Soccer legend Abby Wambach said colon cancer screening at 35 likely saved her life

US soccer icon Abby Wambach, shown here in a 2015 game, said she never expected to need colon cancer screening as a young, healthy athlete.

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• Olympic gold medalist and soccer star Abby Wambach said a colonoscopy at 35 likely saved her life.
• The test found polyps that, with her family history of cancer, put her at high risk.
• Colon cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related deaths under 50. Early screening is crucial.

At the height of her soccer career...