Chuck Staubs is on a mission to share a step that changed his life – and might change yours, too.
The 45-year-old father of three lives in Ringgold as a stay-at-home dad juggling school obligations, extracurriculars and a personal business, selling antiques online. But all of that nearly came to a halt last year when he began experiencing a strange pain in his abdomen that was unfamiliar to anything he had felt before.
His wife, a physician with Walk-In Clinic at Hamilton Physician Group – Murray Campus, encouraged him to get it checked out.
“I had a colonoscopy in early September of 2024 with Dr. Brandee Albert, and during the procedure they removed 14 polyps,” Staubs said. “One of them came back as cancerous. After that, they scheduled a surgery to remove part of my colon that was cancerous.”
Today, Staubs is in remission and doing well. In addition to continuing his regular screenings, he has also made lifestyle changes that include eating more fruits and vegetables and saying “no” more often to processed foods. But his life would likely have taken a very different turn had he not acted quickly, said his gastroenterologist, Dr. Albert of Hamilton Physician Group – Gastroenterology.
“If he had put this off, like men often do, he would be facing a much different treatment regimen that would likely have involved chemotherapy and possibly radiation,” Dr. Albert said.
He said he’s working to raise awareness that early screening can make a difference — and the discomfort is worth it for peace of mind and a chance at early detection.
“I was nervous about the procedure, but everything turned out well, and I received really good care,” he said. “They’re incredibly friendly at Hamilton Medical Center and are on top of whatever you need.”
Staubs had no previous health problems and no family history of colon cancer. This was his first colonoscopy.
According to the CDC, colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States and one of the most common cancers among both men and women. But when caught early, it is usually highly treatable.
“I’m bringing awareness that this isn’t only something older people get,” Staubs said.
While Staubs experienced pain, Dr. Albert said that for many patients, the first sign of a problem is often mild iron deficiency anemia due to slow blood loss from the mass.
“In men, no degree of anemia is normal,” she said. “All men with anemia should have a colonoscopy right away.” March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, an effort that shines a light on colon health and promotes research on prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. The goal is to support those affected and encourage healthy habits like screenings, exercise and a balanced diet.