Description

A polyp of the colon is a small group of cells that forms on the lining of the colon. Most colon polyps are harmless. But over time, some colon polyps that can turn into colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer can be fatal when found in its later stages.

Any person can develop polyps in the colon, and the risk increases with age. Your risk of colorectal cancer is higher if you are overweight, smoking, having a personal history of colon polyps or a family history of advanced polyps in the colon or colorectal cancer.

Colon polyps generally do not cause symptoms. It is important to have regular screening tests, because colon polyps are detected early it can usually be removed safely and completely. The best prevention for colorectal cancer is regular screening.

Symptoms

Most people with colon polyps have no symptoms. Colon polyps are often found as part of the routine detection of colorectal cancer.

The symptoms that should prompt an appointment with a health care professional include:

  • Change in bowel habits. Constipation or diarrhea that lasts more than a week can mean the presence of a higher colon polyp or cancer. However, several other conditions can also cause changes in bowel habits.
  • Change in stool color. The blood may appear as red streaks in the stool, or cause the stool to appear black. A change in color can also be caused by certain foods, medications or dietary supplements.
  • Iron-deficiency Anemia. The bleeding from the polyps can happen slowly over time, without visible blood in the stool. Chronic bleeding can lead to iron-deficiency anemia, which can cause tiredness and shortness of breath.
  • Pain. A large colon polyp or cancer can block part of the intestine, causing cramps and abdominal pain.
  • Rectal Bleeding. This can be a sign of colon polyps or cancer, or other conditions, such as hemorrhoids or minor tears in the anus.

When to see a doctor

Consult a health care professional if you experience:

  • Belly pain.
  • Blood in the stool.
  • A change in bowel habits that lasts more than a week.
  • Losing weight without trying.

Who should be screened regularly for colorectal cancer if you:

  • You are 45 years or more.
  • You may need to start screening before age 45, depending on your medical conditions and history of the family.

Causes

Healthy cells grow and divide in an orderly way. Changes in some cells may lead to continue dividing even when new cells are not needed. In the colon and the rectum, this continuous growth of the cells can cause polyps of the way. Polyps can grow in any place in the large intestine.

There are two main categories of polyps, non-neoplastic and neoplastic. Non-neoplastic polyps typically do not become cancerous. The polyps are neoplastic include adenomas and serrated lesions. Most cases of colorectal cancer arise from an adenoma, which has been present for a long time. However, serrated lesions can also become cancerous. In general, for the polyps are neoplastic, the larger the polyp, the greater the risk of cancer.

Risk factors

The factors that could increase the risk of colon polyps or cancer include:

  • Age. Most people with colon polyps is over 45 years old.
  • Have certain intestinal conditions. Have inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, increases the overall risk of colorectal cancer.
  • The history of the family. Having a parent, sibling or child with the advanced polyps in the colon (polyps 10 mm in size or larger, for example) increases the risk of getting to them. If many of the members of the family, the risk is even greater. In some people, this connection is not hereditary.
  • Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Studies show that people who have three or more alcoholic drinks a day have a higher risk of developing polyps in the colon. The consumption of Alcohol combined with the habit of smoking also appears to increase the risk.
  • Have diabetes. Diabetes increases the polyp risk by 50% among all age groups.
  • Obesity, lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet. The risk of polyps in the colon increases for people who are overweight, don't exercise regularly, and the lack of a healthy diet.
  • Of the race. Black Americans have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Polyp syndromes

Inherited disorders are passed down from parents. Rarely, people inherit genetic variants that cause polyps in the colon to form and increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Screening and early detection can help prevent the growth or spread of these types of cancer.

The conditions that cause polyps in the colon are:

  • Lynch syndrome, also called hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. People with Lynch syndrome may be relatively few colonic polyps, but polyps can quickly become cancerous. Lynch syndrome is the most common form of hereditary colon cancer and is also associated with tumors in other parts of the abdomen.
  • Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), a rare disorder that causes hundreds or even thousands of polyps develop in the lining of the colon during the years of adolescence. If the polyps are not treated, the risk of developing colon cancer is almost 100%, usually before the age of 40. Genetic testing can help determine the risk of FAP.
  • MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP), a condition similar to that of the FAP which is caused by changes in the gene MUTYH. People with a MAP that often develop multiple adenomatous colon polyps and cancer at an early age. Genetic testing can help determine the risk MAP.
  • Peutz-jeghers syndrome, a condition that usually begins with the development of freckles all over the body, including the lips, gums and feet. Then, the polyps are non-cancerous growths develop along the intestines. These polyps can become cancerous, so that people with this disease have an increased risk of colon cancer.
  • Polyposis syndrome, juvenile (JPS), an inherited disease that is most common in children ages 1 to 7, despite the fact that sometimes occurs in adults. Juvenile polyps are often the only, but if there are multiple polyps increases the risk of cancer.
  • The syndrome of serrated polyposis is most often a condition that is not inherited but is defined on the basis of the history of the polyp. This syndrome is considered for people with multiple serrated lesions. As these polyps may become cancerous, that need to be removed, and the colonoscopy is performed more often.

Complications

Some colon polyps can become cancerous. The previous polyps are removed, the less likely it is to become cancerous.

Prevention

The risk of colon polyps and colorectal cancer can be greatly reduced by having regular checkups. Certain lifestyle changes can also help to:

  • Adopt healthy habits. Include plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in your diet and reduce the intake of fats. Limit alcohol and stop smoking all tobacco use. Stay physically active and maintain a healthy body weight.
  • Consider your options if you are at high risk. If you have a family history of polyps in the colon, talk with a health care professional. If you have a personal history of 10 or more polyps, neoplastic, consider genetic counseling. Referral to a genetic counselor can be considered as depending on the history of his family. If you have been diagnosed with a hereditary disorder that causes polyps in the colon, you'll need regular colonoscopies beginning in young adulthood.

Diagnosis

Screening tests are important in the search for polyps before they become cancerous. These tests can also help find colorectal cancer in its early stages, when you have a good chance of recovery.

The detection methods are:

  • Colonoscopy, in which a small tube with a light and camera is inserted into the rectum to examine the colon. If polyps are found, a health care provider may remove them immediately or take tissue samples to send to a laboratory for analysis.
  • The Virtual colonoscopy, a test that uses a ct scan to see the colon. Virtual colonoscopy requires the same bowel preparation as a colonoscopy. If a polyp is found during the exam, you will need to repeat bowel preparation for a colonoscopy to have the polyp examined and removed.
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy. As a colonoscopy, it uses a small tube with a light and a camera but examines only the last third of the colon. The majority of the two points is not seen with this test, so some polyps and cancers can't be found. When this test is used, it is repeated more often than colonoscopy or used in conjunction with a rate of stool-based test.
  • Stool-based tests. There are some of these tests are available. One of these controls blood in the stool and needs to be repeated every year. Another test that checks the blood and tumor markers in the stool to look for polyps in the colon or colorectal cancer and is repeated every three years. If any of the stool-based tests positive, a colonoscopy is recommended soon after.

Treatment

A health professional is likely to remove all polyps are discovered during an examination of the intestine. Options for removal include:

  • The polypectomy. Polyps can be removed during the colonoscopy through the use of some techniques. This process is called a polypectomy. The removal of polyps prevents the opportunity for growth in colorectal cancer.
  • The minimally invasive surgery. Polyps that are too large or that cannot be removed safely during the colonoscopy is removed surgically. This is often done through the placement of an instrument called a laparoscope into the abdomen to remove the part of the intestine, with the polyp or cancer.
  • Total Proctocolectomy. If you have a rare hereditary syndrome, such as FAP, you may need surgery to remove the colon and the rectum. This surgery can protect you from developing colorectal cancer.

Some types of polyps in the colon has the potential to become cancerous, and others do not. A medical professional who studies tissue samples, called a pathologist looks at the polyp tissue under a microscope to determine.

The follow-up care

If you have had an adenomatous polyp or serrated lesion, you are at increased risk of colorectal cancer. The level of risk depends on the size, number and characteristics of polyps that were removed.

A health professional is likely to recommend a colonoscopy:

  • In 7 to 10 years if you have only one or two small adenomas.
  • In 3 to 5 years if there were three or four adenomas.
  • In three years if you had 5 to 10 adenomas, adenomas greater than 10 mm or certain types of adenomas.
  • In 6 months to a year, if there were more than 10 adenomas, a large adenoma or adenoma that had to be removed in pieces.
  • The follow-up colonoscopy schedule for serrated lesions is similar to that of adenomas.

The preparation for the colonoscopy

It is very important to fully clean the colon before a colonoscopy. If the stool remains in the colon and blocks the view of the wall of the colon, it is likely that you will need another colonoscopy earlier than usual to make sure that all polyps are found.

After a good preparation of the colon, the bowel movements should appear as a clear liquid. They can also be slightly yellow or green tinted, depending on the liquids consumed during the preparation. If you experience problems with the colon preparation or feel they have not been completely cleaned up, you should tell the healthcare professional prior to beginning your colonoscopy. Some people need additional steps before having to undergo a colonoscopy.

Preparing for your appointment

You may be referred to a health professional who specializes in diseases of the digestive system, called a gastroenterologist.

What you can do

  • Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions, such as not eating solid foods on the day before your appointment.
  • Write down your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Make a list of all your medications, vitamins and supplements.
  • Write down your key medical information, including other conditions.
  • Write down key personal information, including any recent changes or stressors in your life.
  • Ask a relative or friend with you to help you remember what the care provider says.
  • Write questions to ask during the appointment.

Questions to ask your doctor

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • What kinds of tests do I need? Do these tests require any special preparation?
  • What treatments are available?
  • What are the chances of these polyps are malignant?
  • It is possible that I have a genetic condition that leads to polyps in the colon?
  • What type of follow-up tests do I need?
  • Should I remove or add food to my diet?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions?

In addition to the questions you have prepared, do not hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

You'll likely be asked a couple of questions. Be prepared to answer them you can let go the more points you want to spend more time. You may ask:

  • When did you first begin to experience the symptoms, and how severe are they?
  • The symptoms been continuous or occasional?
  • Do you or someone in your family has had colorectal cancer or polyps in the colon?
  • Have someone in your family has had other types of cancer of the digestive tract, the uterus, ovaries, or bladder?
  • How much you smoke and drink?
Symptoms and treatment of Colon polyps