VIDEO: Colon Cancer Awareness

TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI)- March is colon cancer awareness month, and WCBI is teaming up with a pharmacy to help you become aware of the signs and symptoms of the second leading cause of cancer in the United States.

Doctor Sam Pace may be retired, but he is not slowing down. Lately, he has been on a mission to educate Mississippians about the importance of early screening for colon cancer.

He was instrumental in developing a specialty license plate that will help fund the 70 by 2020 initiative.

“Our goal is to have 70 percent of Mississippians, screened for colon cancer by 2020,” says Pace.

Doctor Pace enlisted Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Dak Prescott to tape public service announcements, encouraging people to be screened. Prescott’s mother died of colon cancer in 2013.

For Doctor Pace, the issue is personal. Back in 2011, when he was a physician at Digestive Health Specialists, he was screened, and cancer was discovered.

“I was diagnosed on a screening colonoscopy. I had no symptoms, no problems, my lab work a month prior to that was completely normal,” says Pace.

As a gastroenterologist, Dr. Pace had performed thousands of colonoscopies. Adults are encouraged to get a colonoscopy when they turn 50. The procedure allows a doctor to examine the colon, with a long flexible tube with a camera and light at its tip.

Doctor Pace was 60 when his cancer was discovered. After surgery, chemo and radiation, he is now cancer free . He’s a living testimony about the importance of colon cancer screening.

“I golf, I chase grandkids, speaking of which, if I hadn’t had screening. Colonoscopy, and had not found my colon cancer six years ago, I would have missed the birth of three grandchildren. And we have six now, about to have a seventh,” says Pace.

WCBI is partnering with Fred’s Pharmacy. You can pick up these free, at home test kits to help detect colon and rectal cancer in its early stages.