She did this after the colon cancer death of her husband at the age of 42. I'm 49, and my colonoscopy was performed late last month at St. Joseph's Hospital by Milwaukee gastroenterologist John E. Stone. I didn't think any of the networks would be interested in filming my procedure, so you'll just have to use your imagination. I have been an avid exerciser for about the last 20 years, ever since I quit smoking. There are a lot of reasons why I exercise, not the least of which is as a hedge against serious diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
Some research suggests that regular physical activity can lower the risk of colon cancer.
One theory is that exercise helps speed food through the intestines, resulting in less exposure to potential carcinogens. But exercise is no guarantee that you won't get colon cancer. Regular colon exams, on the other hand, are the closest thing to a guarantee that if you do get colon cancer, you'll live to ski again. Appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Dec. 4, 2000. Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved.