Colon Polyps – Symptoms and Causes
What Are Colon Polyps?
Colon polyps are small clumps of cells that grow on the colon’s inner lining. Most polyps are harmless, but some can develop into cancer over time if left untreated.
Colon cancer can be deadly when discovered late.
Several factors increase your risk of developing colon polyps:
- Age: Being 50 or older.
- Lifestyle: Obesity and smoking.
- Medical history: Personal or family history of polyps or colon cancer.
These growths rarely cause noticeable symptoms, making regular screening crucial.
When found early, doctors can usually remove polyps completely and safely.
Regular screening tests and polyp removal offer the best protection against developing colon cancer.
Doctors recommend regular colonoscopies for people over 50 or earlier for those with higher risk factors. These screenings help catch polyps before they become dangerous.
Signs and Problems
Most people with colon polyps have no symptoms. You might only learn about a polyp when your doctor finds it during a colon exam.
Some people may experience these problems:
Bowel habit changes – Constipation or diarrhea lasting more than a week could mean a large polyp or cancer, though other conditions cause these symptoms too.
Stool color changes – Blood can appear as red streaks or make the stool look black. Food, medicine or supplements can also change stool color.
Low iron levels – Slow bleeding from polyps might not be visible but can cause iron deficiency anemia, making you feel tired and short of breath.
Pain – Large polyps might block part of your bowel, causing stomach cramps.
Rectal bleeding – This could signal polyps, cancer, hemorrhoids, or small anal tears.
When to Call a Doctor
Talk to your doctor if you have:
- Stomach pain
- Blood in your stool
- Bowel habit changes lasting longer than a week
Regular screening is important if:
- You’re 50 or older
- You have risk factors like family history of colon cancer
- You’re high-risk (some people should start screening much earlier than 50)
Causes
Cells in a healthy body grow and split in a regular pattern. When genes change, cells may keep dividing when they shouldn’t. This extra growth can lead to polyps in the colon and rectum.
Polyps can appear anywhere in the large intestine.
Polyps fall into two main groups:
- Nonneoplastic polyps typically don’t become cancer.
- Neoplastic polyps may turn into cancer.
Neoplastic polyps include:
- Adenomas are most likely to become cancerous if they grow for a long time.
- Serrated polyps can become cancerous depending on their size and where they are located.
The cancer risk increases with the size of neoplastic polyps. Larger polyps generally pose a greater danger than smaller ones.
Risk Factors
Many factors can increase your chance of developing colon polyps. Age plays a significant role, with most cases appearing in people over 50.
If you have inflammatory bowel conditions like ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, your risk of colon problems goes up.
Having a parent, sibling, or child with colon polyps or cancer raises your risk. This becomes even more important when multiple family members are affected.
Lifestyle choices impact your chances as well. Smoking combined with drinking three or more alcoholic drinks daily increases risk.
Being overweight, not exercising regularly, and eating a high-fat diet are also connected to higher rates of colon polyps.
Research shows that Black Americans face higher risks of developing colon cancer compared to other groups.
Inherited Polyp Conditions
Some people are born with genetic changes that make colon polyps much more likely. These inherited conditions significantly increase cancer risk. Early screening is crucial if you have one of these disorders.
Lynch Syndrome
This is the most common inherited colon cancer condition. People with Lynch syndrome develop fewer polyps, but these polyps can quickly become cancerous. This condition also raises risks for tumors in other parts of the abdomen.
Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)
This rare disorder causes hundreds or thousands of polyps to form in the colon beginning in the teenage years. Without treatment, the cancer risk approaches 100%, often before age 40. Genetic testing can determine your FAP risk.
Gardner Syndrome
A variant of FAP that causes polyps throughout both the colon and small intestine. It also leads to non-cancerous tumors in other body parts, including:
- Skin
- Bones
- Abdomen
MUTYH-Associated Polyposis (MAP)
Similar to FAP, this condition stems from changes in the MUTYH gene. People with MAP often develop multiple polyps and colon cancer at young ages. Genetic testing can identify this risk.
Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome
This condition begins with widespread freckles on the body, including lips, gums, and feet. Non-cancerous polyps then develop throughout the intestines. These polyps may become cancerous over time.
Serrated Polyposis Syndrome
This causes multiple serrated adenomatous polyps in the upper colon. These polyps have cancer potential and require careful monitoring and possible removal.
Possible Health Risks
Some polyps in the colon might develop into cancer over time. Removing these growths early significantly lowers the risk of them becoming cancerous.
Prevention
Regular screenings can greatly lower your risk of colon polyps and colorectal cancer. There are also important lifestyle changes that help protect your health.
Healthy Habits Make a Difference
- Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
- Reduce fat in your diet
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Quit using tobacco products
- Stay active with regular exercise
- Maintain a healthy weight
Nutrition Considerations
Research suggests calcium intake may help prevent the return of colon adenomas, though its effect on cancer prevention isn’t fully clear.
Studies also indicate vitamin D might provide protection against colorectal cancer. Talk with your healthcare provider about whether supplements might be right for you.
High-Risk Individuals
If colon polyps run in your family, consider genetic counseling to understand your risk factors.
Those diagnosed with hereditary disorders that cause colon polyps should begin regular colonoscopies early in adulthood. Your doctor can help create a screening schedule appropriate for your specific situation.
