Early Detection Helps One Man Find Fast Cancer Care

Greg Sadler understands the stigma associated with colonoscopies.  

With chronic gut issues and a family history of colon cancer, Greg has been getting regular colon screenings since his mid-30s, when his primary care provider recommended early screenings as a preventive measure.  

Colonoscopies can often make people feel anxious, but Greg will be the first to say that the benefits far outweigh the worry or stress that can come with colonoscopy prep or procedure. Because of early cancer detection by BJC Medical Group gastroenterologist Chaudhary Mobin Khan, MD, and comprehensive surgical oncology care, Greg was cancer-free in 30 days.   

Due diligence 

Greg, who was 40 at the time, describes feeling “rocked” by the news of his cancer diagnosis. While Greg himself had dealt with gastroesophageal reflux disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and a pre-cancerous polyp during his first colonoscopy, he was feeling the healthiest he had in years.  

When it came time for a five-year-follow-up colonoscopy, Greg’s primary care provider recommended he go see Dr. Khan at Progress West Hospital.

“I was told Dr. Khan was one of the best in the area, and if I could get in to see him, that’s who I should see,” Greg says.  

When Dr. Khan examined Greg, his dedication to thoroughness is ultimately what led him to save Greg.  

"When I do colonoscopies, I always go just beyond the colon into the small intestine as it opens into the colon," Dr. Khan says. "And it was a good break for Greg that I kept this routine up because that's where I found the tumor." 

Acting fast 

Greg’s scan revealed he had neuroendocrine cancer (NEC), a rare, progressive condition that affects the gut, pancreas, and lungs that is usually seen in patients who are 55–65. Greg’s mind immediately went to those who count on him: his children and the people who work with him at his landscaping business.

“Dr. Khan told me that if he hadn’t gone deeper and had cleared me for another five years, we’d be having a different conversation five years from now,” Greg says.

NEC occurs in just 3% of people under 50. Greg showed none of the usual symptoms like diarrhea, fatigue, and abdominal pain that are usually associated with NEC. Because the cancer was still localized, Dr. Khan’s expertise and experience led him to scope further and, ultimately, saved Greg’s life.

Once Dr. Khan made the diagnosis, he looked to BJC HealthCare’s network of providers to speed along Greg’s care plan and give him peace of mind as he navigated the uncertainty that comes with a cancer diagnosis.  

“BJC is really good about getting you in and making you a priority,” Greg says. “If there’s an issue, they expedite it.”

A day after getting the results back, Dr. Khan made a personal call to Jerad Miller, MD, a colorectal surgeon, to oversee Greg’s care. A few days later, Greg was in Dr. Miller’s office discussing treatment plans.

“Half the battle is waiting and figuring out what your next steps are,” Greg says. “That’s what really makes experiences like this harder, but everybody worked to put me at ease and got me in quick to see the right people.”

Soon after that initial meeting with Dr. Miller, Greg was in surgery at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital. Dr. Miller removed a section of Greg’s large intestine, 8 inches of his small intestine, and the lymph nodes impacted by the cancer.

After four days of recovery, Greg went home cancer-free. Since the surgery, he’s had follow-up scans to monitor his recovery, including a colonoscopy that shows the cancer hasn’t returned. The impacts of his diagnosis have gone beyond his own health. All three of his brothers have undergone a colonoscopy or plan to have one, and his children have done genetic testing for NEC.  

Colonoscopies can seem daunting, but a colorectal cancer diagnosis is even more so. Greg hopes his story empowers people to seize the opportunity to be proactive about their health.

“The process is much easier than the stigma suggests,” Greg says. “And the peace of mind is worth its weight in gold.”

Trust your gut and schedule your colonoscopy at a BJC HealthCare location near you. Early detection of colorectal cancer helps you get in front of the disease and make the best decisions about your health.