Dr. Oz's Colonoscopy Finds Pre-Cancerous Polyp: What Can He Teach Us?

By: Jonathan LaPook
Topics: Cancer ,; Celebrity

Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Jonathan LaPook. (Dr. Oz Show)

(CBS) Dr. Mehmet Oz just might be the last person on earth people would expect to get a colon polyp.

He's physically fit (he left me in the dust the last time we ran together), he eats a healthy diet, he doesn't smoke, and he has no family history of colorectal cancer or colon polyps.

But several weeks ago, when Mehmet had his first screening colonoscopy at age 50, I removed a small adenomatous polyp that had the potential to turn into cancer over time.

Statistically, most small polyps like his don't become cancer. But almost all colon cancers begin as benign polyps that gradually become malignant over about 10-15 years.

Since there's no way of knowing which polyps will turn bad, we take them all out. The good news is there's plenty of opportunity to prevent cancer by removing these polyps while they are still benign. But only about 63 percent of Americans between ages 50 and 75 get screened for colorectal cancer.

Patients who smoke, eat diets high in red and processed meats, drink too much alcohol, don't exercise, and are obese are at increased risk of colorectal cancer. So Mehmet's healthy lifestyle may actually have protected him from having a bigger polyp - or even colorectal cancer by now.

But the bottom line is this: no matter what you do, you can't totally eliminate your risk of developing this disease, which is expected to strike 143,000 Americans and kill over 51,000 in 2010.

About the same number of women is affected as men. And about 70 percent of patients have no family history of colorectal cancer.

The take-away message is clear. Everybody should discuss with their doctor getting screened for colon cancer by age 50 - earlier if there's an increased risk because of factors like a family history of colon cancer, a family history of an adenomatous colon polyp before age 60, or inflammatory bowel disease.

African Americans tend to get colon cancer earlier than Caucasians and have a 50 percent greater death rate from it; so some experts recommend beginning screening at age 45 in this group.

Discuss with your doctor what test makes the most sense for you and when you should get it. Screening tests include colonoscopy, virtual colonoscopy using a CT scan, barium enema, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and various stool tests looking for invisible blood or other markers.

Ten years ago, Katie Couric's televised colonoscopy led to a 20 percent increase in screening colonoscopies across America - a stunning rise called "The Katie Couric Effect."

Here's hoping for a "Dr. Oz Effect."

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by SatM September 16, 2010 2:00 PM EDT: The comments are more valuable and other information about Dr.OZ and OPRAH is worth thinking about.
1) GUIDELINES are guidelines.Waiting till 50 may be OK for many--but too late for a few people. TAKE YOUR PICK--IT IS YOUR LIFE.WHY TAKE RISK .I AM PREPARED FOR EARLY DETECTION.
2) DR.OZ said during an interview with LARRY KING LIVE on CNN--that HE WAS SHOCKED and SURPRISED as he eats properly and has NO FAMILY HISTORY.
3) OPRAH --GREAT--at 56/57 has not had the COLONOSCOPY.That explains partly why 40% (AGE 50-75)do not get their Colonoscopy and 50,000 die EVERY YEAR.
KRISTINE TABOR is the founder for GET YOUR REAR IN GEAR--a network to INFORM people to GET COLONOSCOPY and GET YOUR REAR IN GEAR.She has brought many Volunteer doctors to help her.Dr.Tarun Mullick is one of the top Gastroenterologist from Chicago--with training at Johns Hopkins and Cleveland Clinic.
If we are serious about reducing 50,000 UNNECESSARY DEATHS in USA--- then we have to listen to specialists like Dr.Tarun Mullick:
1) COLONOSCOPY with propofol is PAINLESS.
2) Anyone afraid of perforation--can try PEDIATRIC SCOPE and go to top specialist like Dr.Tarun Mullick available in every city.
3) Dr.Tarun Mullick has invented "COLON CAPSULE",but that is going to be in the market in 2/3 years.
4) CT SCAN-Virtual colonoscopy is not as effective as Colonoscopy and adds to the radiation risk. With Colonoscopy--GOLDEN procedure --why take risk with other methods.
Dr.OZ and Dr.LaPook need to HELP PEOPLE who are afraid of this COLONOSCOPY.THEY HAVE TO TELL THEM ABOUT PAINLESS COLONOSCOPY WITH PROPOFOL.
I had colonoscopy without Propofol many years ago--decided never to get another.But Dr.Tarun Mullick convinced me that with PROPOFOL,I will not feel a thing.The latest Colonoscopy was totally PAINLESS.; Reply to this comment

by nholt0113 September 9, 2010 3:28 PM EDT

I am happy and lucky that I had my first colonoscopy when I was 25 years old and two polyps were removed. I had three or four colonoscopies before I was 50 and every time, there were one or two polyps. If I had waited until I was 50 for my first colonoscopy I would have had about five polyps and two of them would have been there over 25 years, which I am sure would not be good. Not everyone should get this done so young, but it was good for me. It was purely by chance during a routine pap smear that my gynecologist did a rectal exam that he felt a polyp and ordered a colonoscopy to confirm and remove. I did not know at the time that we have a family history of cancer. Several of my father's mother's siblings and her mother had cancer, do not know what kind. Later my aunt and sister had breast cancer and my grandfather had prostate cancer.

Reply to this comment


by SatM September 9, 2010 4:54 PM EDT: It was nice of you to help/inform others.Check www.getyourrearingear.com and try to organize a Walkathon for Colon Cancer Awareness in your city/community.


by SatM September 9, 2010 10:26 AM EDT: Dr.Jonathan LaPook;
I have watched you on CBS News --Great ability to explain difficult medical problems.
Dr.Tarun Mullick has become a spokesman for "GET YOUR REAR IN GEAR" and he explains WHY?
Colon Cancer Screening is still way below BREAST CANCER SCREENING.Have you wondered why?
Dr.Tarun Mullick believes that various events shown on CBS News or ABC News--are forgotten within a few weeks.Katie Couric Colonoscopy or Dr.OZ colonoscopy will be forgotten soon.
Millions will not get screening and % of people getting screened for Colon Cancer will not change much.
Dr.Tarun Mullick believes strongly that ANNUAL EVENTS in every city are needed--whether it be a RACE or WALKTHON.
Example: Dr.Tarun Mullick has been a major sponsor of Chron's disease--and has helped a 18 years old organize www.foxriver5K.com
WE NEED SIMILAR EVENTS FOR COLON CANCER SCREENING once a year in every community.; Reply to this comment


by mjcmore September 4, 2010 6:11 PM EDT: I don't believe that vitamin D has that much influence in preventing colon cancer. My father has always had a very healthy diet and drank several glasses of milk per day (loves cheese)throughout his life, still got colon cancer and prostate cancer. Its genetic.; Reply to this comment

by sw_wa_native September 3, 2010 12:06 PM EDT

Familial Polyposis is dominant on my father's side. My grandmother and father both died at age 50 from colon cancer. At age 28 I noticed blood in my stool. When my slide results came back mixed, the local doctor (qwack) told me I was too young and I had nothing to worry about. My father died weeks before, so I went to his doctor and found out that my colon was completely full of pre-cancerous polyps and had my colon removed immediately. Don't ever let them tell you that you're too young. You're not.

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by SatM September 9, 2010 4:57 PM EDT: Help others by organizing a WALKATHON for Colon Cancer Prevention.Contact the news media and a few Gastroenterologists in your area to become Sponsors. Contact www.getyourrearingear.com for help.


by longtree-2009 September 2, 2010 3:53 PM EDT: enjoy life while you have it. remember that the second we are conceived, we are conceived to die. the minute we are born, come from our mothers, we are born to die. death comes sooner or later, whether you're healthy or not. no living creature gets out of life, alive. live well, enjoy the simple things.; Reply to this comment

by scramcannon September 2, 2010 10:51 AM EDT

Vitamin D supplementation to maintain a circulating level of 50-80 ng/ml, 25 OH D, is the best way to avoid colon cancer.

Look at the new research and protect yourself from early onset chronic diseases.

What your doctors do not know about vitamin D will shock you.

Reply to this comment


by scramcannon September 2, 2010 6:47 PM EDT: The best source for vitamin D is the original source: Sunlight.

The idiotic advice by doctors to avoid the sun at all costs will go down in history as the most damaging, or iatrogenic, ever.

Purchase D3 supplements, preferrably 5000 i.u. doses- caplets are best-and take one a day- if you are of healthy BMI, from Sept to April, if you live in a cold place winter-wise, like the Northeast.

The risk of skin cancer from casual/moderate sun exposure is so overrated as to be infuriating. The use of poisonous sunscreens earns equal contempt but fortunately the lawyers will soon be all over that catastrophe and the the makers will pay billions in damages.

Bottom line is you need healthy amounts of sun- regularly, and that information so readily dispensed by doctors about avoiding direct sun, was completely, utterly, irrefutably, WRONG!!!

Melanoma rates are up 300% since the AMA told us to wear sunblocks. This is scientific fact and cannot be denied!

AVODING THE SUN CAUSES MELANOMA, NOT PREVENTS IT!!!

They were WRONG!