I have Colon Polyps: Now what?
Newswise — M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is
encouraging men and women to learn more
about colon polyps and how they affect a
person’s risks for cancer.
“Finding out you have colon polyps doesn’t
have to be frightening,” said Gottumukkala
S. Raju, M.D., professor in the Department
of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and
Nutrition at M. D. Anderson. “Most colon
polyps are not cancer. Yet, certain kinds of
polyps may make you more likely to develop
colon cancer.”
The colon is part of the large intestine. A
colon polyp is a growth on the inside lining
of the colon. A doctor looks for polyps
during a colonoscopy.
Learn your polyp type
Polyps come in different shapes and sizes.
Some are:
* Raised on stems like mushrooms
* Found on the surface of the colon, like a
mushroom without a stalk
* Found flat on the surface of the colon,
like a pancake
When a doctor removes a polyp during a
colonoscopy, he or she sends it to a
pathologist for examination under a
microscope. The pathologist determines if
the polyp is a:
* Hyperplastic polyp, which is not cancer
* Adenomatous polyp, which is not cancer but
can become cancer if it’s not removed
* Malignant polyp, which is cancer
“It’s important for you to know all about
the polyps your doctor found during your
last colonoscopy,” Raju said.
Instructions for collecting polyp history
Raju recommends that everyone review their
last colonoscopy report and make note of
what was found, including the:
* Number of polyps
* Type of each polyp
* Size of each polyp
Individuals can get a copy of their last
colonoscopy report by calling the clinic or
doctor who performed that colonoscopy. Ask
for both the colonoscopy and pathology
reports. These reports will indicate the
type, number and size of polyps the doctor
found.
Polyp history determines screening schedule
People should share this information with
their doctor at their next check-up. The
doctor uses this information to determine if
a person’s chances of getting colon cancer
are higher than normal. This information
also tells the doctor when and how often a
person should get a colonoscopy.
M. D. Anderson provides detailed colonoscopy
screening recommendations based on a
person’s polyp history. This information can
be found at www.mdanderson.org/screeningguidelines.
“Following colon cancer screening guidelines
greatly helps reduce a person’s chances of
getting colon cancer,” Raju said. “During a
colonoscopy, the doctor has the opportunity
to remove suspicious polyps before they turn
into cancer.”
For more information on the colonoscopy and
colon cancer prevention, visit
www.mdanderson.org/focusedonhealth
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