Do polyps run in families?

You're more likely to develop colon polyps or cancer if you have a parent, sibling or child with them. If many family members have them, your risk is even greater. In some people, this connection isn't hereditary. Smoking and excess alcohol use.

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When should I have a colonoscopy with a family history of polyps?

If you have a family history of polyps or colon cancer, you should be screened before the age of 50, and you need to be screened much more often than someone who is only at average risk for colon cancer.

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What is the main cause of polyps?

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.

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Is family history of colon polyps considered high risk?

A family history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps

Still, as many as 1 in 3 people who develop colorectal cancer have other family members who have had it. People with a history of colorectal cancer in a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) are at increased risk.

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What type of polyp is inherited?

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an inherited disorder characterized by cancer of the large intestine (colon ) and rectum. People with the classic type of familial adenomatous polyposis may begin to develop multiple noncancerous (benign) growths (polyps ) in the colon as early as their teenage years.

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“Colon Cancer That Runs in Families” (Familial Adenomatous Polyposis), APC Gene, Symptoms, Treatment

28 related questions found

Which polyp is most likely to become cancerous?

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.

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Are polyps a big deal?

Polyps are common in American adults, and while many colon polyps are harmless, over time, some polyps could develop into colon cancer. 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.

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How often should you have a colonoscopy if polyps are found?

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.

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Who is prone to polyps?

Anyone can develop colon polyps. You're at higher risk if you're 50 or older, are overweight or a smoker, or have a personal or family history of colon polyps or colon cancer.

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What percentage of colonoscopy patients have polyps?

Here's what we know: As often as 40% of the time, a precancerous polyp — frequently a type called an adenoma — is found during a screening colonoscopy. Colon cancer is found during only in about 40 out of 10,000 screening colonoscopies, Dr. Sand said.

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Are polyps caused by stress?

These stress related factors may influence colon polyp development [20,22]. Persons reporting increased levels of stress have also reported increased smoking, poor diet and low levels of physical activity [29,30]. Each of these factors have been associated with colon polyp development.

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How can you avoid getting polyps?

Being physically active and losing weight if you're overweight may lower your chances of developing colon polyps.
...
Healthy lifestyle choices
  1. get regular physical activity.
  2. don't smoke cigarettes , and if you do smoke, quit.
  3. avoid drinking alcohol.
  4. lose weight if you're overweight.

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What food causes polyps in the colon?

Research suggests that eating less of the following foods may have health benefits and may lower your chances of developing polyps:
  • fatty foods, such as fried foods.
  • red meat, such as beef and pork.
  • processed meat, such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs, and lunch meats.

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How long before a polyp turns cancerous?

How long does it take for a polyp to turn into cancer? The growth and mutation of colon polyps into cancer is a slow process, taking an estimated 10 years on average. So as long as patients are screened, it is unlikely they will develop cancerous polyps.

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At what age do colon polyps develop?

Aging — Polyps and colorectal cancers are uncommon before age 40. Ninety percent of cases occur after age 50, with males somewhat more likely to develop polyps than females; therefore, colon cancer screening is usually recommended starting at age 50 for both sexes.

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How fast do colon polyps become cancerous?

Most polyps grow slowly and take from between 10 and 15 years to become cancerous. Due to this general time frame, most screenings are scheduled every 10 years which gives Colorectal Surgical Associates time to remove any polyps before they become cancerous.

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How many polyps are too many in a colonoscopy?

In multivariable analysis, the presence of 5 or more polyps at index colonoscopy was found to be associated with the risk of metachronous HR-CRN (OR, 2.575, p = 0.049) after adjusting for risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes, and smoking.

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Is it common to have several polyps?

People can have several polyps scattered in different parts of the colon. Some polyps can contain cancer, although the vast majority of polyps do not. Larger polyps are more likely to become cancerous than smaller ones.

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What immune disorders cause polyps?

Risk factors
  • Asthma, a disease that causes the airway to swell (inflame) and narrow.
  • Aspirin sensitivity.
  • Allergic fungal sinusitis, an allergy to airborne fungi.
  • Cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that results in abnormally thick, sticky fluids in the body, including thick mucus from nasal and sinus linings.

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How fast do polyps grow back after colonoscopy?

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.

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Can a doctor tell if polyp is cancerous during colonoscopy?

Most polyps are benign (not cancerous). Your doctor can tell if a colon polyp is cancerous during a colonoscopy by collecting tissue to biopsy. The results of the biopsy are typically sent to your doctor within a week. Only 5% to 10% of all polyps become cancerous.

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Do colon polyps always grow back?

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.

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Is it OK not to remove polyps?

"Of all the polyps that we see, only a minority will turn into cancer," he says. "Sometimes they just go away on their own, but removing polyps is thought to be one of the mechanisms by which we can prevent the formation of cancer in the first place." That's why regular screening is so important.

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What happens if you don't remove polyps?

The former has no potential to become cancerous, but adenomatous polyps can turn into cancer if not removed, and in adults, you have an increased chance of developing more polyps. Colorectal Surgical Associates will typically remove all polyps during a colonoscopy.

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Do all cancers start as polyps?

Most colorectal cancers start as a growth on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. These growths are called polyps. Some types of polyps can change into cancer over time (usually many years), but not all polyps become cancer. The chance of a polyp turning into cancer depends on the type of polyp it is.

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