Most people with colon polyps do not have any symptoms. Colon polyps are often found as a part of routine colorectal cancer screening.

Symptoms that should prompt an appointment with a healthcare professional include:

• Change in bowel habits. Constipation or diarrhea that lasts longer than a week may mean the presence of a larger colon polyp or cancer. However, several other conditions also can cause changes in bowel habits.
• Change in stool color. Blood can show up as red streaks in the stool or make stool appear black. A change in color also may be caused by certain foods, medicines or dietary supplements.
• Iron deficiency anemia. Bleeding from polyps can happen slowly over time, without visible blood in the stool. Chronic bleeding may lead to iron deficiency anemia, which can cause tiredness and shortness of breath.
• Pain. A large colon polyp or cancer can block part of the bowel, leading to cramping and belly pain.
• Rectal bleeding. This can be a sign of colon polyps or cancer or other conditions, such as hemorrhoids or minor tears of the anus.

When to see a doctor

See a healthcare professional if you experience:

• Belly pain.
• Blood in the stool.
• A change in bowel habits that lasts longer than a week.
• Losing weight without trying.

You should be screened regularly for colorectal cancer if:

• You're age 45 or older.
• You may need to start screening sooner than age 45 depending upon your medical conditions and family history.

Healthy cells grow and divide in an orderly way. Changes in certain cells can lead to continued dividing even when new cells aren't needed. In the colon and rectum, this continued growth of cells can cause polyps to form. Polyps can grow anywhere in the large intestine.

There are two main categories of polyps, nonneoplastic and neoplastic. Nonneoplastic polyps typically do not become cancerous. Neoplastic polyps include adenomas and serrated lesions. Most cases of colorectal cancer arise from an adenoma that has been present for a long time. However, serrated lesions also can become cancerous. In general for neoplastic polyps, the larger the polyp, the greater the risk of cancer.

Factors that might increase the risk of colon polyps or cancer include:

• Age. Most people with colon polyps are 45 or older.
• Having certain intestinal conditions. Having inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, increases the overall risk of colorectal cancer.
• Family history. Having a parent, sibling or child with advanced colon polyps (polyps 10 mm in size or larger, for example) increases the risk of getting them. If many family members have them, the risk is even greater. In some people, this connection isn't hereditary.
• Smoking and excess alcohol use. Studies show that people who have three or more alcoholic drinks a day have an increased risk of getting colon polyps. Alcohol intake combined with smoking also appears to increase the risk.
• Having diabetes. Diabetes increases polyp risk by 50% among all age groups.
• Obesity, lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet. The risk of colon polyps increases for people who are overweight, don't exercise regularly and lack a healthy diet.
• Race. Black Americans have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Polyp syndromes

Hereditary disorders are conditions passed down from parents. Rarely, people inherit genetic variants that cause colon polyps to form and increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Screening and early detection can help prevent the growth or spread of these cancers.

Conditions that cause colon polyps include:

• Lynch syndrome, also called hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. People with Lynch syndrome may form relatively few colon polyps, but those polyps can quickly become cancerous. Lynch syndrome is the most common form of inherited colon cancer and also is associated with tumors in other parts of the abdomen.
• Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), a rare disorder that causes hundreds or even thousands of polyps to develop in the lining of the colon during the teenage years. If the polyps aren't treated, the risk of developing colon cancer is nearly 100%, usually before age 40. Genetic testing can help determine the risk of FAP.
• MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP), a condition similar to FAP that is caused by changes in the MUTYH gene. People with MAP often develop multiple adenomatous polyps and colon cancer at a young age. Genetic testing can help determine the risk of MAP.
• Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, a condition that usually begins with freckles developing all over the body, including the lips, gums and feet. Then noncancerous polyps develop throughout the intestines. These polyps may become cancerous, so people with this condition have a higher risk of colon cancer.
• Juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS), an inherited condition that is most common in children ages 1 to 7, though it sometimes happens in adults. Juvenile polyps are often single, but if there are multiple polyps the risk of cancer increases.
• Serrated polyposis syndrome is most often a condition that is not inherited but defined based upon polyp history. This syndrome is considered for individuals with multiple serrated lesions. As these polyps may become cancerous, they need to be removed, and colonoscopy is done more often.

Some colon polyps may become cancerous. The earlier polyps are removed, the less likely it is that they will become cancerous.

The risk of colon polyps and colorectal cancer may be greatly reduced by having regular screenings. Certain lifestyle changes also can help:

• Adopt healthy habits. Include plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in your diet and reduce your fat intake. Limit alcohol and quit all tobacco use. Stay physically active and maintain a healthy body weight.
• Consider your options if you're at high risk. If you have a family history of colon polyps, talk to a healthcare professional. If you have a personal history of 10 or more neoplastic polyps, consider having genetic counseling. Referral to a genetic counselor also may be considered depending upon your family history. If you've been diagnosed with a hereditary disorder that causes colon polyps, you'll need regular colonoscopies starting in young adulthood.

Screening tests are important in finding polyps before they become cancerous. These tests also can help find colorectal cancer in its early stages, when you have a good chance of recovery.

Screening methods include:

• Colonoscopy, in which a small tube with a light and camera is inserted into the rectum to look at the colon. If polyps are found, a healthcare professional may remove them right away or take tissue samples to send to a lab for analysis.
• Virtual colonoscopy, a test that uses a CT scan to view the colon. Virtual colonoscopy requires the same bowel preparation as a colonoscopy. If a polyp is found during the scan, you'll need to repeat the bowel preparation for a colonoscopy to have the polyp examined and removed.
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy. Like a colonoscopy, this uses a small tube with a light and camera but examines just the last third of the colon. Most of the colon is not seen with this screening test, so some polyps and cancers may not be found. When this test is used, it is repeated more often than colonoscopy or is used along with an annual stool-based test.
• Stool-based tests. There are a few of these tests available. One of these checks for blood in the stool and needs to be repeated every year. Another test checks for blood and tumor markers in the stool to look for colon polyps or colorectal cancer and is repeated every three years. If any of the stool-based tests are positive, a colonoscopy is recommended soon afterward.

A healthcare professional is likely to remove all polyps discovered during a bowel exam. Options for removal include:

• Polypectomy. Polyps can be removed during colonoscopy using a few techniques. This process is called polypectomy. The removal of polyps prevents the opportunity for them to grow into colorectal cancer.
• Minimally invasive surgery. Polyps that are too large or that can't be removed safely during colonoscopy are usually removed surgically. This is often done by placing an instrument called a laparoscope into the abdomen to remove the part of the bowel with the polyp or cancer.
• Total proctocolectomy. If you have a rare inherited syndrome, such as FAP, you may need surgery to remove your colon and rectum. This surgery can protect you from developing colorectal cancer.

Some types of colon polyps have the potential to become cancerous and others don't. A medical professional who studies tissue samples, called a pathologist, will look at the polyp tissue under a microscope to find out.

Follow-up care

If you have had an adenomatous polyp or a serrated lesion, you are at increased risk of colorectal cancer. The level of risk depends on the size, number and characteristics of the polyps that were removed.

A healthcare professional is likely to recommend a colonoscopy:

• In 7 to 10 years if you had only one or two small adenomas.
• In 3 to 5 years if you had three or four adenomas.
• In three years if you had 5 to 10 adenomas, adenomas larger than 10 millimeters or certain types of adenomas.
• In 6 months to one year if you had more than 10 adenomas, a very large adenoma or an adenoma that had to be removed in pieces.
• The follow-up colonoscopy schedule for serrated lesions is like those for adenomas.

Preparing for your colonoscopy

It's very important to fully clean out your colon before a colonoscopy. If stool remains in the colon and blocks the view of the colon wall, you will likely need another colonoscopy sooner than usual to make sure all polyps are found.

After a good colon preparation, bowel movements should appear as clear liquid. They may be slightly yellow or green-tinged, depending on any liquids consumed while preparing. If you experience trouble with your colon preparation or feel that you have not been fully cleaned out, you should tell the health professional before beginning your colonoscopy. Some people need additional steps before having a colonoscopy.

You may be referred to a healthcare professional who specializes in digestive diseases, called a gastroenterologist.

What you can do

• Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions, such as not eating solid food on the day before your appointment.
• Write down your symptoms, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason why you scheduled the appointment.
• Make a list of all your medicines, vitamins and supplements.
• Write down your key medical information, including other conditions.
• Write down key personal information, including any recent changes or stressors in your life.
• Ask a relative or friend to accompany you to help you remember what the care professional says.
• Write down questions to ask during the appointment.

Questions to ask your doctor

• What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?
• What kinds of tests do I need? Do these tests require any special preparation?
• What treatments are available?
• What are the chances these polyps are malignant?
• Is it possible that I have a genetic condition leading to colon polyps?
• What kind of follow-up testing do I need?
• Should I remove or add any foods to my diet?
• I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions together?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared, don't hesitate to ask other questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

You'll likely be asked a few questions. Being ready to answer them may leave time to go over points you want to spend more time on. You may be asked:

• When did you first begin experiencing symptoms, and how severe are they?
• Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
• Have you or has anyone in your family had colorectal cancer or colon polyps?
• Has anyone in your family had other cancers of the digestive tract, the uterus, the ovaries or the bladder?
• How much do you smoke and drink?