Colon Polyps: Symptoms

Colon polyps are fleshy growths that develop on the inner walls of the colon or large intestine. These growths are usually found to develop in adults and studies show that at least one small polyp will be present in almost 50% of adults who have crossed the age of 50. While most of the colon polyps are found to be benign in nature, some can become cancerous. It has been observed that most of these polyps do not cause any symptoms, but some of the affected people may experience some symptoms. Read on to know more about the condition and possible colon polyps symptoms.

More About Colon Polyps

As mentioned above, colon polyps are growth on the walls of the large intestine. These polyps are classified into four types - hyperplastic, adenomatous, malignant, and inflammatory. Hyperplastic colon polyps are smaller in size and are usually found in the rectum. Even though, malignancy is very rare in these polyps, they are removed, if detected, so as to avoid the possibility of cancer. Adenomatous colon polyps are larger in size and have a high risk of turning malignant. Among these polyps, villous adenomas have a high chance of getting malignant, whereas tubular adenoma polyps are least dangerous. Malignant colon polyps have cancerous or precancerous cells. Inflammatory colon polyps, otherwise known as false polyps are not true polyps, but are growths found to develop as a result of inflammation of the colon walls. Even though they are not malignant, once detected, they are also removed. Detection of colon polyps usually happens during routine screening procedures, as colon polyps symptoms are uncommon.

Colon polyps can be flat or raised ones. Flat ones are those which are difficult to detect, as they grow flat on the colon wall. Raised ones are found as growths that are attached to the colon wall through small stalks. As compared to raised ones, flat ones are found to be more likely to become malignant. Colon polyps are caused by abnormal cell growth. The chances of developing this polyps are higher in people above the age of fifty and those with a family history of this condition. Those with uterine or ovarian cancer at an early age are also found to be prone to this condition. A sedentary lifestyle along with obesity can be a contributory factor for this type of polyp. In some cases, long term intestinal inflammatory conditions (like, ulcerative colitis), may also lead to such polyps. The larger the polyp, the risk of colon cancer is higher. The size of colon polyps can range between 2 mm to 5 cm in diameter. Now, let us take a look at colon polyps symptoms.

Symptoms of Colon Polyps

Now you have a basic understanding about what are colon polyps and the risk factors associated with this condition. Colon polyps are often detected during the routine screening procedures, as most of these growths do not cause any symptoms. But some people with colon polyps do exhibit some colon polyps symptoms. The following are some of the symptoms of polyps in colon.

• Constipation is one of the colon polyp symptoms. Along with constipation, the person will also have thinner stools. Sometimes, diarrhea can be a symptom of colon polyp. As these symptoms of colon polyps can be an indication of a number of other health problems, you have to go through a screening procedure to rule out the possibility of these polyps.
• Another symptom that can be an indication of colon polyp is bleeding from the rectal area. The affected person may notice blood in the toilet paper or in the stools. This symptom too can indicate many different problems. So, detailed diagnosis is necessary to confirm the presence of colon polyps.
• In some cases, especially, if the colon polyps are very large, the affected person may develop severe pain. This is caused by the obstruction of the intestine and this results in persistent constipation, severe abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Some of the larger polyps may also cause large amounts of mucus in the stools.

The above said colon polyps symptoms are mainly experienced by those with large colon polyps. Otherwise, there will no such symptoms. Colon polyps can be detected through sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, computerized tomographic colonography, stool DNA testing, fecal occult (hidden) blood test, etc. The treatment for colon polyps is surgical removal. So, regular screening for this conditions is advisable for those above the age of 50, especially those who have risk factors.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice. Visiting your physician is the safest way to diagnose and treat any health condition.