Adam’s Journal
A colonoscopy recently revealed colon polyps – and a recommendation for another colonoscopy in three years. My younger sister’s colonoscopy yielded similar results.
Neither of us seems to have many, if any, of the typical lifestyle risk factors for polyps. How big a role does genetics play?
Dr. Scofield Prescribes
Colon polyps are small clumps of cells that form on the lining of the colon. Most are harmless. But in time, some can progress into colon cancer.
Anyone can develop colon polyps, and no one knows precisely what causes them. But we do know that risk increases as we grow older.
We also know that a variety of environmental factors increase risk: smoking, being overweight, excessive alcohol, eating too much red meat, a diet rich in fat and lacking sufficient amounts of fiber.
Hereditary factors likely play a role, too. When one first-degree relative – that’s a parent, child or, relevant to you here, sibling – has colon polyps before the age of 60, your chance of developing them doubles.
Your sister and you are cut from the same genetic cloth, and your shared DNA may be a contributor to both your polyps. But as I recall from earlier columns, she also shares something else with you: marathoning.
In new research presented at an American Society of Clinical Oncology conference (but not yet published), scientists found that almost half of marathoners and ultramarathoners aged 35 to 50 had colon polyps. And 15% had advanced polyps, known as adenomas, likely to become cancerous.
The study was small, involving only 100 participants. Still, its results were quite surprising, not to mention more than a little disturbing.
The levels of both polyps and adenomas were well above those seen in the general population. Indeed, among those at average risk, the recommended age for a first colonoscopy is 45, older than many of those runners in the study found to have polyps and adenomas.
By no means should the results of this single, limited study dissuade you or others from running, or from running long distances.
But if you experience gastrointestinal symptoms or abnormal stools, don’t dismiss them as “runner’s trots”; see a physician for an evaluation. Most importantly, continue to undergo regular colonoscopies on the schedule prescribed by your doctor.
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Dr. Hal Scofield is a physician-scientist at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, and he also serves as Associate Chief of Staff for Research at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center. Adam Cohen is OMRF’s senior vice president and general counsel. Send your health questions to contact@omrf.org.
