Southeast Iowa Man tells his story about a car accident helped him beat colon cancer

OTTUMWA, Iowa (KYOU) -

“The Christmas of 2011 Originally, we were in a car wreck. I had an airbag go off and instead of hitting me in the face, and breaking my nose like everybody else, it hit me in the stomach,” Terry Thomas explained.

Thomas and his wife sustained minor injuries after their car accident in 2011. But after the crash, Thomas says he still had lingering health issues.

Thomas said, “I thought the pull [in my hip] was from the seatbelt tightening up and the muscles tightening. But I kept having some pain after that. The doctor says let’s just do your check, you’re fifty now, let’s just do your check. “

Thomas agreed, got a colon cancer screening, and didn’t think anything would come of it...

But Thomas said, “it didn’t go how I thought it was going to go. I didn’t get to leave. [The doctor said] you have a 9 cm mass, and I never had any symptoms. “

The news was bad: Thomas was told he had *stage four colon cancer.

Thomas was treated elsewhere but this is a diagnosis doctors at Van Buren Hospital in Keosauqua have had to break to patients.

Dr. Ryan Roe said, “[Colon Cancer] is the second most common cause of cancer related deaths - worldwide. “

Dr. Roe is a surgeon at Van Buren Hospital who specializes in colonoscopies and certain types of cancer. He says Thomas is very lucky.

Dr. Roe said, “Kind of an ironic situation and a good catch ... too bad it had to be a car accident that led to this. “

Dr. Roe said all people should get regular colorectal cancer screenings starting at the age of 45.

Thomas said his faith in God is what helped him overcome the fear of getting checked.

“A lot of people are afraid to find out what’s gonna happen. Thats the worst part, is not knowing. Find out and you can deal with it after that,” Thomas explained.

And now, 14 years after getting his cancer diagnosis, he says he’s cancer free.

Copyright 2025 KYOU. All rights reserved.