Colon polyps are benign, noncancerous, or cancerous growths on the inside of the colon. They may range in size and be small or large. They can be a precursor to colon cancer and should always be treated. The types of treatment will depend on the number of polyps and if they are cancerous.
Colon Polyp Statistics
You are more likely to get colon polyps if you have had them before, are obese, are a smoker or drinker, eat fatty foods predominantly, don’t exercise, over 50 years old, or if you have a history of cancer in your family.
Symptoms of Colon Polyps
There is typically no signs or symptoms of having colon polyps. If there are symptoms, they are blood on the toilet paper or bleeding from the anus, diarrhea lasting more than a week, constipation lasting more than a week, or blood in the stool.
Colon Polyp Testing
If you are at risk for colon polyps or cancer, have symptoms that are described in “Symptoms of Colon Polyps”, or are over the age of 50, you should be tested by a physician. Many times the doctor will be able to remove the polyps while you are undergoing testing. Testing is done by a colonoscopy, a lighted camera to look inside the colon. If polyps are found, they may be removed at the time of detection. They will then be tested for cancer.
Treatment
Treatment can be as simple as removal if they are found to be benign, or can be as complicated as chemotherapy and radiation if they are found to be cancerous. Your doctor will analyze the polyps and work out the best treatment plan for your situation. If they are cancerous, you will need to undergo treatment for colon cancer while still having the colon polyps removed.
Colon polyps are difficult to detect before there are symptoms. Having yearly checkups and screenings done if you are at risk can help lessen your risk factors of having polyps turn into cancerous tumors.
Source: NIH Publication No. 11-6188, October 2010