How serious are precancerous colon polyps?

How serious are precancerous colon polyps?

These types of polyps are not cancer, but they are pre-cancerous (meaning that they can turn into cancers). Someone who has had one of these types of polyps has an increased risk of later developing cancer of the colon. Most patients with these polyps, however, never develop colon cancer.

How often should you have a colonoscopy if precancerous polyps are found?

If your doctor finds one or two polyps less than 0.4 inch (1 centimeter) in diameter, he or she may recommend a repeat colonoscopy in five to 10 years, depending on your other risk factors for colon cancer. Your doctor will recommend another colonoscopy sooner if you have: More than two polyps.

What do they do with precancerous polyps?

If it is precancerous, your GI doctor can remove the polyp at another colonoscopy appointment. You should make this polyp removal appointment a priority. The health of your digestive and elimination system is crucial to your overall health.

Should precancerous polyps be removed?

Colorectal polyps don’t always become cancers. But the bigger ones are the most dangerous — and the most difficult to remove. “All colorectal cancers arise from benign, precancerous polyps, so it is important to remove them,” says colorectal surgeon James Church, MD.

How long does it take for a tubular adenoma to become cancerous?

They can grow slowly, over a decade or more. If you have tubular adenomas, they have about 4\%-5\% chance of becoming cancerous. The odds that villous adenomas will turn out to be dangerous are several times higher.

What is the average size of a polyp in the colon?

Polyps range from the less-than-5-millimeter “diminutive” size to the over-30-millimeter “giant” size. “A diminutive polyp is only about the size of a match head,” he says. “A large polyp can be almost as big as the average person’s thumb.”