DAVENPORT, Iowa - Gordon Ehler was diagnosed with colon-rectal cancer 20 years ago. Today he goes about his daily routine managing the sales department at the Quad City Radio Group.
Ehler was diagnosed at the age of 37, years before doctors recommend routine screenings.
"I'd been having some pain in my abdomen, nothing too severe. I went through a series of doctor visits and then it was suggested that I get a colonoscopy." said Ehler.
That colonoscopy revealed what Gordon had feared, a cancerous tumor that doctors hadn't suspected because of his age.
"You know, at the time it was definitely a shock because no one usually thinks about cancer when you're in your 30's, certainly I didn't."
Colon-rectal cancer is the second deadliest form of the disease. Ironically, it's the most preventable. In Gordon's case, a colonoscopy and a simple surgical procedure was all that was needed.
"Fortunately they caught it in time. I had surgery and that was 20 years ago and I'm fine today."
Dr. Christine Sharis, a cancer expert with Trinity Health System says with early screenings, colon-rectal cancer can be treated.
"One of the wonderful things about colonoscopy is that it can go up and find polyps before they even become cancer." said Sharis. "For colon rectal cancer it depends on what the stage is for the cancer. Some of the very early ones can be the removal of the cancerous polyp during a colonoscopy and that can be it for the treatment."
20 years after cancer, Gordon is living a full and healthy life thanks to early detection.
"Just don't be afraid of colonoscopies. They do good things not bad things. It can save a life, it saved my life."
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