Steve Smith wants to be around to see his grandchildren grow up. After the recent scare he had, he's leaving nothing to chance.

"My first colonoscopy they found colon cancer in advanced stages," said Smith.

A doctor recommended that Steve, pushing 60, get that colonoscopy. One year later, after surgery to remove a quarter of his colon, 6 months of chemo, and a second colonoscopy, there was some good news.

"The fact that he's cancer free at a year is helpful. The biopsies we did obtain we got back and they were benign," said Doug Brouillette. Find out more about Douglas E. Brouillette, MD Internal Medicine Associates, P.C.

A colonoscopy is one of the best ways to detect and remove colon polyps, the growth that can change to cancer. The problem is, people believe the procedure is painful and embarrassing, so they generally don't go looking for it. But Dr. Brouillette says, considering the numbers, they should.

"This year, just under 400 people will die of colorectal cancer and around over 1000 people are diagnosed in Nebraska," said Brouillette.

So who is at risk for colorectal cancer? People who are over 50 who have a family history of colorectal cancer or family history of multiple cancers., people with inflammatory bowel disease and people who eat a low fiber, high fat diet and don't exercise.

"Steve makes an excellent example for screening," says Brouillette. "These tumors are silent and they take a long time to get large enough to cause symptoms of bleeding. So screening, catching them early, that's the point. It's a completely preventable cancer if everyone is appropriately screened."

Steve must wait 5 years before he can consider himself cancer free. In the meantime he will spend time enjoying his family, taking care of himself and getting the word out that a routine colonoscopy saved his life.