What are colon polyps?
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| Digestive tract |
A polyp* is extra tissue that
grows inside your body. Colon polyps grow in the large
intestine. The large intestine, also called the
colon, is part of your digestive system. It's a long,
hollow tube at the end of your digestive tract where your
body makes and stores stool.
*Medical terms are defined in the
glossary.
Are polyps dangerous?
Most polyps are not dangerous. Most are benign,
which means they are not cancer. But over time,
some types of polyps can turn into cancer. Usually, polyps
that are smaller than a pea aren't harmful. But larger
polyps could someday become cancer or may already be
cancer. To be safe, doctors remove all polyps and test
them.
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| Colon
polyp |
Who gets polyps?
Anyone can get polyps, but certain people are more
likely than others. You may have a greater chance of
getting polyps if
- you're over 50. The older you get, the more likely
you are to develop polyps.
- you've had polyps before.
- someone in your family has had polyps.
- someone in your family has had cancer of the large
intestine.
You may also be more likely to get polyps if you
- eat a lot of fatty foods
- smoke
- drink alcohol
- don't exercise
- weigh too much
What are the symptoms?
Most small polyps don't cause symptoms. Often, people
don't know they have one until the doctor finds it during
a regular checkup or while testing them for something
else.
But some people do have symptoms like these:
- bleeding from the anus. You
might notice blood on your underwear or on toilet
paper after you've had a bowel movement.
- constipation or diarrhea that lasts more than a
week.
- blood in the stool. Blood can make stool look black,
or it can show up as red streaks in the stool.
If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor to find
out what the problem is.
How does the doctor test for polyps?
The doctor can use four tests to check for polyps:
- Digital rectal exam. The doctor wears gloves and
checks your rectum, the last
part of the large intestine, to see if it feels
normal. This test would find polyps only in the
rectum, so the doctor may need to do one of the other
tests listed below to find polyps higher up in the
intestine.
- Barium enema. The doctor puts a liquid called barium
into your rectum before taking x rays of your large
intestine. Barium makes your intestine look white in
the pictures. Polyps are dark, so they're easy to see.
- Sigmoidoscopy. With this
test, the doctor can see inside your large intestine.
The doctor puts a thin flexible tube into your rectum.
The device is called a sigmoidoscope, and it has a
light and a tiny video camera in it. The doctor uses
the sigmoidoscope to look at the last third of your
large intestine.
- Colonoscopy. This test is
like sigmoidoscopy, but the doctor looks at all of the
large intestine. It usually requires sedation.
Who should get tested for polyps?
Talk to your doctor about getting tested for polyps if
- you have symptoms
- you're 50 years old or older
- someone in your family has had polyps or colon
cancer
How are polyps treated?
The doctor will remove the polyp. Sometimes, the doctor
takes it out during sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. Or the
doctor may decide to operate through the abdomen.
The polyp is then tested for cancer.
If you've had polyps, the doctor may want you to get
tested regularly in the future.
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| Polyp removal |
How can I prevent polyps?
Doctors don't know of any one sure way to prevent
polyps. But you might be able to lower your risk of
getting them if you
- eat more fruits and vegetables and less fatty food
- don't smoke
- avoid alcohol
- exercise every day
- lose weight if you're overweight
Eating more calcium and folate can also lower your risk
of getting polyps. Some foods that are rich in calcium are
milk, cheese, and broccoli. Some foods that are rich in
folate are chickpeas, kidney beans, and spinach.
Some doctors think that aspirin might help prevent
polyps. Studies are under way.
Points to Remember
- A polyp is extra tissue that grows inside the body.
Most polyps are not harmful.
- Symptoms may include constipation or diarrhea for
more than a week or blood on your underwear, on toilet
paper, or in your stool.
- Many polyps do not cause symptoms.
- Doctors remove all polyps and test them for cancer.
- Talk to your doctor about getting tested for polyps
if
- you have any symptoms
- you're 50 years old or older
- someone in your family has had polyps or colon
cancer
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