Colon Polyps
James Moyog
November 19, 2008
Colon polyps are those extra and abnormal tissues or small clumps of cell that grow in the large intestine or the colon. Though most of the polyps are harmless, there is also a risk of them becoming cancerous and harmful in the future. These polyps start to grow as small and benign cells and then continue to grow and sometimes become a threat to life.
There are different types of polyps:
Adenomatous polyps: these polyps are the most common and carries risk of cancer which increases as the size grows bigger. They grow slowly and show no symptoms and if detected can be removed by colonoscopy.
Hyperplasic polyps: these polyps are very small and mostly grow in the left side of the colon or in the rectum. They are considered low risk polyps.
Inflammatory polyps: they are not real polyps and are caused by chronic inflammation in the colon walls. They are mostly found in patients suffering from ulcerative colitis and Crohn´s disease of the colon. They can be removed by colonoscopy.
Villous adenoma or tubulovillous adenoma: these polyps are highly risky and become very large. The small ones can be removed by colonoscopy but the large ones can be removed only by surgery.
There´re some people who are more prone to developing polyps. People who are above 50 years of age and who are over weight have been found to be sensitive to polyps. Those who have family history of colon polyps or whose relatives had suffered from colon cancer are also likely to develop polyps. The diet and lifestyle is also a very important factor because those who drink alcohol and smoke often have colon cleanse problems. A low-fiber and high-fat diet is the enemy of the colon. those who have polyps in the colon may most of the times not show any symptoms but the polyps show their presence they include rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, etc.
It is very helpful if the polyps are detected early because the situation becomes complicated once the polyps become too large and carry cancer with them. Polyps can be diagnosed by doing tests such as fecal occult blood test, barium enema, colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, computed tomographic colonography (CTC) for using colon cleansing product. Small polyps can be removed immediately by the doctor while doing colonoscopy. For larger polyps, surgery is required. If the polyps are too big and well spread, the whole colon or a large part of the colon needs to be removed.
There are different types of polyps:
Adenomatous polyps: these polyps are the most common and carries risk of cancer which increases as the size grows bigger. They grow slowly and show no symptoms and if detected can be removed by colonoscopy.
Hyperplasic polyps: these polyps are very small and mostly grow in the left side of the colon or in the rectum. They are considered low risk polyps.
Inflammatory polyps: they are not real polyps and are caused by chronic inflammation in the colon walls. They are mostly found in patients suffering from ulcerative colitis and Crohn´s disease of the colon. They can be removed by colonoscopy.
Villous adenoma or tubulovillous adenoma: these polyps are highly risky and become very large. The small ones can be removed by colonoscopy but the large ones can be removed only by surgery.
There´re some people who are more prone to developing polyps. People who are above 50 years of age and who are over weight have been found to be sensitive to polyps. Those who have family history of colon polyps or whose relatives had suffered from colon cancer are also likely to develop polyps. The diet and lifestyle is also a very important factor because those who drink alcohol and smoke often have colon cleanse problems. A low-fiber and high-fat diet is the enemy of the colon. those who have polyps in the colon may most of the times not show any symptoms but the polyps show their presence they include rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, etc.
It is very helpful if the polyps are detected early because the situation becomes complicated once the polyps become too large and carry cancer with them. Polyps can be diagnosed by doing tests such as fecal occult blood test, barium enema, colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, computed tomographic colonography (CTC) for using colon cleansing product. Small polyps can be removed immediately by the doctor while doing colonoscopy. For larger polyps, surgery is required. If the polyps are too big and well spread, the whole colon or a large part of the colon needs to be removed.