For actress Kate Walsh, caring about health and wellness isn't just a character trait adopted for her role as Dr. Addison Montgomery on the hit TV series Grey's Anatomy: it's a passion that has followed her throughout her real life. After witnessing both of her parents go through cancer diagnoses and treatments—and dealing with a cancer scare herself a few years back—she has focused on the importance of early cancer screenings to properly treat and overcome the life-altering illness, especially for the next generation.

This passion has led Walsh to partner with healthcare company GRAIL on a new campaign called Generation Possible—a movement advocating for a multi-cancer early-detection test, otherwise known as the MCED test. This test, which can detect several of the most common to deadliest cancers, is performed using a simple blood panel that you can bring to your healthcare provider to discuss results.

While MCED tests are not considered diagnostic tools, the biomarkers (aka substances that you can measure in your blood, urine, and other tissues) seen in the tests can help inform whether you need to seek further screening or possible treatment for cancer. This is especially beneficial if you have a family history of cancer or an underlying health condition that increases your risk of the condition.

Below, learn more about why early cancer detection is so important, what MCED testing and the Generation Possible campaign do, and how Walsh prioritizes her health and well-being as someone with a family history of cancer.

Why is early cancer detection so important?

Several medical institutions have cited the steady increase in cancer diagnoses in recent decades.¹ Walsh has noticed this in her own life, too. "It seems like everyone has either gotten the call or known someone who's gotten the call from their doctor saying they have cancer," says Walsh. "My father had lung cancer and passed away when I was 23, and I've had many other friends throughout the years who have gone through cancer treatment," she adds.

Despite this uptick in cancer cases, the call for increased preventative screening remains relatively low. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends routine screenings for only four types of cancer: breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancer. However, more than 70 percent of cancer deaths are caused by cancers without regular screening tests. Typically, these cancers affect people with a pre-existing risk factor such as family history, underlying health conditions, or old age, which Walsh notes as a primary concern.

"Adults over the age of 50 are 13 times more likely to have cancer compared to people under the age of 50," Walsh says. This can make "you feel kind of hopeless and want to do more. It's a terrible illness, and you never want to have to watch your loved ones go through it," she adds.

This is why early detection is necessary. Not only can it provide peace of mind to people (and their families) who are being screened and tested for cancer, but it can also help diagnose and treat the condition earlier on, which increases the chance of survival. In fact, research shows that most cancer survival rates at the one-year and five-year marks are much higher if you receive a diagnosis at stage 1 (i.e., the earliest stages) than if the cancer is detected at a later stage.²

As time goes on, more and more medical research is being studied to help people, Walsh adds. This is where Generation Possible's work with MCED testing comes into play. (More on this below.)

How do MCED tests work?

Instead of screening for one cancer at a time, like traditional methods often do, MCED tests can detect multiple types of cancers with one simple blood test. GRAIL (the company that created Generation Possible) uses the Galleri test—a clinically studied, by prescription-only MCED method that can identify more than 50 types of cancers. It works by locating DNA fragments shed from cancer cells in the bloodstream, sometimes before you even show symptoms. After your bloodwork is taken, it's tested at the GRAIL lab, and findings are sent back in two weeks with one of two possible results: no cancer or cancer signal detected.

If your results show signs or markers of cancer cells, the MCED test can also predict the type of organ tissue associated with the cancer. You can then bring this information to your health care provider so they can inform you of the next steps, such as more diagnostic testing and treatment, if needed. (For example, if the MCED test detects abnormal breast tissue, your provider may advise you to get a mammogram.)

Not sure if this type of test is right for you? "At GenPossible.com, you can access a questionnaire to assess your risk and get a ton of resources on not only how to get an early detection test, but also how to talk more openly about cancer diagnosis and getting screened," says Walsh. While most tests are prescribed by your healthcare provider, you can also request and purchase tests through a telemedicine provider for $949. (Keep in mind: most health insurance plans right now do not cover Galleri tests.)

And if you've already been tested and know you're at an increased risk? "Bringing these insights to your doctor to discuss further can take some anxiety and uncertainty out of waiting around to see if that abnormal tumor is cancerous or benign," Walsh says, which is, unfortunately, a feeling she knows all too well.

How Walsh prioritizes her health after a cancer scare

In 2015, Walsh was diagnosed with a brain tumor that, after being biopsied, was thankfully benign. "But it was so anxiety-inducing to go to the doctor and get the tests done," she says. While the tumor was fully removed successfully with surgery, she says an early detection blood test to check for certain markers might have helped ease her mind a little more going into the procedure.

Ten years later, Walsh says getting brain surgery was a wake-up call to slow down and take care of herself. "Your body is the best scorekeeper; it knows when things are off," she adds. This is why she prioritizes her health and well-being by going to her healthcare provider for regular preventive screenings. Here's a glimpse at what else she does to stay well:

1. She prioritizes her bone health

As Walsh entered her 50s, she made focusing on bone health a personal goal, as keeping your bones healthy and strong can be difficult when going through hormonal changes like menopause. Because of this, she sticks to exercising and moving often. (Note: resistance and strength training are great ways to maintain or improve your bone density.)

2. She does Pilates

"I tried Pilates for the first time when I injured my foot about 30 years ago and had to get surgery," Walsh says. She found it was a great way to recuperate post-op and has been in love with the workout ever since. She sticks with the old school, classical Pilates studios that do things the traditional way—reformers and all. Outside the studio, she loves yoga and walks, as well.

3. She meditates and has a morning routine

Walsh is a big proponent of meditation not only for brain health but also to help reduce overall stress levels in everyday life.³ She also loves a good morning routine: coffee, green juice, and cuddling her cats are an important part of hers.

4. She focuses on work-life balance

"In my industry, [work-life balance] is especially hard if you're working, say, 17 hours a day on a set," Walsh says. Plus, "as a female, I'll speak for myself when I say that slowing down can be hard sometimes, especially when you want to do and be everything. But it's important to know your body's limits, or else sometimes it'll force you to slow down." Because of this, she makes it a priority to take rest when her body needs it.

How to get involved with 'Generation Possible'

While Walsh focuses her work with Generation Possible on people aged 50 and older who are experiencing an uptick in diagnosis, treatment, and mortality, she says it's also good to know that the younger generation is taking advantage of the resources found through the campaign to hopefully bring down their risk as they age.

"The younger generation can become involved by going to GenPossible.com and finding out ways to assess their own cancer risk and by sharing information with their peers," says Walsh. From there, they can either order the blood tests or find resources on how to get early detection screenings from their healthcare providers if they are concerned about their risk.

Take it from a TV doctor—health doesn't have to be scary

"Even though I played a doctor for years on TV, I still feel scared about going to the doctor and being unsure about what they are going to say or do," says Walsh. This is why she always advocates for bringing a loved one with you to your appointments—so they can be another listening ear and a pillar of support on your health and wellness journey.

"Health and doctors can be a scary thing," she adds, but it doesn't have to be if we lean on each other and utilize resources like early screening to help us feel prepared and empowered.