Sam N.

Diagnosed at 32

Omaha residents Sam Neal, 44, and his wife, Annie, have been married for 18 years. They’re the proud parents of three great kids – Stella, 14, Kolar, 12, and Sylvia, 8. Life is busy, and it hasn’t been without its challenges. Sam, a longtime Senior Project Manager at a national construction firm, was just 32 when he was diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2010.

At the time, the Neals were living in Springfield, Illinois, for Sam’s job. Kolar was just a newborn, and the family was growing. They were tired, but happy. Sam, however, wasn’t feeling well and made an appointment with a family practitioner. At his appointment, he mentioned that he’d occasionally experienced some blood in his stools. After a blood test, Sam’s doctor referred him to a gastroenterologist who scheduled a colonoscopy. Sam and Annie were both surprised when the colonoscopy led to a diagnosis of Stage 1 Colon Cancer.

The days that followed were filled with appointments, tests, and phone calls. The Neals didn’t have family nearby in Springfield, so they chose to go back to Omaha, where they were put in contact with colorectal surgeon Dr. Alan Thorson. In January 2011, Dr. Thorson removed Sam’s cancer by re-sectioning his colon. The surgery was a success, and Sam continues to remain cancer free.

With no family history of colon cancer, Sam’s doctors aren’t sure where his cancer game from. Due to his young age, he was encouraged to have genetic testing done, but the results showed that his cancer was not genetic. The entire experience was frightening and eye opening for his entire family, and it truly drove home the importance of getting screened.

“In the years since I was diagnosed with colon cancer, I hear of more and more instances of people – often younger than 50 – also getting diagnosed,” says Sam. “I’m pleased that the recommended ages to be screened was recently lowered because with colon cancer, it truly is a cancer that can be treated if detected early. Getting a colonoscopy sounds like no fun, but skipping a screening is not a risk worth taking.”

Team “SamIAm” at the Boxer 500

These days, Sam and Annie, a successful artist, are enjoying watching their kids grow up, shuttling them to different sports and activities, and spending time with family. With his colon cancer behind him, Sam is honored to help spread awareness surrounding early detection and lifesaving screenings. He’s the leader of Team Sam I Am, the longest running continuous team at the Boxer 500, and he looks forward to many more years of advocacy.