Signs, Symptoms and Treatment of Colon Cancer 
Colon Polyps A colon polyp is a growth on the surface of the colon, also called the large intestine. Sometimes, a person can have more than one colon polyp. Colon polyps can be raised or flat.
The large intestine is the long, hollow tube at the end of your digestive tract. The large intestine absorbs water from stool and changes it from a liquid to a solid. Stool is the waste that passes through the rectum and anus as a bowel movement.
Are colon polyps cancerous?
Some colon polyps are benign, which means they are not cancer. But some types of polyps may already be cancer or can become cancer. Flat polyps can be smaller and harder to see and are more likely to be cancer than raised polyps. Polyps can usually be removed during colonoscopy—the test used to check for colon polyps.
Who gets colon polyps?
Anyone can get colon polyps, but certain people are more likely to get them than others. You may have a greater chance of getting polyps if:
- you’re 50 years of age or older
- you’ve had polyps before
- someone in your family has had polyps
- someone in your family has had cancer of the large intestine, also called colon cancer
- you’ve had uterine or ovarian cancer before age 50
You may also be more likely to get colon polyps if you: What are the symptoms of colon polyps? 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 puts a thin, flexible tube into your rectum. The tube is called a sigmoidoscope, and it has a light in it. The doctor uses the sigmoidoscope to look at the last third of your large intestine. Colonoscopy. The doctor will give you medicine to sedate you during the colonoscopy. This test is like the sigmoidoscopy, but the doctor looks at the entire large intestine with a long, flexible tube with a camera that shows images on a TV screen. The tube has a tool that can remove polyps. The doctor usually removes polyps during colonoscopy. Computerized tomography (CT) scan. With this test, also called virtula colonoscopy, the doctor puts a thin, flexible tube into your rectum. A machine using x rays and computers creates pictures of the large intestine that can be seen on a screen. The CT scan takes less time than a colonoscopy because polyps are not removed during the test. If the CT scan shows polyps, you will need a colonoscopy so they can be removed. Stool test. The doctor will ask you to bring a stool sample in a special cup. The stool is tested in the laboratory for signs of cancer, such as DNA changes or blood. How can I prevent colon polyps? A colon polyp is a growth on the surface of the colon, also called the large intestine.
The doctor can use one or more tests to check for colon polyps.
Who should get tested for colon polyps?
In most cases, the doctor removes colon polyps during sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. The polyps are then tested for cancer.
If you’ve had colon polyps, the doctor will want you to get tested regularly in the future.
Doctors don’t know of one sure way to prevent colon polyps. But you might be able to lower your risk of getting them if you:
Eating more calcium may also lower your risk of getting polyps. Some foods that are rich in calcium are milk, cheese, yogurt, and broccoli.
Taking a low dose of aspirin every day might help prevent polyps. Talk with your doctor before starting any medication.
Points to Remember
