Polyps are small growths on the lining of the colon. During a colonoscopy your doctor will look for polyps and remove them. While most polyps are harmless, some (adenomas) are precancerous. Removing polyps before they can become malignant is a life saving procedure for millions of people every year. Unfortunately, many patients are not so lucky and are diagnosed with colon cancer. If caught early, colon cancer is over 90% curable. We can not emphasize it enough – screening colonoscopies save lives.
Risk factors for colon cancer:
- Age – if you are at least 50 you should be screened for colon cancer.
- Family History – if you have a first degree relative with colorectal cancer (parent, sibling, child) you should speak to a gastroenterologist. Your screening schedule will be unique to you.
- Lifestyle factors include – high fat diets, heavy smoking and heavy consumption of alcohol
- Obesity and lack of regular exercise
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease – ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s Disease can increase your risk of developing colorectal cancers