Jameelah Mahmoud

When you visit a doctor with persistent pain, your hope is that you’ll leave with answers or, ideally, an effective treatment plan. For Jameelah, she faced frustrating months waiting for an answer. Over five months, she received four misdiagnoses.  Finally, in March of 2019, Jameelah was diagnosed with Stage III colorectal cancer. 

Jameelah’s journey to a diagnosis included ultrasounds, x-ray scans, medication to treat heartburn and acid reflux, and instructions to keep a food diary. It was only after Jameelah requested a referral to a gastroenterologist (GI doctor) because of her grandmother’s history of colon therapy that she got her answer. A nurse practitioner instructed Jameelah to go to the emergency room immediately, where they did a CT scan and admitted her for a colonoscopy. Her ongoing medical mystery suddenly became an emergency situation. 

An emergency laparoscopic surgery removing six inches of her colon, in addition to eight rounds of chemotherapy infusions and pills, saved her life. Now, in remission, Jameelah is a passionate advocate for other patients to avoid her prolonged ordeal. Working with Fight CRC, the American Cancer Society, and Right Scan Right Time, she’s lobbying Capitol Hill for a cure for colorectal cancer and policies that empower patients, caregivers, and families. 

Motivated by her goal to amplify underrepresented voices in health, youth, and community spaces, Jameelah aims to increase young adult diagnoses and views colon cancer as one of the most preventable and treatable cancers – but this requires screening access for early detection. The Health Tech Investment Act is bipartisan legislation that would expand access to AI-enabled imaging technologies and ensure more patients receive timely, effective, and definitive diagnoses.

Join Jameelah by sending your own letter in support of this legislation here.