Heartburn helped Deborah Mathews make a great health save.

The Kossuth resident put off colon cancer screening for years. She was busy with the home day care business she operated for nearly five decades. She had taken care of her parents before their deaths.

“I knew I needed to have that done, but you have a tendency to put your life on the back burner,” Mathews said.

It was trouble with heartburn that ultimately led to a colonoscopy and early detection of her colon cancer in December 2022.

“I’m so thankful I had it done,” Mathews said. “If I had waited, it could have been bad.”

For people at average risk, colon cancer screening is recommended starting at age 45 by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Colonoscopy is considered the gold standard because it allows for the detection and removal of pre-cancerous growths – polyps – as well as the detection of colon cancer.

Problems with chronic heartburn provided the opportunity for Mathews to finally catch up on her colon cancer screening. Mathews needed an endoscopy procedure to check her esophagus for heartburn-related damage. Her primary care doctor, Dr. Kelly Thornton, suggested she go ahead have a screening colonoscopy at the same time because both procedures require sedation.

Gastroenterologist Dr. Ross Stone handled both procedures at the Center for Digestive Health in Tupelo.

“My throat turned out ok,” Mathews said. “But Dr. Stone found a mass at the beginning of my colon.”

Mathews was diagnosed with Stage 1 colon cancer. General surgeon Dr. Newt Harrison removed a third of Mathews’ colon and her appendix using minimally invasive, robotic-assisted techniques. Mathews sees a medical oncologist for follow up care, but she didn’t require further treatment after surgery.

“When you hear that C-word, it’s scary,” Mathews said. “It knocks your feet out from under you, but I turned it over to the Lord.”

These days, Mathews, now 70, and her family are celebrating her good health and a bright future.

After a 49-year career in childcare, which included caring for two generations of Kossuth families, she has retired. She and her husband, Doug, will celebrate their 50^th anniversary in August. They are looking forward to more fun with their two children and four grandchildren.

Without the early detection of her colon cancer, Mathews said her health could have been uncertain.

“You just don’t know,” Mathews said. “I encourage everyone to have it (colon cancer screening) done.”