A polyp in the colon is a fleshy lump of cells, which can develop on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. They are not normally dangerous, and the majority of adults who have polyps will be completely unaware that they even exist. Polyps in the colon will not normally cause any noticeable symptoms.
So, you may be wondering why you need to be concerned about colon polyps if they don’t produce symptoms of any kind and are not dangerous. However, colon polyps may, on rare occasions, develop into tumors. If this occurs, and bowel cancer is present, then this can be very difficult to treat, and many cases of bowel cancer are fatal.
If the polyps are identified and removed at an early stage before they begin to turn cancerous, then cancer can be circumvented.
How Can I Help to Prevent Polyps From Developing?
It is often easier to prevent a disease from developing than treat it once the onset has begun, and colon polyps are no exception. There are several steps you can take to help prevent the development of colon polyps, which will greatly reduce your risk of more serious conditions, such as bowel cancer, in the future.
• Ensure you have enough calcium in your diet. Calcium is known to help protect against colon polyps, so make sure that you include plenty of dairy products (low fat, to avoid weight gain) in your diet, along with salmon and broccoli, all of which contain high levels of calcium. Calcium is absorbed much more easily when you have vitamin D – this can be found in egg yolk, fish and some fortified milk. However, vitamin D is also produced in your body as a result of exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D and calcium can both be obtained as supplements, which you should consider taking if you don’t eat dairy products and tend to stay out of the sun.
• Include plenty of fiber in your diet. Fruit, vegetables and wholegrain foods are all high in fiber, which helps to keep material moving properly through your digestive system. Slow movement of food through the digestive tract can increase your risk of polyps developing. It is recommended that you eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day in order to help maintain your health.
• Reduce the amount of fat in your diet. Some types of fat (mainly saturated fat) can increase your risk of developing polyps in the colon. Red meats and many processed foods contain high levels of saturated fat, so your intake of these should be restricted. However, you don’t need to cut them out entirely.
• Staying physically active is a method of reducing the risk of colon polyps that you may not have expected. Physical exercise will help you to maintain a healthy body weight, as being overweight or obese is a risk factor for polyps, but also encourages the movement of food through the digestive system. Thirty minutes of exercise should be carried out five times a week, as a minimum requirement.
• Stop smoking, and cut down on the amount of alcohol you drink. Moderate or heavy alcohol intake significantly increases your risk of colon cancer by encouraging the development of polyps. Smoking increases the risk of a wide range of conditions, so you should speak to your doctor if you need help and advice about how to quit.
What if I already have polyps?
If you already have colon polyps, then these can be removed quickly and easily, putting your mind at ease. If polyps are discovered, then these can be removed during a colonoscopy. If they were discovered during a different type of screening procedure, then you will probably need a colonoscopy.
If polyps are being removed during colonoscopy, then the usual method is to use a snare or a biopsy forceps. A snare is a wire loop that can be slipped over the polyp to cut and cauterize it to prevent bleeding.
If the polyps are too large to be removed using a snare, then they will be removed surgically instead. This will usually involve a laparoscopic procedure. A laparoscopic procedure involves making small incisions in the abdomen for instruments and for a camera which is used to display the colon on a monitor. This type of procedure results in a shorter recovery time than traditional open surgery.
Get Screened Today - Call Your Los Angeles Colorectal Physician
It is important to be screened for colorectal cancer. Screening enables polyps to be identified and removed before they turn cancerous, preventing the onset of bowel cancer. It is highly recommended that you contact your Los Angeles colorectal surgeon to get screened for colon polyps.
So, you may be wondering why you need to be concerned about colon polyps if they don’t produce symptoms of any kind and are not dangerous. However, colon polyps may, on rare occasions, develop into tumors. If this occurs, and bowel cancer is present, then this can be very difficult to treat, and many cases of bowel cancer are fatal.
If the polyps are identified and removed at an early stage before they begin to turn cancerous, then cancer can be circumvented.
How Can I Help to Prevent Polyps From Developing?
It is often easier to prevent a disease from developing than treat it once the onset has begun, and colon polyps are no exception. There are several steps you can take to help prevent the development of colon polyps, which will greatly reduce your risk of more serious conditions, such as bowel cancer, in the future.
• Ensure you have enough calcium in your diet. Calcium is known to help protect against colon polyps, so make sure that you include plenty of dairy products (low fat, to avoid weight gain) in your diet, along with salmon and broccoli, all of which contain high levels of calcium. Calcium is absorbed much more easily when you have vitamin D – this can be found in egg yolk, fish and some fortified milk. However, vitamin D is also produced in your body as a result of exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D and calcium can both be obtained as supplements, which you should consider taking if you don’t eat dairy products and tend to stay out of the sun.
• Include plenty of fiber in your diet. Fruit, vegetables and wholegrain foods are all high in fiber, which helps to keep material moving properly through your digestive system. Slow movement of food through the digestive tract can increase your risk of polyps developing. It is recommended that you eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables every day in order to help maintain your health.
• Reduce the amount of fat in your diet. Some types of fat (mainly saturated fat) can increase your risk of developing polyps in the colon. Red meats and many processed foods contain high levels of saturated fat, so your intake of these should be restricted. However, you don’t need to cut them out entirely.
• Staying physically active is a method of reducing the risk of colon polyps that you may not have expected. Physical exercise will help you to maintain a healthy body weight, as being overweight or obese is a risk factor for polyps, but also encourages the movement of food through the digestive system. Thirty minutes of exercise should be carried out five times a week, as a minimum requirement.
• Stop smoking, and cut down on the amount of alcohol you drink. Moderate or heavy alcohol intake significantly increases your risk of colon cancer by encouraging the development of polyps. Smoking increases the risk of a wide range of conditions, so you should speak to your doctor if you need help and advice about how to quit.
What if I already have polyps?
If you already have colon polyps, then these can be removed quickly and easily, putting your mind at ease. If polyps are discovered, then these can be removed during a colonoscopy. If they were discovered during a different type of screening procedure, then you will probably need a colonoscopy.
If polyps are being removed during colonoscopy, then the usual method is to use a snare or a biopsy forceps. A snare is a wire loop that can be slipped over the polyp to cut and cauterize it to prevent bleeding.
If the polyps are too large to be removed using a snare, then they will be removed surgically instead. This will usually involve a laparoscopic procedure. A laparoscopic procedure involves making small incisions in the abdomen for instruments and for a camera which is used to display the colon on a monitor. This type of procedure results in a shorter recovery time than traditional open surgery.
Get Screened Today - Call Your Los Angeles Colorectal Physician
It is important to be screened for colorectal cancer. Screening enables polyps to be identified and removed before they turn cancerous, preventing the onset of bowel cancer. It is highly recommended that you contact your Los Angeles colorectal surgeon to get screened for colon polyps.
