Colon polyps can cause serious health problems
Claiming that polyps are one of the most common diseases of the large intestine (colon), Prof. Dr. Ali Çetinkaya explained, “Polyps are benign tumors that protrude from the membrane called the mucosa that covers the inner surface of hollow organs ( stomach, small and large intestine, gallbladder, etc.). The incidence of polyps increases with age. It is seen in nearly one in four people over the age of 50. Polyps can have different structures, they can be rounded with or without a stipe, or they can be flat and spread. Their size can also vary from a few mm to 7-8 cm. Polyps can be single or there can be many in different parts of the intestine.
prof. dr. Çetinkaya gave information about the types of polyps and their dangers.
Speaking about the type of polyps, Prof. Dr. Ali Çetinkaya said, “There are two main types. Hyperplastic and adenomatous polyp. Hyperplastic polyps usually do not cause cancer. But there is a risk of adenomatous polyps becoming cancerous. There is an increased risk of cancer with some polyps. Sessile and flat polyps, polyps larger than 1 cm (especially above 2 cm increase the risk even more), the number of polyps more than three, ulcers and irregularities on the polyp, and a family history of colon cancer increase the risk of cancer. In addition, in inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and crohn’s; The risk of colon cancer increases in patients with uterine and ovarian cancer.
“Polyps usually show no symptoms”
Emphasizing that polyps usually do not cause symptoms, Prof. Dr. Çetinkaya said: “Polyps usually do not cause symptoms. However, in large polyps, they can cause bleeding and rarely intestinal obstruction and give symptoms in this way. Since polyps are rarely symptomatic, they should be screened for with a procedure called a colonoscopy. For this reason, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends colonoscopy in all people who have no complaints from the age of 45. On the other hand, colonoscopy should be performed in cases such as involuntary weight loss, rectal bleeding, family history of colon cancer, abdominal pain that wakes you up at night, and bloody diarrhea.
Colon polyps or ways to prevent cancer
Underlining that one of the most important ways to prevent colon cancer is a colonoscopy, Private Hatem Hospital Gastroenterology Specialist Prof. Dr. Ali Çetinkaya: “After a certain age or people who are at risk, screening with colonoscopy and removing any polyps. Measures that are thought to reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer can be summarized as regular exercise, losing excess weight, not smoking, eating a healthy diet (low in fat, high in fibre) and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption.
Treatment of polyps
Listing the treatment methods of polyps, “Most of the polyps detected during colonoscopy can be removed during this procedure. Removing the polyp is called a polypectomy. Polypectomy is the process of capturing and removing it using a lasso-shaped wire ring (bow) that can be passed through the colonoscope device. The removed polyps are sent to the pathology department to be examined under the microscope and to determine if there are any cancer foci. From this result, the frequency of follow-up reveals whether additional treatment is needed. To minimize the risk of bleeding, the use of blood thinners (anticoagulants such as aspirin, coumarin) should be discontinued at least 5-6 days before the procedure. It is very important to follow up after the colon polyps have been removed. If the polyp is completely removed, it should be checked every 2-3 years with colonoscopy, depending on the size, number and pathological results of the polyp. If a polyp is discovered during the control colonoscopy, it is recommended to follow up with a colonoscopy every 5 years.