Intestinal polyps can be caused by factors like a high-fat diet over several years, obesity, excessive consumption of tobacco or alcohol, or it can be a hereditary problem, which arises in Lynch or Gardner syndromes, for example, it is more frequent to appear from the age of 50.
To treat polyps of the intestine it is necessary to go to the proctologist and do a colonoscopy, which is an exam that allows you to see the intestine and remove the polyps immediately. See how the intestinal polyps are removed.
Polyps are usually benign, but in some cases they can develop into colon cancer, which can be fatal when it is diagnosed in advanced stages, as it does not cause symptoms.
Causes of intestinal polyps
Anyone can develop polyps in the intestine, however, some of the causes include:
- Overweight or obesity; Smokers or alcoholics; Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes; High-fat and canned food; Diet low in calcium, vegetables and fruits; Diseases such as Colitis, Lynch Syndrome, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Gardner Syndrome or Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome; Personal or family history of colon polyps or bowel cancer.
In addition to these causes, the appearance of polyps is common from the age of 50, even if there is no other risk factor. See the symptoms of diverticulitis and know how to differentiate it from intestinal polyps.
Treatment for intestinal polyps
Most colon polyps can be identified and removed during a colonoscopy, which is an examination that helps you see the inside of the colon, as a flexible tube with a camera at the tip is inserted into the intestine through the anus.
Generally, the removal of polyps, known as polypectomy, does not cause pain or bleeding and treatment should be done as soon as possible to prevent the development of cancer, however, when the polyps are large, measuring more than 1 cm may be necessary have surgery for its removal.
After the removal of the polyps, they must be analyzed in the laboratory to see if they are malignant and, for this, a biopsy must be performed. In case the polyps are malignant, the patient needs to undergo other treatments for bowel cancer, such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
However, not all polyps need to be removed. In this case, see what you should or should not eat to avoid bleeding caused by passing stools in case of intestinal polyps: Food to prevent bleeding from intestinal polyps.
When to go to the doctor
Generally, the presence of polyps does not cause symptoms, however, to rule out the possibility of having intestinal polyps it is necessary to go to the doctor if:
- You have frequent abdominal pain; You have bloody stools; You have a change in your bowel habits and it takes more than a week.
To diagnose the presence of polyps in the intestine, the doctor recommends a colonoscopy. Those who have already removed polyps must perform the same, at least once a year, to verify that they have not developed again. See What to tell the doctor at the consultation for an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.
The risk of developing cancer after having polyps, depends on the size of these, because the bigger the polyp the greater the chance of developing cancer, the number of polyps and characteristics of the polyps that have already been removed, the most dangerous being the adenomas and the more, the more dangerous it becomes.
