A colon polyp is a small clump of cells that forms on the lining of the colon. Most colon polyps are harmless. But over time, some colon polyps can develop into colon cancer. Colon cancer can be fatal when found in its later stages.
If a polyp has cancerous cells, they will also biopsy nearby lymph nodes to determine if the cancer has spread or metastasized to other areas of the body. In this case radiation, chemotherapy or other therapies may be recommended. Colonoscopy screenings can be life saving!
The most important thing you should know is that having colon polyps does not mean you have colon cancer. In fact, most colon polyps don't progress to become cancerous.
How long does it take for a polyp to turn into cancer? The growth and mutation of colon polyps into cancer is a slow process, taking an estimated 10 years on average.
Your health care provider is likely to remove all polyps discovered during a bowel exam. The options for removal include: Polypectomy. In the early stage when they are smaller, polyps can be removed by putting a tube with a tool in the rectum and cutting the cancer out.
If a cancerous polyp is removed completely during colonoscopy with no cancer cells at the edges of the polyp, then no additional treatment may be needed. If there are cancer cells at the edges of the polyp, additional surgery may be needed.
If the polyps aren't treated, your risk of developing colon cancer is nearly 100%, usually before age 40. Genetic testing can help determine your risk of FAP .
A gastroenterologist, the specialist who usually performs a colonoscopy, can't tell for certain if a colon polyp is precancerous or cancerous until it's removed and examined under a microscope.
Studies show that few smaller polyps are cancerous. As polyps slowly grow, however, the cancer risk rises. It's estimated that it takes about 10 years for cancer to form into a colorectal polyp.
Polyps are benign, meaning that they're not cancer and they won't spread, but over time certain types can develop into cancer. One of these types is called adenomatous polyps. These are known as pre-cancerous polyps. Polyps bigger than 1 centimeter have a greater cancer risk than polyps under 1 centimeter.
Approximately 1% of polyps with a diameter less than 1 centimeter (cm) are cancerous. More than one polyp or a polyp that is 1 cm or bigger places you at higher risk for colon cancer. Up to 50% of polyps greater than 2 cm (about the diameter of a nickel) are cancerous.
For colon cancer, the overall 5-year relative survival rate for people is 63%. If the cancer is diagnosed at a localized stage, the survival rate is 91%. If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year relative survival rate is 72%.
Larger polyps might be removed during colonoscopy using special tools to remove the polyp and a small amount of the inner lining of the colon in a procedure called an endoscopic mucosal resection. Minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic surgery).
Cancerous polyps may cause no symptoms at all. But if you do have symptoms, they depend on where the polyp is located: Colorectal polyps may cause belly pain, constipation, diarrhea or blood in your poop. Stomach polyps may cause nausea, belly pain, vomiting and bleeding.
Polyps are common in American adults, and while many colon polyps are harmless, over time, some polyps could develop into colon cancer. While the majority of colon cancers start as polyps, only 5-10% of all polyps will become cancerous.
The polyp can enlarge, as mutated cells start growing faster and living longer. Eventually, in this all this activity, it's possible that a mutation takes a cancerous turn. Thankfully, this is a slow-moving process — and that gives you the chance to stay a step ahead of colorectal cancer.
If your doctor finds one or two polyps less than 0.4 inch (1 centimeter) in diameter, he or she may recommend a repeat colonoscopy in 7 to 10 years, depending on your other risk factors for colon cancer. Your doctor will recommend another colonoscopy sooner if you have: More than two polyps.
Not all polyps pose a higher risk for colorectal cancer. But some colon cancers may start as polyps. So, the more polyps you have, the higher your cancer risk. Someone with just one or two small polyps is generally at lower risk of having or developing colon cancer than someone with three to nine, or more.
Colorectal cancer can occur without polyps, but it is thought to be an uncommon event. Individuals with long-standing inflammatory bowel diseases, such as chronic ulcerative colitis and Crohn's colitis, are at increased risk for developing colorectal cancer that occurs in the absence of obvious polyps.
Polypoid polyps look like a mushroom, but flop around inside the intestine because they are attached to the lining of the colon by a thin stalk. Sessile polyps do not have a stalk, and are attached to the lining by a broad base.
Given enough time to grow and develop, some adenomatous polyps can spread into surrounding tissues and infiltrate the two highway systems of the body: the bloodstream and the lymph nodes. This ability to invade and spread, or metastasize, is how we define a cancer.
Research indicates that as many as 60 percent of polyps may grow back within three years. Also, about 30 percent of patients who've had polyps removed will develop new ones. This is why it is important to talk to the care team about follow-up screening within five years after the polyps are removed.
A polyp is the result of genetic changes in the cells of the colon lining that affect the normal cell life cycle. Many factors can increase the risk or rate of these changes. Factors are related to your diet, lifestyle, older age, gender and genetics or hereditary issues.