Can polyps come back? If a polyp is removed completely, it is unusual for it to return in the same place. The same factors that caused it to grow in the first place, however, could cause polyp growth at another location in the colon or rectum.
However, polyps often recur, at a rate of 20% to 50%. There is a consensus concerning the carcinogenic factors of colorectal polyps, but it is still unclear whether the factors that cause carcinogenesis are similar to those that cause recurrence of polyps.
Results: Mean number of initial polyps were 2.2 and advanced polyps were observed in 40% of the patients. The cumulative recurrence rate of colon polyp was 13.8% within 1 year, and 60% within 3 years, while that of advanced polyps was 2.5% and 31% within 1 and 3 years, respectively.
While the majority of colon cancers start as polyps, only 5-10% of all polyps will become cancerous. The size of a polyp typically does make a difference. The larger the polyp becomes, the bigger the risk of it developing into colon cancer.
If the cancer has not spread and is localized to the colon, then the 5-year survival rate is 91%. However, if the cancer has spread to the nearby tissues or lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 72%. The survival rate drops to 14% if the cancer spreads to distant parts of the body.
Cancerous polyps tend to grow slowly. It is estimated that the polyp dwell time, the time needed for a small adenoma to transform into a cancer, may be on average 10 years (17). Evidence from the heyday of barium enema examinations indicates that most polyps do not grow or grow very slowly (18).
If a polyp has cancerous cells, they will also biopsy nearby lymph nodes to determine if the cancer has spread or metastasized to other areas of the body. In this case radiation, chemotherapy or other therapies may be recommended. Colonoscopy screenings can be life saving!
A colon polyp is a small clump of cells that forms on the lining of the colon. Most colon polyps are harmless. But over time, some colon polyps can develop into colon cancer, which may be fatal when found in its later stages.
Although malignant sessile colon polyps usually require colectomy for proper treatment, the vast majority of malignant pedunculated polyps can be removed colonoscopically for cure.
In 1 to 7 years, depending on a variety of factors: The number, size and type of polyps removed; if you have a history of polyps in previous colonoscopy procedures; if you have certain genetic syndromes; or if you have a family history of colon cancer.
Adenomas: Many colon polyps are the precancerous type, called adenomas. It can take seven to 10 or more years for an adenoma to evolve into cancer—if it ever does. Overall, only 5% of adenomas progress to cancer, but your individual risk is hard to predict.
Once a colorectal polyp is completely removed, it rarely comes back. However, at least 30% of patients will develop new polyps after removal. For this reason, your physician will advise follow-up testing to look for new polyps. This is usually done 3 to 5 years after polyp removal.
Given enough time to grow and develop, some adenomatous polyps can spread into surrounding tissues and infiltrate the two highway systems of the body: the bloodstream and the lymph nodes. This ability to invade and spread, or metastasize, is how we define a cancer.
Cancerous polyps may cause no symptoms at all. But if you do have symptoms, they depend on where the polyp is located: Colorectal polyps may cause belly pain, constipation, diarrhea or blood in your poop. Stomach polyps may cause nausea, belly pain, vomiting and bleeding.
Larger polyps might be removed during colonoscopy using special tools to remove the polyp and a small amount of the inner lining of the colon in a procedure called an endoscopic mucosal resection. Minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic surgery).
The risk of polyps smaller than 5 millimeters (mm) being cancerous is very low. In larger polyps, the risk of cancer increases. Colon polyps grow very slowly and often do not cause symptoms. Regular colon cancer screenings can help detect them before they become cancerous.
A gastroenterologist, the specialist who usually performs a colonoscopy, can't tell for certain if a colon polyp is precancerous or cancerous until it's removed and examined under a microscope.
Because of this, it's important to keep up with colon cancer screening. Some people with colon polyps may experience these symptoms. Pain. Large polyps can obstruct the bowel and cause abdominal pain or cramping.
Villous Adenoma (Tubulovillous Adenoma)
Approximately 15 percent of polyps detected in colon cancer screening are villous or tubulovillous adenomas. This type of polyp carries a high risk of turning cancerous.
Polyps are a type of benign (noncancerous) tumor consisting of abnormal growth of tissue that projects from mucous membranes. They may be flat or may appear to be attached by a stalk (pedunculated). Polyps are very common and can form on any part of the body that has mucus membranes.
Some types of colon polyps are more likely to become cancerous than others. A doctor who specializes in analyzing tissue samples (pathologist) will examine your polyp tissue under a microscope to determine whether it is potentially cancerous.
Polyps are benign, meaning that they're not cancer and they won't spread, but over time certain types can develop into cancer. One of these types is called adenomatous polyps. These are known as pre-cancerous polyps. Polyps bigger than 1 centimeter have a greater cancer risk than polyps under 1 centimeter.
These types of polyps are not cancer, but they are pre-cancerous (meaning that they can turn into cancers). Someone who has had one of these types of polyps has an increased risk of later developing cancer of the colon. Most patients with these polyps, however, never develop colon cancer.
Symptoms and Causes
A polyp is the result of genetic changes in the cells of the colon lining that affect the normal cell life cycle. Many factors can increase the risk or rate of these changes. Factors are related to your diet, lifestyle, older age, gender and genetics or hereditary issues.