Are Colon Polyps Cancerous – How to Prevent Them

The colon is a hard working body organ. It has to digest every food you eat and makes sure the body passes the fecal matter. However, the colon cannot function properly all the time especially if there are too much toxic wastes accumulated already. As toxic wastes build-up, the colon’s improper functioning affects the whole body. But aside from irregular bowel movements and a weaker immune system, the colon can develop colon polyps which can be cancerous.

What are Colon Polyps?

Colon polyps grow along the lining of the colon or large intestine. It is quite common especially among people who are older. People who are in their 60s and above have a 50% chance of developing colon polyps. Although quite common, colon polyps can pose serious health problems if it is cancerous. Cancerous colon polyps are described to be large polyps that form inside the colon. Colon cancer is the second leading killing cancer in the U.S. Thus, it is important that aging people should get screened for colon polyps. If there are any, the polyps should be removed immediately to prevent cancer formation.

What Colon Polyps are Cancerous?

The possible cancerous colon polyps are also known as adenomas. Adenomas comprise 75% of all colon polyps. There are different types of adenomas and not all are cancerous. The differences of the adenomas lie in the way the polyp is assembled. The doctor can determine this through checking the polyps under the microscope. The sub-types of adenoma include tubular adenoma, villous adenoma and tubule-villous adenoma. The villous adenomas are the cancerous ones.

Other factors that can affect cancerous colon polyps are the size of the polyps. When the colon polyp grows larger, the probability of it being cancerous increases as well. When a colon polyp reached 2cm to 1 inch in size, it has a 20% chance of being cancerous. In this situation, it is recommended to get rid of the polyps. This is to prevent any polyp growth or cancer progression just to be on the safe side.

Can Colon Polyps be Prevented?

How can colon polyps be prevented? Doctors usually ask patients to follow a recommended diet plan that is low in fat and high in fiber. A probable reason why colon cancer is high in Europe and the U.S. is because their diets are high in fat and low in fiber. However, it is not the high fiber content that will prevent the formation of colon polyps. It is the vitamins and nutrients that are associated with cancer prevention. For instance, vegetables like cauliflower and broccoli are great in protecting the body from colon cancer. Foods with vitamin C and E are also good examples of cancer preventer.