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What To Know If Polyps Were Found During Your Colonoscopy
If polyps were found and removed during your colonoscopy, you might be worried about what that means for your colorectal cancer risk. Most colorectal cancers start as polyps, which are small growths that form on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Polyps can be found and removed during routine colonoscopies to check for colorectal cancer. This is why getting screened regularly is so important.
Some people will never develop colon or rectal polyps. Others may have one or a few polyps, and some people may have many. "Polyps are actually more common than people think. Studies show about 15-40% of all adults have polyps," said Suneel Kamath, MD, an American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) expert and gastrointestinal oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic.
There are different types of colon and rectal polyps. Most polyps are benign (non-cancerous). But a few types are considered pre-cancerous and are more concerning because they have a higher risk of turning into cancer. If you've had polyps removed, there is a chance that more polyps can develop. You might be wondering what that means for you and your cancer risk. Here's what to know.
What to know if you've had colon polyps removed during a colonoscopyIf polyps were found during your colonoscopy, they were most likely removed. If a polyp was very large, a biopsy or sample may have been taken instead of removing it. Sometimes another procedure is needed to remove larger polyps completely. After polyp or biopsy samples are tested, results are sent to your doctor.
You might be worried about how many polyps were found during your colonoscopy. It's really the type of polyp that makes a difference in what might happen next, rather than the number found. "It's better to have 5 benign polyps, like hyperplastic polyps, than to have 2 higher-risk polyps, like tubular adenomas that have dysplasia in them," said Dr. Kamath. "It's always a combination of the size, number, and type of polyps that determines how concerning things might be."
If you've had colon polyps removed that have a higher risk of becoming cancer or that were found to be suspicious in other ways, you might need additional surgery. "Sometimes, if there is concern that the polyp removed had cancer deeper into the wall of the colon below it that was not removed, surgery or endoscopic resection may be recommended," said Dr. Kamath.
What happens if a polyp that is removed contains cancerSometime polyps found in colonoscopies have already started to become cancer. In some cases, the doctor suspects there might be cancer behind or around where the polyp is located. "If a polyp that is removed contains cancer, your doctor will usually recommend you get additional imaging tests done to make sure that the cancer has not spread outside of the colon," said Dr. Kamath. Then, they will typically refer you to a colorectal cancer surgeon for follow-up surgery and further treatment if needed.
No matter what, if polyps were removed during your colonoscopy, be sure to ask your doctor for details about the polyps. "The most important thing is to understand what types of polyps were removed, how many, and how big they were," said Dr. Kamath. "Based on that, your doctor will be able to tell you what the risk of getting more polyps or cancer would be in the future. That will determine when you need to come back for a colonoscopy again."
Follow-up after polyps were found during a colonoscopyThe follow-up care you'll need if polyps were removed during your colonoscopy depends on your family history, personal risk factors, and the type of polyps found. Your doctor can help you understand your risk and next steps.
Be sure to write down all follow-up appointments and understand when your doctor says your next procedure should be scheduled. "Put when your next colonoscopy is due in your calendar or phone," said Dr. Kamath. "I see a lot of people who, at the time, are worried and make it a priority, but then they relax and forget to schedule it."
Ways to reduce your risk of colon cancer after polyps were foundIf you had polyps removed during your colonoscopy, this can put you at higher risk for developing colorectal cancer. This is especially true if you had multiple polyps found, if the polyps were large, or if they are the types of polyps that have a higher risk of becoming cancer.
Along with getting routine testing, there are several steps you can take to help reduce your colorectal cancer risk. These include:
It's also important to talk to your family. Polyps found during your colonoscopy may mean your family members are at higher risk for developing polyps and colorectal cancer. During family talks, you might find out that others have had polyps, too. Or they might tell you about symptoms they're having.
Talking with your relatives is a great opportunity to bring up the importance of:
"We probably miss a lot of people who do have a family history that increases cancer risk because they don't know it," said Dr. Kamath.
Finally, since everyone is different, always talk with your doctor about what they recommend to help reduce your cancer risk. They can guide you based on your specific situation.
Dr. Kamath is a member of ASCO's Patient Information Editorial Board.
He Was Diagnosed With Colon Cancer At 38. Early Warning Signs He Missed
At 38 years old, William Lindley began experiencing stomach issues, including a constant urge to go to the bathroom.
"At the time, I was dipping tobacco and had been for several years…usually after I ate and I dip, I'd have to go to the restroom," he told Healthline.
After a few months of consistent symptoms, he thought he might have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, once his condition began interfering with his work as a police officer in Mississippi, he knew something more serious was happening.
"I worked on the interstate doing police work, and so I'd have to come off the road three or four times [during my shift] to go to the restroom, but when I tried, I couldn't go. Then I started seeing blood in my stool," said Lindley.
A foot of his colon was removed, and a colostomy bag was attached. A PET scan determined that his liver was affected, too. He traveled to MD Anderson in Texas, which could offer him more effective treatments, including chemotherapy.
"After four rounds of chemo, I took off a month before I had the liver resection, which they did robotically. They got all four spots [of cancer] and removed about 5% of the liver," said Lindley.
A few months later, spots showed up on his lung, which required more chemotherapy and lung surgery in January 2025. Now, Lindley requires no further treatment, and he continues to follow up with his doctors.
"I feel great. I'm really blessed that my body's been able to heal fast," he said. "I'm ready to go back to working out."
Now 41 years old, his perspective on life has changed, including his decision to not let work carry over into his personal life.
"I've always been a big family guy, but when my job is done, I make sure that I spend time with my family and not take things that I used to take so serious," said Lindley.
"We can be stubborn. We don't want to go get checked. We don't want to say there's a problem, we don't want to deal with it," he said. "At the time I was diagnosed, I had no idea that colorectal cancer was becoming an issue with younger and younger people. If I had seen a doctor sooner, maybe I would have been in stage 1."
Sharing his story with friends and family has resulted in some of them getting screened with colonoscopy.
"A couple found a few polyps and got those removed before it became any kind of issue," said Lindley.
The White House recently issued a statement stating that every year, 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
Christine Parseghian, MD, associate professor of gastrointestinal medical oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center, said there has been a steady decrease in the incidence of colorectal cancer in adults over the age of 50 in the last several decades.
"This is due in large part to changing patterns in risk factors, such as reductions in smoking, increased use of aspirin, and particularly the uptake of CRC screening [with] colonoscopies," she told Healthline.
"The reasons are complex and not fully understood, but may include dietary changes, obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and genetic predispositions," said Parseghian. "Physical inactivity, sedentary behavior, and increased caloric intake progressively lead to the development of obesity — an established risk factor for early-onset CRC."
Although cases of early-onset colorectal cancer more often have a genetic component, approximately 80% of newly diagnosed young-onset CRC patients do not have an inherited predisposition.
Lindley falls into this group. Because his mother lives with adenoid carcinoma and his grandmother died from pancreatic cancer, both he and his mother were genetically tested. Neither carry any known genes that put them at increased risk for cancer.
"[We] have many patients who live healthy lifestyles with no known genetic risk factors who are diagnosed at a young age and otherwise seem perfectly healthy," said Parseghian.
More research is needed to determine the reasons for this. However, she said some researchers have found links to disruptions in the gut microbiome composition that may be caused by dietary changes or antibiotics. These disruptions could lead to inflammation and increased risk of several diseases, including colorectal cancer.
"Others have discovered that, as young-onset CRC tumors are often more aggressive, these cancers are more likely to suppress the body's immune responses to cancer," said Parseghian.
"We still have much to learn about the potential contributing factors in young-onset CRC, but progress is being made steadily with institutional research programs focused on young-onset CRC here at MDACC and other large academic centers across the world," Parseghian said.
"Colonoscopies are the best way to prevent CRC. Increasing rates of colonoscopies have resulted in steep declines in incidence among adults ages 50 years and older," said Parseghian.
When colonoscopy finds pre-malignant polyps, they are removed, which eliminates the risk of them transforming into invasive cancer.
"If tumor is found during colonoscopy, the earlier it is found may make surgical resection easier and cure more attainable," Parseghian said, "That 24–48 hours of dietary inconvenience and bowel preparation can truly prevent a lifetime of suffering."
Other general risk-reducing recommendations include:
Common symptoms in early-onset colorectal cancer include:
"Studies suggest that painless bleeding could precede other colorectal cancer symptoms by 2 to 3 years, and that patients with early-onset colorectal cancer who are symptomatic might wait up to 6 months before seeking assistance," said Parseghian.
Regardless of your age, if you experience any symptoms that may indicate warning signs of colon cancer, you should reach out to your doctor.
"We need to raise awareness of this deadly disease, particularly in the young adult population," Parseghian said.
Early Warning Signs Of Colon Cancer: How To Reduce Your Risk
Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes and quality of life for patients, yet the disease's subtle symptoms are often overlooked or mistaken for less serious conditions. Recognizing the early warning signs of colon cancer can be a lifesaving step.Before we delve into the early signs of colon cancer, let's understand it.What is colon cancer?Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, starts in the colon (large intestine) or rectum, which are parts of the digestive system. It typically begins as small, benign clumps of cells called polyps that can turn cancerous over time. Not all polyps become malignant, however, those that do often grow silently, and show few signs until the disease advances.Some of the factors that increase the risk of colon cancer include age, family history of colorectal cancer, personal history, alcohol consumption, smoking, lifestyle, and obesity.What are the early signs of colon cancer?The early symptoms can be deceptively mild, and often mistaken for other illnesses. Males are more at risk than females of getting and dying from colorectal cancer, as per the CDC.According to the American Cancer Society, some of the symptoms include:117093381
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