First, the polyp is removed. Therefore, if a person is pre-cancerous, the cancer will never develop.
A colonoscopy is usually done under sedation and involves inserting a long, flexible tube through the anus and into the rectum and colon. This is the only screening test that allows removal of polyps identified during surgery.
Doctors can remove and biopsy polyps using instruments inserted through a colonoscope. “There are other techniques, including more advanced techniques, for removing large polyps,” Dr. Pantel says.
The polyp is then sent to a pathologist to determine if it is pre-cancerous. This is done by cutting the polyp tissue into thin slices, staining them to make them easier to see, and viewing them under a microscope for certain characteristics characteristic of cancer.
Other tests for colon cancer are less invasive, such as virtual colonoscopy, which uses a CT scanner to generate images of the colon from outside the body. Alternatively, there are home tests such as the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), which can detect blood in the stool, or Cologuard®, which can detect changes in both blood and DNA. The latter two tests send a stool sample to a laboratory for analysis. However, if any of these tests suggest the possibility of cancer, a follow-up colonoscopy may be recommended.
As mentioned above, there are several types of polyps. Neoplastic polyps look different from other polyps. Adenomas may appear tubular (like small test tubes), villous (with a leaf-like growth pattern), or tubular-villous (a combination of the two). Polyps that are flat, broad-based, and tightly attached are called sessile, and polyps that have a serrated appearance are called serrated. All of these polyps are considered precancerous. Removing them can prevent progression to cancer.
Colonoscopy results are usually available within five to seven business days, but even faster if the polyp is small, explains Dr. Pantel. “At that point, you should listen to your surgeon or gastroenterologist’s advice, which usually includes recommendations for continued monitoring,” he says.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults between the ages of 45 and 75 get tested every 10 years (or more often if they’re at high risk). “If no cancer was found, but there were multiple polyps or large polyps, you might have to come in sooner. Maybe she’ll be in five years, or he’ll be in three years, or he’ll be in a year.” “It could be,” says Dr. Pantel. “It depends on the number and size of the polyps.” Some people at higher risk for colon cancer, such as some Millennials and her Generation Z, may be screened earlier and/or more frequently than age 45. You may need to receive
Polyps usually do not cause symptoms, so you may have a potentially cancerous polyp without knowing it. Therefore, it is important to consult a health care professional if you notice any of the following symptoms of colon cancer: Changes in bowel habits. There is blood in the stool. Diarrhea, constipation, or a feeling that the bowels are not completely empty. Abdominal pain, pain, and cramps that won’t go away. or unexplained weight loss.