Colon Polyp
Frequently Asked Questions
None Available At This Time
Description
A colon polyp is a growth on the surface of the large intestine, or colon. While some colon polyps are benign, meaning they are not cancer, other types of polyps may already be cancer or can become cancer later.
While anyone get get colon polyps, certain people are more like to get them than others. You have a greater chance of getting polyps if you are 50 years of age or older, have had polyps before, if someone in your family has had polyps, or if someone in your family has had colon cancer.
You may also be more likely to develop colon polyps if you eat a lot of fatty foods, smoke, drink alcohol, are overweight, or don't exercise.
A colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy are the tests used to check for colon polyps. If polyps are found, the doctor will remove them during the procedure in most cases. The polyps are then tested for cancer.
If you have had colon polyps, you should get tested regularly in the future.
(Images used by permission of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health.)
Sources of Additional Information
- The American College of Gastroenterology
- Colon Polyps
- (An overview of colon polyps, tests, and treatments.)
- American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
- Understanding Polyps and Their Treatment
- (An overview of the types, risks, and removal of polyps.)
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
- What I Need to Know About Colon Polyps
- (An overview of colon polyps, the symptoms, testing for, and treating.)
Free Pamphlet from NDDIC: What I Need to Know About Colon Polyps
