COLON POLYPS
Colon polyps are small growths on the lining of the colon or rectum. They can be benign or precancerous.
Symptoms
- Most people with colon polyps don't have symptoms
- Blood in the stool
- Minor rectal discomfort
- Large amounts of mucus
- Anemia
- Cramps
- Abdominal pain
Risk factors
- Being male
- Getting older
- Certain genetic syndromes
- A significant family history of colon polyps
- Eating a lot of red meat
- Not eating enough fiber
- Smoking cigarettes
- Obesity
Treatment
- Doctors can remove colon polyps during a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy
- Removing polyps can help prevent colorectal cancer
Types of polyps
- Non-neoplastic (or hyperplastic) polyps: Small and will never become cancerous
- Neoplastic polyps: Precancerous
- Sessile polyps: Lie flat against the surface of the colon's lining
- Pedunculated polyps: Mushroom-like tissue growths that attach to the surface of the colon's mucous membrane by a long, thin stalk
Prognosis
- Untreated colorectal polyps can develop into colorectal cancer
- The risk of cancer from a sporadic 1 cm colonic polyp is about 8% at ten years and 24% at 20 years