WATERLOO - Six years ago Theopalis Menton spent four months treating his colon cancer with chemotherapy and radiation.

When the treatment was done, he was given the all-clear, but doctors wanted to monitor his condition with a colonoscopy every three years. His first one, in 2006, was clean.

But when his doctors reminded him about the upcoming test earlier this year, Menton began to worry. The longtime Eagle Ottawa tannery employee was left jobless and without insurance when the company laid off more than 100 workers in January. He knew the procedure was necessary, but he also knew it was costly. When his cousin told him that he might be able to get one for free, he jumped at the chance.

Allen Hospital is one of two Iowa health centers awarded a state-funded colorectal cancer screening grant targeting preventive care for Iowa residents who may otherwise skip the exams because of financial concerns.

"I would have figured something out, even if I did have to pay for it until my next one came around," Menton said. "But when I heard about this, I thought, 'There is a God.'"

The $100,000 grant is good for one year but could be funded for an additional four years. Cathy Simmons, a grant writer for the hospital, said the money will cover preventive screenings for about 250 people, including an estimated 70 colonoscopies. The same program also is available at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids.

Dr. Ravi Mallavarapu, a gastroenterologist at Allen, said with the proper screening about 95 percent of all colon cancers could be prevented or treated. But because there are few underlying symptoms for the disease, it is often difficult to catch the growths in their early stages without the tests.

"If you find a polyp and remove it, it takes 10 years for a new polyp to develop into cancer," he said. "This is not as fast-growing of a cancer as some. If you catch it early enough it is highly treatable."

Mallavarapu said only about 30 percent of the eligible population in Iowa are currently getting regular colorectal screenings. For the uninsured and underinsured, it is the cost that makes the screening prohibitive. Yet others shy away from the procedure because they worry it will be embarrassing or uncomfortable.

Menton, whose most recent colonoscopy came back clean, said the screenings are now a "no-brainer" for him.

"It is either this or die," he said. "That's a pretty easy choice."

Contact Emily Christensen at (319) 291-1570 or emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com.