Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer, but only if you have been screened for warning signs while you are still healthy. Cancer screenings can find precancerous growths or polyps, as most colorectal cancers start as polyps.
There are different types of colon and rectal polyps. They include:
- Hyperplastic polyps: These polyps are not precancerous, and doctors generally remove them anyway, just to be safe.
- Adenomas: These colon polyps are precancerous and can take seven to 10 or more years to evolve into cancer—if it ever does. Overall, only 5% of adenomas progress to cancer, but your risk is hard to predict. Doctors remove all the adenomas they find.
- Sessile serrated polyps: These polyps were once thought harmless; however, this type of adenoma is now known to be risky and is also removed.
Thankfully, polyps aren’t cancer, and most of them will not develop into cancer. This can only happen if they are caught in the precancerous phase before they have a chance to grow and turn into cancer.
After polyps are removed, you will need to return for an additional colonoscopy. There is a 25% to 30 % chance that a repeat colonoscopy will find additional polyps. You may need to come back for follow-up testing to see if more polyps have grown in the future.
The follow-up care you will need if polyps were removed during your colonoscopy depends on your family history, personal risk factors, and the type of polyps found. Your healthcare provider can help you understand your risk and next steps.
If the polyps found were benign, your healthcare provider might recommend continuing your usual recommended screening schedule. Sometimes, if many benign polyps were found, your healthcare provider might recommend a more frequent schedule for getting routine colonoscopies.
If the polyps were pre-cancerous, your healthcare provider may recommend getting a repeat colonoscopy within one to three years. Sometimes, repeating the procedure within six months may be best, because your healthcare provider will want to check the area where each polyp was removed and look for other polyps or problems.
If polyps were removed during your colonoscopy, this can put you at a higher risk for developing colorectal cancer. This is especially true if you had multiple polyps found, if they were large, or if they are the types of polyps that have a higher risk of becoming cancerous.
Along with getting routine testing, there are several steps you can take to help reduce your risk of colorectal cancer, including:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Getting regular physical activity
- Avoiding red meat and processed foods
- Avoiding alcohol
- Quitting smoking
You can receive a colorectal cancer screening from a gastroenterologist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 206-7001.
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.