer. I was going in blind, but I had to begin piecing all of this together.\u201d<\/p>\n

A healthy 35-year-old woman suddenly faces Stage 3 breast cancer<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Fishing
Fishing has long been Karissa Goossen’s favorite pastime and a source of peace during her cancer journey. Photo courtesy of Karissa Goossen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Karissa was diagnosed with Stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma, a type of breast cancer that has spread from the milk ducts to the breast tissue and surrounding lymph nodes. It was also HER2- positive, meaning the cancer cells have the HER2 protein on its surface.\u00a0 While this cancer is an aggressive and fast-growing one, it also responds well to targeted therapies.<\/p>\n

Breast cancer in young women is more tenacious and typically more dangerous than when it occurs later in life.\u00a0Women ages 45 and younger account\u00a0for about 10% of new cases of breast cancer<\/a> in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Though 75% of young women have no family history of breast cancer, Karissa\u2019s cancer likely had a genetic component, as her fraternal grandmother had breast cancer.<\/p>\n

She was lucky she sought help early, as age 40 is typically the age recommended by medical experts for a\u00a0baseline mammogram<\/a>\u00a0(though women with a family history of breast cancer should speak to their doctor about whether to get one earlier).<\/p>\n

Younger women have a higher mortality rate from breast cancer because it is usually not caught as early as women 40 and older who receive annual mammogram screenings. Also, breast cancer in younger women usually involve\u00a0more aggressive biological features<\/a>\u00a0than in older women, for reasons doctors are currently researching.<\/p>\n

\"Karissa
Karissa Goossen during treatment. Members of Karissa’s care team said her ability to stay positive through every challenge inspired those around her. Photo courtesy of Karissa Goossen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, by the time a young woman notices a lump in her breast it\u2019s usually more advanced than if it\u2019s caught in a screening mammogram,\u201d said Murphy, also an associate professor of surgical oncology<\/a> at University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine.<\/a><\/p>\n

While eating well, exercising and living a healthy lifestyle like Karissa has always done are beneficial to reducing the risk of cancer, healthy habits do not guarantee that people will stave off cancer.<\/p>\n

Unique program helps young women who are battling breast cancer<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Karissa
Karissa Goossen, right. Genetic counseling revealed a CHEK2 gene mutation, prompting additional screenings that proved vital to Karissa’s care. Photo courtesy of Karissa Goossen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cYoung onset breast cancer is on the rise, and it\u2019s rising faster than the average age for other women, and we don\u2019t know all the reasons why,\u201d said Dr. Virginia Borges<\/a>, who specializes in young women with breast cancer at the UCHealth Diane O\u2019Connor Thompson Breast Center Anschutz.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happens, too often, is that young women present with a concern or a mass and the provider doesn\u2019t have breast cancer on their radar,\u201d said Borges, Karissa\u2019s oncologist and head of the Young Women\u2019s Breast Cancer Translational Program<\/a>. \u201cThe whole medical system has to put its antenna up in a new way for this.\u201d<\/p>\n

The program has been providing unique care to women 45 and younger with breast cancer and conducting ground-breaking research since its inception in 2004, with a strong focus on life after breast cancer.<\/p>\n

Hearing through a friend about the important work Borges has done with cancer and young women, Karissa knew she wanted to receive her care there, despite the distance from her home.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went down to UCHealth and met with Dr. Borges, and it was my saving grace. I hugged her and knew I was in good hands,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"Karissa
Known for her determination, Karissa Goossen approached each challenge with patience, resilience and optimism. Photo courtesy of Karissa Goossen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Because she was worried that any cancer treatment might harm her fertility, Karissa had to make a quick and important decision about harvesting her eggs before she started chemotherapy and radiation.<\/p>\n

In April 2024, a few months after her initial diagnosis, she began the arduous and sometimes painful process of harvesting her eggs. The ordeal included having to give herself injections (despite the fact she has never liked shots) and once even had to do it after she pulled over in a gas station parking lot on the way back to Wyoming from a doctor’s appointment.<\/p>\n

The next week, she began chemotherapy, arriving at UCHealth the night before her infusion treatments that lasted from the early morning through most of the day. A friend or relative would then drive her home to Douglas.<\/p>\n

To help save her hair, she used a cold cap treatment, which worked well, she said.<\/p>\n

In September, she underwent a double mastectomy and had four lymph nodes removed as well.<\/p>\n

After her surgery, she had to make several twice-weekly trips to fill her spacers to the correct size, then she completed 15 rounds of radiation.<\/p>\n

Spacers, or tissue expanders, create a pocket-like space that will eventually hold a breast implant, or in Karissa\u2019s case, a space for breast reconstruction using tissue taken from the lower abdomen.<\/p>\n

\u201cKarissa keeps going and keeps fighting. She is a warrior for sure; she has met any challenges with complete grace,\u201d said Egan, also a University of Colorado assistant professor of plastic\/reconstructive surgery.<\/a><\/p>\n

Karissa\u2019s mom, Cari, had no doubt that her middle child would forge through the health catastrophes that life was throwing at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s very determined and always has been.\u00a0 She\u2019s a very independent person. She\u2019s fearless.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Karissa\u2019s ordeal was far from over.<\/p>\n

\"Karissa
Karissa Goossen with her dog. Photo courtesy of Karissa Goossen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Genetic testing shows a CHEK2 gene mutation, increasing the risk for thyroid and colon cancers<\/strong><\/h2>\n

During the course of her breast cancer treatments, genetic counseling<\/a> showed Karissa had a mutation of the CHEK2 gene. We all have two copies of this gene, one from each parent, but women who have a CHEK2 gene mutation have an increased risk of breast cancer, thyroid cancer<\/a> and colon cancer.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Over
Over the course of two years, Karissa Goossen underwent fertility preservation, chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, radiation, thyroid surgery, breast reconstruction and additional chemotherapy after a cancer recurrence. Photo courtesy of Karissa Goossen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As a precaution, Karissa had an ultrasound and biopsy of her thyroid. The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the front of the neck. The hormones it produces control many important aspects of our health, including regulating our metabolism, growth, weight, energy level, internal temperature and skin, hair and nail growth.<\/p>\n

A few days before Thanksgiving 2024, and just three days before her radiation treatments for breast cancer had wrapped up, doctors told her she had thyroid cancer.<\/a><\/p>\n

Two weeks later, Karissa had her thyroid removed.<\/p>\n

At this point, Karissa was two for three in getting the cancers that come with having the mutated CHEK 2 gene. She and her doctors were concerned about her risk for the third one: colon cancer. New data from the American Cancer Society<\/a>\u00a0has highlighted the alarming danger of colon cancer to younger people.<\/a><\/p>\n

Because current screening guidelines recommend that screening for colon cancer begin at 45, Karissa likely would not have had a colonoscopy for several years if she had not known she had the mutated CHEK2 gene. Fortunately, during a colonoscopy, doctors found \u2013 and removed \u2013 several pre-cancerous polyps from her colon, and she will now undergo colonoscopies every five years.<\/p>\n

But after having battled cancer on multiple fronts, cancer was still not done with Karissa.<\/p>\n

Breast cancer returns through a skin lesion<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Karissa
Karissa Goossen. Photo courtesy of Karissa Goossen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In Spring 2025, Karissa was hoping the worst was behind her. She was having reconstructive surgery in May when Egan noticed a spot on her right breast near her collarbone that looked like a mosquito bite. Karissa thought it was just a skin irritation, but Egan didn\u2019t like the look of it.<\/p>\n

In June, a biopsy of the bump came back. It was HER2 cancer. Because of the cancer\u2019s spread, Karissa had to go through six rounds of chemo last summer, followed by skin graft surgery to remove the affected area of her breast, and an additional six rounds of chemo that she just completed in April of this year.<\/p>\n

Her doctors have marveled at her strength, stoicism and pragmatism in facing so many different types of cancer at such a young age.<\/p>\n

\u201cKarissa is super unique in how she has taken everything in stride and takes every challenge as it comes,\u201d Ferguson said. \u201cShe is just the essence of positivity. It\u2019s hard to maintain that through multiple setbacks but she just did. She asked, \u2018What do I need to do to get better?\u2019 She took every turn, and there were many, and stayed on course.\u201d<\/p>\n

Working in a ‘man\u2019s industry,’ Karissa has never backed down from a challenge<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A manager in the oil and gas industry, Karissa is accustomed to being self-reliant and independent.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t play the \u2018poor me\u2019 card. Either you do it or it doesn\u2019t get done,\u201d Karissa said.<\/p>\n

\"Karissa
Karissa Goossen. Photo courtesy of Karissa Goossen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While two years of battling several cancer diagnoses simultaneously has temporarily reduced her typically robust stamina, she\u2019s building her energy levels back and has a positive outlook.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe is rock strong and has amazing fortitude.,\u201d Borges said. \u201cWe\u2019re hoping we have the cancer on the run, and she will be able to look it in the rear-view mirror from here on end.\u201d<\/p>\n

With her treatments completed, Karissa plans to return to outdoor adventures and hopefully a new four-legged friend, as sadly, she had to say goodbye to her trusty companion of 12 years with the recent loss of her dog.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always in the back of your mind that cancer might still be in you, every ache or pain makes you question if it\u2019s back.,\u201d she said. \u201cThe emotions of what you have been through come in waves, sometimes you\u2019re OK, and other times you find yourself in tears talking or even just thinking about it. It\u2019s an odd feeling to be going about your day as if everything is normal, while inside, your world feels completely upside down.\u201d<\/p>\n

The miles she put on her truck were painful ones, but also therapeutic, as she had time to ponder what she has gone through and what she wants for her future.<\/p>\n

Last year, Karissa participated in a fly fishing retreat for women cancer survivors<\/a>, and she envisions spending the coming weeks and months at a local lake fly fishing, camping and hiking.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was always my medicine, and that is the best medicine for me \u2026 being out there is my peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While dealing with physical therapy after a mountain biking accident injury to her knee, Karissa Goossen was annoyed that a torn ACL was taking time away from her favorite hobbies of fly fishing, hiking and cycling. Little did she know that the coming months would bring enormous challenges far surpassing a damaged meniscus in her […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2357,"featured_media":92192,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5,7],"tags":[9190,655,6835,4801,28,3508,4842,49,2092,47,277,9189,212],"class_list":["post-91999","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-innovative-care","category-stories","tag-adult-genetic-testing","tag-breast-cancer","tag-breast-cancer-treatment","tag-breast-imaging-and-tests","tag-cancer-care-oncology","tag-cancer-care-patient-stories","tag-cancer-screening","tag-cancer-treatment","tag-colon-cancer","tag-genetic-testing-and-counseling","tag-metro-denver","tag-thyroid-cancer-treatment","tag-womens-care"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCHEK2 gene mutation helps explain multiple cancer diagnoses in Wyoming woman - UCHealth Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"After a breast cancer diagnosis at 35, Karissa Goossen discovered a CHEK2 gene mutation that changed her future cancer care.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"CHEK2 gene mutation helps explain multiple cancer diagnoses in Wyoming woman - UCHealth Today\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"After a breast cancer diagnosis at 35, Karissa Goossen discovered a CHEK2 gene mutation that changed her future cancer care.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"UCHealth Today\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uchealthorg\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-27T19:50:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-27T20:02:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/27100034\/IMG_3965-Karissa-Wyoming-web.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mary Gay Broderick, for UCHealth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"At age 35, a mutated CHEK2 gene led to breast cancer, thyroid cancer and a colon cancer scare\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"After a breast cancer diagnosis at 35, Karissa Goossen discovered a CHEK2 gene mutation that changed her future cancer care.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@uchealth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@uchealth\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mary Gay Broderick, for UCHealth\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"17 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Mary Gay Broderick, for UCHealth\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7c91e8a4932eea6caad6cc64ac28dede\"},\"headline\":\"At age 35, a mutated CHEK2 gene led to breast cancer, thyroid cancer and a colon cancer scare\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-27T19:50:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-27T20:02:03+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":3135,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/27100034\\\/IMG_3965-Karissa-Wyoming-web.webp\",\"keywords\":[\"Adult genetic testing\",\"Breast cancer\",\"Breast cancer treatment\",\"Breast imaging and tests\",\"Cancer care\",\"Cancer care patient stories\",\"Cancer screening\",\"Cancer treatment\",\"Colon cancer\",\"Genetic testing\",\"Metro Denver\",\"Thyroid cancer treatment\",\"Women's care\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Innovative care\",\"Stories\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\\\/\",\"name\":\"CHEK2 gene mutation helps explain multiple cancer diagnoses in Wyoming woman - UCHealth Today\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/27100034\\\/IMG_3965-Karissa-Wyoming-web.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-27T19:50:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-27T20:02:03+00:00\",\"description\":\"After a breast cancer diagnosis at 35, Karissa Goossen discovered a CHEK2 gene mutation that changed her future cancer care.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/27100034\\\/IMG_3965-Karissa-Wyoming-web.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/27100034\\\/IMG_3965-Karissa-Wyoming-web.webp\",\"width\":640,\"height\":398,\"caption\":\"Karissa Goossen holding a fish she caught. A Wyoming native and outdoor enthusiast, Karissa Goossen persevered through breast cancer, thyroid cancer and ongoing cancer surveillance after learning she carries a CHEK2 gene mutation. Photo courtesy of Karissa Goossen.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"At age 35, a mutated CHEK2 gene led to breast cancer, thyroid cancer and a colon cancer scare\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/\",\"name\":\"UCHealth Today\",\"description\":\"UCHealth Today\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"UCHealth\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2020\\\/04\\\/24135149\\\/UCHealth-square-logo-1000x1000-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/6\\\/2020\\\/04\\\/24135149\\\/UCHealth-square-logo-1000x1000-1.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":1000,\"caption\":\"UCHealth\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/uchealthorg\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/uchealth\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/uchealth\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/school\\\/14839\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.com\\\/uchealthorg\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UC41SJI79yjZIe96OajzN22g\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/7c91e8a4932eea6caad6cc64ac28dede\",\"name\":\"Mary Gay Broderick, for UCHealth\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f9d579b3ef424861e3376c7c220aff746632d6c832db6518dfb106680e04f407?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f9d579b3ef424861e3376c7c220aff746632d6c832db6518dfb106680e04f407?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/f9d579b3ef424861e3376c7c220aff746632d6c832db6518dfb106680e04f407?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Mary Gay Broderick, for UCHealth\"},\"description\":\"Mary Gay Broderick is a Denver-based freelance writer with more than 25 years experience in journalism, marketing, public relations and communications. She enjoys telling compelling stories about healthcare, especially the dedicated UCHealth professionals and the people whose lives they transform. She enjoys skiing, hiking, biking and traveling, along with baking (mostly) successful desserts for her husband and three daughters.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.uchealth.org\\\/today\\\/author\\\/mgbroderick\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"CHEK2 gene mutation helps explain multiple cancer diagnoses in Wyoming woman - UCHealth Today","description":"After a breast cancer diagnosis at 35, Karissa Goossen discovered a CHEK2 gene mutation that changed her future cancer care.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"CHEK2 gene mutation helps explain multiple cancer diagnoses in Wyoming woman - UCHealth Today","og_description":"After a breast cancer diagnosis at 35, Karissa Goossen discovered a CHEK2 gene mutation that changed her future cancer care.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\/","og_site_name":"UCHealth Today","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uchealthorg\/","article_published_time":"2026-07-27T19:50:53+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-07-27T20:02:03+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/27100034\/IMG_3965-Karissa-Wyoming-web.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Mary Gay Broderick, for UCHealth","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_title":"At age 35, a mutated CHEK2 gene led to breast cancer, thyroid cancer and a colon cancer scare","twitter_description":"After a breast cancer diagnosis at 35, Karissa Goossen discovered a CHEK2 gene mutation that changed her future cancer care.","twitter_creator":"@uchealth","twitter_site":"@uchealth","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Mary Gay Broderick, for UCHealth","Est. reading time":"17 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\/"},"author":{"name":"Mary Gay Broderick, for UCHealth","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#\/schema\/person\/7c91e8a4932eea6caad6cc64ac28dede"},"headline":"At age 35, a mutated CHEK2 gene led to breast cancer, thyroid cancer and a colon cancer scare","datePublished":"2026-07-27T19:50:53+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-27T20:02:03+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\/"},"wordCount":3135,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/27100034\/IMG_3965-Karissa-Wyoming-web.webp","keywords":["Adult genetic testing","Breast cancer","Breast cancer treatment","Breast imaging and tests","Cancer care","Cancer care patient stories","Cancer screening","Cancer treatment","Colon cancer","Genetic testing","Metro Denver","Thyroid cancer treatment","Women's care"],"articleSection":["Innovative care","Stories"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\/","url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\/","name":"CHEK2 gene mutation helps explain multiple cancer diagnoses in Wyoming woman - UCHealth Today","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/27100034\/IMG_3965-Karissa-Wyoming-web.webp","datePublished":"2026-07-27T19:50:53+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-27T20:02:03+00:00","description":"After a breast cancer diagnosis at 35, Karissa Goossen discovered a CHEK2 gene mutation that changed her future cancer care.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/27100034\/IMG_3965-Karissa-Wyoming-web.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/07\/27100034\/IMG_3965-Karissa-Wyoming-web.webp","width":640,"height":398,"caption":"Karissa Goossen holding a fish she caught. A Wyoming native and outdoor enthusiast, Karissa Goossen persevered through breast cancer, thyroid cancer and ongoing cancer surveillance after learning she carries a CHEK2 gene mutation. Photo courtesy of Karissa Goossen."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/chek2-gene-mutation-breast-thyroid-colon-cancer-risk\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"At age 35, a mutated CHEK2 gene led to breast cancer, thyroid cancer and a colon cancer scare"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/","name":"UCHealth Today","description":"UCHealth Today","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#organization","name":"UCHealth","url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/24135149\/UCHealth-square-logo-1000x1000-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/uchealth-wp-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/04\/24135149\/UCHealth-square-logo-1000x1000-1.jpg","width":1000,"height":1000,"caption":"UCHealth"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uchealthorg\/","https:\/\/x.com\/uchealth","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/uchealth\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/school\/14839\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/uchealthorg\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC41SJI79yjZIe96OajzN22g"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/#\/schema\/person\/7c91e8a4932eea6caad6cc64ac28dede","name":"Mary Gay Broderick, for UCHealth","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f9d579b3ef424861e3376c7c220aff746632d6c832db6518dfb106680e04f407?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f9d579b3ef424861e3376c7c220aff746632d6c832db6518dfb106680e04f407?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f9d579b3ef424861e3376c7c220aff746632d6c832db6518dfb106680e04f407?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Mary Gay Broderick, for UCHealth"},"description":"Mary Gay Broderick is a Denver-based freelance writer with more than 25 years experience in journalism, marketing, public relations and communications. She enjoys telling compelling stories about healthcare, especially the dedicated UCHealth professionals and the people whose lives they transform. She enjoys skiing, hiking, biking and traveling, along with baking (mostly) successful desserts for her husband and three daughters.","url":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/author\/mgbroderick\/"}]}},"coauthors":[{"id":2357,"name":"Mary Gay Broderick, for UCHealth","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/author\/mgbroderick\/"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91999","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2357"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91999"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91999\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":92230,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91999\/revisions\/92230"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/92192"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91999"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=91999"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=91999"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}