These days 62-year-old Peter Schreiber runs a taxi service out of his home. He is constantly on the move taking one of his three children who still live a home to dancing, soccer or music lessons. Yet for a few weeks in April, this West Seneca father had to pull over and let his wife, Eileen, drive. Peter was diagnosed and treated for colon cancer.

"I had severe pain in my left side and thought it was a kidney stone," Peter recalls. The pain became so terrible, Peter asked Eileen to take him to the emergency room. While doctors suspected diverticulitis, a colonoscopy was ordered. "I admit it. I was scared. This was the first time I had any kind of procedure." Peter said.

On the advice of friends, Peter decided Roswell Park was the place for him. During the colonoscopy, doctors removed two cancerous and one suspicious polyp. Because the cancer was removed early, Peter was able to avoid chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Today, Peter is cancer-free.

He feels lucky his cancer was found early. "You know when I think back on it now, that pain in my side probably saved my life. I had no symptoms, generally felt good and thought I was healthy."

Even though colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women, the number of colon cancer cases diagnosed each year has been declining due to reliable screening tests. 

Today, Peter returns to Roswell Park every three months for a check-up. And every year, he undergoes what was once for him the dreaded colonoscopy. "There is absolutely nothing to it. For anyone out there who is waiting or refusing to have this test, please don't delay any longer."

Peter's "taxi service" is back in business. Four nights a week, he is transporting his children to their various clubs and lessons.

His one message of hope for the holidays: "There is no reason for anyone to die from colon cancer. Follow your doctor's recommendations and get that colonoscopy. It could save your life. I know it saved mine."