A routine colonoscopy saved the life of Utah resident Jody Hilton after the procedure revealed a massive precancerous polyp. Hilton, who had been struggling with debilitating stomach issues for years, underwent a minimally invasive procedure to remove the mass, preventing what officials said could have been a much different outcome.
Hilton underwent her first colonoscopy on December 19, 2025, two days before her 51st birthday. The procedure revealed a large mass measuring five centimeters in her ascending colon. Following the discovery, Hilton was referred to Daryl Ramai, MD, a therapeutic endoscopist at Huntsman Cancer Institute and University of Utah Hospital who serves as the director of third space endoscopy for University of Utah Health.
Dr. Ramai is an expert in endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), a minimally invasive organ-preserving endoscopic procedure used to remove early gastrointestinal tumors. According to Dr. Ramai, ESD offers a less invasive treatment option compared to prior resection techniques, which were associated with concerns regarding significant recurrence rates and suboptimal pathological specimens. Dr. Ramai stated that with ESD, recurrence is now negligible and allows for a perfect specimen that facilitates detailed pathological assessment to guide patient management.
Hilton chose the ESD approach and underwent the procedure at Huntsman Cancer Institute on February 27, 2026. The mass was found to be even larger than initially anticipated, measuring eight by seven centimeters and obstructing approximately half of the colon’s lumen.
Since the successful procedure, Hilton reported that her stomach pain has ceased and she feels like a new person. She noted that she is thankful for the diagnosis as it prompted her to investigate her long-term health struggles, which she had previously attributed to celiac disease.
