by Cynthia Weiss

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I'm 46 and had my first colonoscopy last month. The doctor said everything looked good, although he removed a few polyps. Can you explain what a colon polyp is and if should I be concerned?

ANSWER: Although the guidelines have changed in recent years, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that people should be screened with a colonoscopy beginning at age 45, so congratulations for undergoing this important cancer screening. Colon cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in the U.S., with about 50,000 people dying each year from this disease.

Polyps are one of the key culprits in colon cancer. Most people with polyps may not experience any symptoms. It's important to have regular screening tests, such as a colonoscopy. Polyps found in the early stages usually can be removed safely and completely.

Here are answers to six common questions about polyps:

1. What is a polyp?

Typically, a polyp is an abnormal growth in the lining of the colon that protrudes into the colon. The colon is made up of four layers, and polyps can be made of more than one layer.

Screening methods like a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy can directly visualize polyps, while stool testing checks for the presence of blood or abnormal DNA shed by these polyps.

2. Why do polyps form?

Polyps form when the body's methods for controlling cell growth falter. Polyps don't develop for any one reason. However, certain mutations need to happen for polyps to develop. Polyps can become cancerous.

Some people may be predisposed to developing a polyp. It could be genetics or chronic injury to a cell from conditions like ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Lifestyle also can affect polyp development, including eating foods like red meat, smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol.

3. Are all polyps precancerous?

Not all polyps are precancerous or cancerous. Sometimes the nature of a polyp can be distinguished based on how it looks during a colonoscopy. But only removal for examination under a microscope by a pathologist can accurately determine if a polyp is precancerous.

4. What are precancerous polyps?

Precancerous polyps are those that can become cancerous over time if they aren't removed. The most common polyps are tubular adenomas, sessile serrated adenomas and hyperplastic polyps. These names are based on what the polyps' cells look like under the microscope. Generally, tubular and sessile serrated adenomas are considered precancerous.

5. If polyps are taken out, do I need another colonoscopy?

Yes. Even if your colonoscopy showed no polyps or if all polyps were taken out, you can still develop new polyps in the future. That's why it's important to have a colonoscopy whenever your health care team recommends it. The timing of your next colonoscopy usually depends on the number and size of the polyps removed.

6. When should you get rescreened?

Most people should begin screening for colorectal cancer after turning 45 and then continue screening regularly, depending on whether polyps were found, family history and other issues.

Talk with your health care team about what interval is right for you.

You may need to be tested more often than others if:

• You or a close relative have had colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer.

• You have an inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

• You have a genetic syndrome, such as familial adenomatous polyposis, or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, which is also known as Lynch syndrome.

Colon polyps are not a cause for concern for most people. But if you begin experiencing symptoms such as rectal bleeding, changes in bowel habits or stool color, or pain, it can be a sign of polyp development. Reach out to your health care team to discuss additional screening.

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