Colon Polyps Health Video

Colon polyps are a small clump of cells that form on the lining of the colon. Although the great majority of colon polyps are harmless, some may become cancerous over time. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for polyps, colon in this health video.

Take Action

Eat low fat & high fruits diet
Avoid smoking & alcohol excess
Maintain a normal body weight
Get screened for colon cancer

About this Author

Dr. Susan McGladdery is a medical graduate from Oxford University in the UK and has a Master's Degree in Medical Sciences from Cambridge University. She has been a member of the Royal College of Physicians since 1991 and a member of the American Academy of Urgent Care since 2006. She trained as a Family Physician in the UK in Oxford and then in London. In a medical career that spans over 20 years, she has worked as a doctor in 5 countries on 3 continents and cared for patients from a multitude of different nationalities and backgrounds. Dr. McGladdery joined FirstMed Centers in mid 2002 and became Regional Medical Director in 2003.

SUSAN MCGLADDERY: Hello. My name is Dr. Sue McGladdery. I'm the medical director from FirstMed Centers in Budapest, Hungary, and I'd like to give you a little information about colon polyps. Polyps are growths that stick out of the lining of the colon or rectum. Usually they're benign, producing no symptoms but they may cause painless rectal bleeding. They may be single or multiple polyps and they get more common as people age. They're important because over time certain types of polyp known as adenomatous polyp may develop into cancer, especially if they're more than a centimeter in size, or in the presence of other risk factors including a family history of colon cancer or polyps and also with increasing age. As I've said, colon polyps often don't produce any symptoms but patients may notice rectal bleeding or fatigue associated with anemia and rarely pain. How do we diagnose them? Physical exam is usually normal and it's best to make some kind of direct endoscopic examination such as sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. What sort of treatment do we give? Well, since adenomatous polyps can develop into cancer, it's important that they are removed. Followup colonoscopy should be made within three to five years to check for new polyps. Rarely, for polyps with a very high cancer risk, surgery is needed. This involves removal of part of the colon, a procedure known as colectomy. The outlook for patients with colorectal polyps is good if the polyps are removed, but polyps that are left behind can develop into cancer over time. What can you do to prevent polyps? You should eat a diet low in fat and high in fruits, vegetables, and fiber. It's also important to avoid smoking and alcohol excess and it's good to maintain a normal body weight. You should remember that people aged more than 50 years should have a screening colonoscopy performed periodically, and if you have a family history of colon cancer or colon polyps, talk to your doctor about earlier screening.