Colonic Polyps: What They Are and Why Doctors Remove Them

A polyp is an extra piece of tissue growing inside the body. Colonic polyps grow in the large intestine, or colon.

Are they dangerous?

Most are not. But some can turn into cancer, or already be cancer. To be safe, doctors remove polyps and test them, which can be done during a colonoscopy — an examination of the inside of the large intestine.

Who is more likely to get them

Anyone can, but your chances are higher if you:

• are over 50;
• have had polyps before;
• have a family member with polyps;
• have a family history of colon cancer.

Symptoms

Most colon polyps cause no symptoms. When they do, symptoms may include:

• blood on your underwear or on toilet paper after a bowel movement;
• blood in the stool;
• constipation or diarrhoea lasting more than a week.

Sources

• "Colonic Polyps," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, drawing on the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH). https://medlineplus.gov/colonicpolyps.html
• Rewritten in hubnx's own words.