Symptoms of Colon Polyps If your polyps do cause symptoms, you may experience: Bleeding from your rectum. Blood in your stool, which can show up as red streaks or make your stool look black. Fatigue, usually from anemia and a lack of iron in your body.
But some larger polyps can cause: a small amount of slime (mucus) or blood in your poo (rectal bleeding) diarrhoea or constipation. pain in your tummy (abdominal pain)
Most people with polyps won't be aware of them as they produce no symptoms and are often discovered by accident. However, some larger polyps can cause: a small amount of rectal bleeding (blood in your stool) mucus to be produced when you open your bowels.
Tell your doctor or specialist nurse if you're worried about a symptom or if it continues for more than a few days. General symptoms of advanced bowel cancer can include: feeling tired. low energy levels.
Fatigue is the most common and least definitive of symptoms associated with colon cancer.
Fatigue may develop as a symptom of blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, because these cancers start in the bone marrow, which produces red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body.
Being older than age 45. Having previously been diagnosed with colon polyps or colorectal cancer. Having a relative who' has had colon polyps, colon cancer or colorectal cancer syndromes, including Lynch syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis.
Depending on their size and location in the colon, serrated polyps may become cancerous. Small, serrated polyps in the lower colon, also known as hyperplastic polyps, are rarely malignant. Larger serrated polyps, which are typically flat (sessile), difficult to detect and located in the upper colon, are precancerous.
Foods to limit
Research suggests that eating less of the following foods may have health benefits and may lower your chances of developing polyps: fatty foods, such as fried foods. red meat, such as beef and pork. processed meat, such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs, and lunch meats.
If a doctor discovers polyps, they will often remove them via a colonoscopy or laparoscopy. The doctor will then send any removed polyps to a pathologist for a biopsy to see if cancer is present. If the biopsy reveals that cancer is present, then cancer specialists will outline a treatment plan for the person.
Polyp Growth Rates
Cancerous polyps tend to grow slowly. It is estimated that the polyp dwell time, the time needed for a small adenoma to transform into a cancer, may be on average 10 years (17). Evidence from the heyday of barium enema examinations indicates that most polyps do not grow or grow very slowly (18).
Colon polyps and diverticulitis have similar symptoms that include: Abdominal pain. Bloating. Constipation.
Large polyps can sometimes cause dull aching in your abdomen or lower back, similar to menstrual cramps.
The most common types of polyps are hyperplastic and adenomatous. The former has no potential to become cancerous, but adenomatous polyps can turn into cancer if not removed, and in adults, you have an increased chance of developing more polyps.
Aging — Polyps and colorectal cancers are uncommon before age 40. Ninety percent of cases occur after age 50, with males somewhat more likely to develop polyps than females; therefore, colon cancer screening is usually recommended starting at age 50 for both sexes.
Most polyps grow slowly and take from between 10 and 15 years to become cancerous. Due to this general time frame, most screenings are scheduled every 10 years which gives Colorectal Surgical Associates time to remove any polyps before they become cancerous.
Experts are not sure what causes colon polyps. It is probably a combination of environmental factors and genetics. However, certain people are at higher risk for getting them, especially if you: Are 45 years of age or older.
Polyps are growths of the uterine lining; fibroids are growths of muscle tissue. Polyps are typically smaller than fibroids and often go away without treatment. Fibroids can shrink after menopause but do not go away. Polyps can lead to cancer and subfertility.
Common causes of tiredness and fatigue include: not getting enough sleep or finding it hard to get to sleep (insomnia) an unhealthy lifestyle (such as having an unhealthy diet and not getting much exercise) stress, depression and dealing with life challenges, such as bereavement or looking after a new baby.
Cancer related fatigue is different from tiredness which is usually short term and you feel better after you stop, sleep or rest. Cancer fatigue doesn't usually go away with sleep or rest. It can be severe and last a long time. Fatigue can last for different amounts of time depending on what's causing it.
Many cases of tiredness are due to stress, not enough sleep, poor diet and other lifestyle factors. Try these self-help tips to restore your energy levels. If you feel you're suffering from fatigue, which is an overwhelming tiredness that isn't relieved by rest and sleep, you may have an underlying medical condition.