Colon polyps do not grow from residual food left inside the intestine. Scientists are not sure what causes them to grow, but they think that genetics play a large part. If you have polyps in your family, you are at high risk for getting them. Some also think that diet and environmental factors, such as smoking, can add to the formation of polyps. Eating a high-fiber diet has shown promise in maintaining a healthy colon and preventing colon cancer, so you might want to incorporate that into your meal plans.
Causes
Doctors are not sure what causes colon polyps, but some think there is a genetic component at work. A genetic disorder called polyposis coli can cause thousands of polyps to grow in your colon, according to New York University Langone Medical Center. These are primarily adenomatous polyps, which grow and change in size. They can become cancerous. The other type of polyp is hyperplastic, which generally stays the same size and is unlikely to become cancerous. Some risk factors for polyps include being over age 50, a family history of colon polyps or colon cancer and obesity.
Symptoms
Usually, there are no symptoms with colon polyps. Some polyps can bleed, and this will cause bloody stools. You might also notice bleeding from your rectum. Anemia, or a low red blood cell count, can result if there is a great deal of bleeding from your polyps. Abdominal pain is only rarely a symptom. If you doctor suspects you have polyps, he will prescribe a colonoscopy. For this test, the doctor inserts a camera into the rectum to examine your intestines. If there are polyps, he can remove them at this time or take biopsies of any suspect tissue for further testing. Another diagnostic possibility is a barium enema, in which the doctor injects barium into the rectum and takes X-rays.
Treatment
The treatment for colon polyps is removal. This usually happens during the colonoscopy, but you will need traditional surgery for larger polyps or ones that are cancerous. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, a polyp that shows a high chance of cancer might result in your doctor recommending a colectomy, or removal of the entire colon. However, this is an extreme case and not likely to occur from a simple polyp. You will likely need to have another colonoscopy in three to five years to check whether polyps have returned.
Prevention
You can take steps to minimize your risk of forming colon polyps, although prevention of colon cancer and polyps is still not clear to scientists. Eating a diet high in fiber is often the recommendation for colon health. Limit the amount of animal fat in your diet, and try to get exercise in your daily activities. Quit smoking and lose weight. Most importantly, get screened for colon cancer by having a colonoscopy at age 50 and then every 10 years thereafter. You will need to have this exam more frequently if the doctor finds polyps.
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