What is a Polyp?

A polyp is a tissue growth that develops in the inner lining of the colon, known as the mucosa. This is the layer where polyps typically form. While most polyps are benign (non-cancerous), some can gradually transform into colon cancer over time. These growths are usually small and are often discovered during a screening colonoscopy. Fortunately, polyps can be easily and safely removed during the procedure, with minimal risk to the patient.

What Causes Polyps?

Several factors may contribute to the development of polyps:

• Lifestyle habits: Tobacco use and diets high in animal fats have been linked to an increased risk.
• Genetics: Family history plays a significant role in polyp formation. Certain hereditary conditions can lead to the formation of numerous polyps and increase the risk of developing colon cancer at an early age.

Are Polyps Preventable?

While polyps are not entirely preventable, adopting healthy habits can reduce your risk:

• High-fiber diets: Many experts recommend increasing fiber intake to promote colon health.
• Low-dose aspirin: Some studies suggest that taking low-dose aspirin or NSAIDs over time may help prevent the formation of polyps.

Do All Polyps Turn Into Cancer?

No, not all polyps are dangerous. For example, hyperplastic polyps have an extremely low risk of turning cancerous, even after many years. However, other types of polyps carry a higher cancer risk. After removal, polyps are examined under a microscope to determine their type and potential risk. This analysis ensures that any necessary follow-up care can be planned.

By staying proactive with regular colonoscopies, you can identify and remove polyps early, reducing the risk of colorectal cancer.

How Are Polyps Removed?

Polyps are removed during the colonoscopy itself, at the time they are discovered. There is no second appointment and no separate procedure to schedule. Because you are asleep under sedation for the entire exam, you do not feel the removal.

Once removed, the tissue is sent for pathology so it can be examined under a microscope. That analysis is what determines the polyp's type and whether it carried any risk — and it is what informs how soon you should be screened again. At Colonoscopy KC, both the removal and the pathology are included in the all-inclusive price rather than arriving later as separate bills.

How Long Does a Polyp Take to Become Cancer?

This is the question that makes screening worthwhile. The progression from a small polyp to colorectal cancer is generally slow, often measured in years rather than months. That long window is precisely why screening works: it creates repeated opportunities to find and remove a growth long before it becomes dangerous.

It is also why the screening interval matters. If your colonoscopy is normal with no polyps and you are at average risk, your next colonoscopy should be in ten years. If polyps are found and removed, a shorter interval — commonly three to five years — is usually recommended, depending on their size, number and type.

Who Is More Likely to Develop Polyps?

Risk rises with age, which is why the American Cancer Society recommends screening beginning at age 45 for adults at average risk. Family history matters as well: if a parent, sibling or child was diagnosed with colorectal cancer or advanced polyps before age 60, screening typically begins at age 40, or ten years before the age at which your relative was diagnosed — whichever comes first.

Lifestyle contributes too, as noted above, though it is worth being clear that polyps develop in plenty of people with no risk factors at all. That is the whole reason screening is recommended by age rather than by symptoms.

Do Polyps Cause Symptoms?

Usually not. Most polyps produce no symptoms whatsoever, which is what makes them easy to miss and what makes waiting for symptoms a poor strategy. When symptoms do appear — rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, a persistent change in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss — they warrant a conversation with a physician at any age, and may point toward a diagnostic rather than a screening colonoscopy.

The Practical Takeaway

A polyp is not something to panic about. Most are benign, they are removed easily during a routine exam, and finding one simply means the screening did exactly what it was meant to do.

If you are 45 or older and have not been screened, call (913) 379-3350. We will review your risk factors and answer your questions before anything is scheduled.