A Washington state police officer may have been saved by a softball that hit him in the stomach after his visit to the doctor revealed that he had colon cancer. 

Tacoma Police Lt Alan Roberts was playing softball with one of his daughters when the ball missed his glove and hit him instead. 

‘One of my girls threw the ball and it hit me in the gut and first thing I thought was, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s painful,” Roberts told PIX 11. 

Lt Alan Roberts (pictured) of the Tacoma Police Department in Washington, may have been saved by a softball that hit him in the stomach after he was diagnosed with colon cancer

Lt Alan Roberts (pictured) of the Tacoma Police Department in Washington, may have been saved by a softball that hit him in the stomach after he was diagnosed with colon cancer

Roberts said the pain in his stomach persisted, prompting him to see the doctor the following day

Roberts said the pain in his stomach persisted, prompting him to see the doctor the following day

The 47-year-old was then diagnosed with colon cancer

The 47-year-old was then diagnosed with colon cancer

Roberts was playing softball with one of his daughters when the ball missed his glove and hit him instead. He then went to the doctor, who diagnosed him with colon cancer 

Roberts said the pain in his stomach persisted, prompting him to see the doctor the following day.

His doctor conducted a series of tests that found Roberts was suffering from a large tumor.

The 47-year-old was then diagnosed with colon cancer.

‘Had I not been hit by that softball, I had a month to live,’ Roberts told the station. 

Roberts had a life-changing surgery and is now cancer-free. 

But now, he’s on a mission to make sure others hear his story. Roberts said he had no symptoms and no family history of colon cancer.  

'Had I not been hit by that softball, I had a month to live,' Roberts said. He later had a life-changing surgery and is now cancer-free. Roberts is pictured with his daughter 

'Had I not been hit by that softball, I had a month to live,' Roberts said. He later had a life-changing surgery and is now cancer-free. Roberts is pictured with his daughter 

‘Had I not been hit by that softball, I had a month to live,’ Roberts said. He later had a life-changing surgery and is now cancer-free. Roberts is pictured with his daughter 

He was even diagnosed at the age of 47, which is three years younger than the suggested screening age of 50.  

According to the National Cancer Institute, colon cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths, following lung cancer. 

However, colon cancer is one of the most preventable common cancers if a person is screened regularly, starting at age 50 or sooner, which depends on a person’s family history. 

March is also the National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.



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