Polyps are growths that develop on the surface of an organ. They are an overgrowth of a single type of cell normally found in that area. When the cells grow, they form a bump on the surface that is called a polyp. The polyp may be described by its shape; sessile polyps are flat, pedunculated (attached to underlying tissue by a stem) polyps are shaped like a mushroom. Colon polyps may also be described by the types of cells from which they originally developed; adenomatous, lymphoid, hyperplastic, or juvenile. Some people may have inherited a tendency to form many (hundreds or thousands) of polyps. These uncommon conditions are called polyposis syndromes (Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Peutz-Jegher’s Syndrome, Juvenile Polyposis). These have special concerns which are not addressed here.

Colon polyps are important for many reasons. They are common, can cause symptoms, and may develop into colon cancer.

Colon polyps are very common in the United States. About 20% of people 50 years of age have colon polyps. That’s 2 of every 10 people! They’re even more common as people age, with 40% of people 60 years of age having colon polyps. These rates of polyp formation are based solely on age, and not family history. Everyone is at risk for developing colon polyps.

Most people with colon polyps don’t know they have them. They usually do not cause symptoms. When they do cause symptoms, the most common one is bleeding. The blood may be visible with a bowel movement, or it may be mixed in with the movement and only found by testing the movement for occult (hidden) blood. On rare occasions, they cause blockage of the intestine or prolapse (hang out) from the rectum. They do not cause pain.

Colon cancer is believed to develop as part of a process called the “adenoma-carcinoma sequence”. This means that a colon cancer (carcinoma) developed from changes in cells lining the colon which first became an adenoma (polyp made of glands). It is estimated that 10% of adenomas may progress to colon cancer. If we could find, and destroy, these adenomas before they turn into cancer, we could actually prevent a colon cancer from developing.

Colon polyps sound scary. They’re common. They’re quiet. They’re dangerous. The good news is that we know about them, and know what to do about them.

One approach is to prevent the polyps from developing in the first place. There are some recommendations that may help reduce the chance of developing polyps. These include diet and “supplement” recommendations. A high-fiber, low fat diet is helpful in lowering your risk of developing polyps (and many other medical conditions). Supplements which have also been shown to decrease the risk of forming polyps include a daily aspirin, calcium, and folic acid.

Unfortunately, following these recommendations does not guarantee that colon polyps will not develop anyway. Therefore, it is important to look for them and destroy them as well. The good news is that we know when, and how, to find and destroy colon polyps. The bad news is we can’t do it alone. We need your participation. President Bush knew this, and that’s why he took time away from the War on Terrorism to have his colonoscopy in January 2002. Read the section on “Screening for Colon Cancer”. If you need help deciding which program is best for you, when to start, and how to get started, you may contact us by e-mail information@usurg.com or phone (312) 952-6500.

Marc I. Brand, M.D. and Theodore J. Saclarides, M.D. are board-certified colon and rectal surgeons and members of University Surgeons. You may read more about them on their personal profiles on this website.