When a Harmless Polyp Turns Bad… It is Best to Nip it in the Bud

Colon Cancer is on the rise and is currently ranked at the THIRD spot for the highest fatalities caused by any type of cancer amongst Malaysians according to a recent World Health Organization survey.

Some people blame this on the unhealthy dietary choices Malaysians make daily. Sedentary lifestyles and excessive alcohol consumption is another contributing factor to the prevalence of this disease here but colon polyps are the usual culprits causing the dreaded “C-word”

You should already be used to hearing the usual mantra chanted by your doctors to prevent all sorts of diseases generally: Eat right. Stay away from alcoholic beverages and cigarettes, and don’t forget to exercise always!

If you are already making exemplary healthy choices in life, you deserve a pat on the back. But just like in many cases, this does not mean you are safe. Colon cancer is known to plague families (hereditary) and worse still, the older you get, the chances of developing cancerous polyps in your colon INCREASES.

You wonder if there is anything that can be done to avoid developing malignant polyps but what are they in the first place? What causes them and can you be rid of them without undergoing the surgery? Assunta Hospital’s in-house expert, Consultant General Surgeon, Dr K. Jeyaratnam says you should know the following points if these thoughts are already swimming in your head.

• Polyps are growing on the inner lining of the colon or rectum are in fact quite common.
• Most colon polyps are harmless (benign) however if you fall under the high-risk category, they can transform into cancerous growths (malignant).
• Polyps can be broken into three groups: Hyperplastic Polyps, Familial Adenomatous Polyps, and Inflammatory Polyps.
• Hyperplastic Polyps result from an abnormal increase in the number of cells and generally occur in the left (descending) colon rectum. This is the most common form of polyps found and usually does not pose an immediate threat to the patient.
• Familial Adenomatous Polyps has a high malignancy potential and can appear to be villous (hairy), tubular and tubulovillious.
• Inflammatory Polyps usually result from ulcerative colitis and are generally benign but can evetually lead to cancer.
• There are usually no symptoms when developing polyps but if you note a change in bowel habits, if you are experiencing chronic stomach pain, or if there is blood in your stool, you should consult a doctor immediately.
• Talk to your doctor about getting screened for colon polyps if you’re above 40 years of age. Dr Jeyaratham suggests that you should undergo your first colonoscopy by the time you reach your 50’s and if you have already had one or two polyps removed, you should go for another colonoscopy within 3-5 years
• You don’t have to be old to be affected by this disease so get yourself checked immediately if you have symptoms or someone in your family has previously had polyps or colon cancer.
• Doctors remove most colon polyps and test them for cancer during or after a COLONOSCOPY.

According to recent Malaysian reports, up to 10% of people suffering from colon cancer are in fact below 40-years of age. The key word here is CHECK with your doctor immediately if you feel you may be susceptible to this silent killer.