Colon polyps are tiny growths that form on the inside of the large intestine (also known as the colon). Polyps are very frequent. Roughly one-third to one-half of all adults have them by the time they are 50 years old. They do not generally cause symptoms. But some polyps can be or become cancer, so doctors sometimes remove them.
Doctors usually find colon polyps when they are doing screening tests to confirm for colon or rectal cancer. Cancer screening tests are tests that are done to try and find cancer early, before a person has symptoms. The screening tests for colon and rectal cancer include:
Doctors eliminate polyps using the same tools they use for a colonoscopy. They can remove polyps either by snipping them off with a special cutting tool, or by catching the polyps in a noose. Most polyps can be removed during a colonoscopy. But sometimes, large polyps require to be removed at a later time.
You may require a colonoscopy every few years to confirm for more polyps. In some people polyps come back. And if you had the kind of polyps that could become cancer, your doctor will want to remove them as they appear. Also, if the polyps you had removed were the kind that could become cancer, people in your family might require them to be checked for polyps and colon cancer, too.
Depending on your position, your doctor might suggest genetic testing. This can show if your polyps are related to an abnormal gene that runs in families.
To decrease your chances of getting polyps or colon cancer:
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