tl;dr: we don't know yet.
If I had to guess, I'd say microplastics or some dietary thing like aspartame.
But there's also a link between colon cancer and running. The article mentions two people as pictures of health who run a lot.
this post was submitted on 13 Feb 2026
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We don't know yet, but the article mentions it's likely that the gut microbiome is involved, which means microplastics and food additives are unlikely to have much of an importance.
There are plenty of pathogens that cause cancers, and the article implies something about our lifestyle or their own evolution has turned a formerly benign entity against us.
I would assume food additives impact the gut biome, a casual search suggests as much. I wouldn't rule out plastics either, though they are clearly more of an unknown.
My bet's on Long COVID. It's been connected to so many other random medical issues popping up (including diabetes, low sperm counts, and early onset Alzheimers IIRC) that it may as well be connected to ass cancer as well.
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I know alot of people get into running to cope with stress. Maybe that is a possibile link.
Pictures of health could still be drinking PFOA and other crap if their drinking water hasn’t been tested.
Kidney and Colon cancer are two of the most linked diseases to if.
Most synthetic sweeteners are considered scientifically rigorously tested and safe for consumption. :)
Same with glyphosate, I drink that shit every day and no weeds coming out my ass!
I always knew running was bad news. 😏
Mine went from zero to stage 2 in 6 months, no family history, no genetic pre-disposition. Surgery 1 week from today.
March is colon cancer awareness month, get checked and wear blue.
Pro-tip, the stuff they make you drink before hand is NASTY. It tastes like salt water and not even GOOD salt water, salt water made with that fake potassium salt.
But if you add Gatorade powder (lime or arctic cherry, green or white drinks only, no orange or red) it's drinkable. One glass every 12 minutes for 2 hours, wait 6 hours and do it again:
.
Colonoscopy itself is no big deal, you're out for the whole thing!
When I did mine I made the mistake of trusting a fart... Don't trust your farts while taking this
Agreed, that is not a time to gamble the fart. I 100% guarantee you, it is not a fart.
Don't trust ANYTHING taking this. 😉
Hope everything goes well mate. We are all here if you need some buddies.
Yeah, prep is the worst thing about a colonoscopy. The procedure itself isn't that bad.
You've got this buddy. Kick that cancers motherfucking ass.
Colonoscopy itself is no big deal, you’re out for the whole thing!
I mean if you're in pain, sure, do it.
Otherwise I recommend staying awake (do ask your doctor though). I had a blast looking so deep inside me, but I had no issues (like tumors or inflammation) and the awful drink actually cured my constipation (the chronic constipation being the reason why I had colonoscopy in the first place).
If it had JUST been a colonoscopy, yeah, but they wanted an endoscopy as well ("Oh, a spit roast!" - "Don't call it that!")
I've had so many medical things done that I always opt to be out when possible.
I had an endoscopy (gastroscopy is the word I think?) once (tube from the front and they took something for biopsy) and I cried and gagged with snot during the whole procedure. I concur, I'd rather be out next time I have to have it.
Sorry to hear. Best of luck!
How did you find out?
Was struggling with anemia, low energy, out of breath, blood panels showed low hemoglobin, poor red blood cell counts, small and irregular red blood cells.
Something was chewing up all the red blood cells. Had a colonoscopy / endoscopy ("Oh, so a spit roast!" - "Don't call it that!") and they found 17 polyps. 2 were abnormally large (>5mm) one was 20mm, one 30mm.
No cancer though, wanted to re-do in January.
Went back, 6 more polyps, one 20mm + stage 2 cancer.
Men in their 20s, 30s, and 40s—runners, CrossFitters, lifelong nonsmokers—were streaming through her door at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. They all appeared lively and strong—yet there they were, battling colorectal cancers
Well there's your problem. Don't run, drink beer with friends, smoke socially and you'd happily get to retirement! 🤭
Perhaps overconsumption of protein?
Same thought i had. A lot of men nowadays eat almost no fibre, which is very important in preventing colon cancer.
That's why I also drink Metamucil twice a day. Stuff is fantastic for keeping everything moving. And I eat my fruits and veggies, but nothing wrong with a little supplementation.
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How does fiber prevent colon cancer?
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10488173/
"Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of mortality for cancer in industrialized countries. The link between diet and CRC is well-known, and presumably CRC is the type of cancer which is most influenced by dietary habits. In Western countries, an inadequate dietary intake of fibers is endemic, and this could be a driving factor in the increase of CRC incidence."
Fiber prevents colon cancer primarily by increasing stool bulk and speeding up transit time, which reduces the contact between harmful carcinogens and the colon lining. It also acts as food for beneficial gut bacteria, fermenting into short-chain fatty acids like butyrate that reduce inflammation and promote cancer cell death.
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Maybe in the form that protein is consumed. If it’s processed protein like bars or drinks, or other forms of packaged and processed foods it might be an issue.
Distance running has been scientifically linked to an increase in colon cancer rates, and CrossFit could easily be similarly unhealthy as far as inducing extra stress on the intestine by being an activity that can lead to dehydration while violently shaking things around in there more than what could be considered "normal."
Not enough fiber. Everyone eating carnivore diets and nobody eating fibrous foods
Even the old school chuds on bodybuilding.com would go for the chicken AND broccoli diet. Idk what the point is of completely foregoing fiber.
F. nucleatum animalis. Cancer causing bacteria. No l, there's not much you can do. Results of the 2024 study by Nature.
https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2024/colorectal-cancer-fna-c2-bacteria
It's fucked up that I can't trust a federal government cancer website with this administration.
Definitely need more research. I was diagnosed at 36 and had no genetic predisposition. Doc said I was just "unlucky."
What prompted you to get checked?
There were two symptoms. My stool started to get smaller in diameter because the tumor was squeezing the colon, and I started to have abdominal pain because the tumor attached itself to the inner lining of my abdomen.
Thank you for sharing, I appreciate you.
You're welcome! I'm always happy to answer questions about it. Get checked out if you have any symptoms whatsoever.
I've pretty much always had digestive issues, but then again I've pretty much always had anxiety. I've gotten a lot better at differentiating my anxiety from actual issues, but a large part of that journey has been talking to doctors and getting tested for things... And then them inevitably telling me everything seems fine 😅
Let me guess it's all the "food" we eat
That and environmental industrial carcinogens.
Basically the same thing
I'm curious if as kids they loved the sour candy stuff popular during their youth, could there be a connection or correlation?
Is there a reason you're jumping on sour candy specifically here?
Ok, not op, but hear me out.
Sour candy is typically flavored with various acids citric, malic, tartaric, etc. to achieve the sour taste.
If the bacteria is normally in the mouth, but not typically able to survive the acidic environment of the gut, maybe that additional acid from sour candy was able to add selective pressure, and the surviving bacteria were then less affected by stomach acid.
MAYBE
Ok fine. What about a link to red potato chip flavours?
If youre nervous about colonoscopies there are alternatives out there. Tests like Cologuard are much less invasive. They are not 100% accurate, but something is better than nothing when it comes to colon cancer.
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