“What happens if you don't get treated for colon polyps?”
I am a 57 year old male. I want to know what happens if you don't get treated for colon polyps?
7 Answers
If they are benign, nothing. If they are cancerous you can die from colon cancer.
Depends on the type of polyps. You're best off having them removed.
You take the risk that the polyp will become a Colon or Rectal cancer.
Depends on the kind of polyp it is; some have more potential than others to progress to cancer. Part of why we remove them is to assess what kind of polyp it is and assess if there were any cancer cells in there.
Colon polyps can be the precursor to cancer. Polyps that are not removed can develop into colon cancer.
They can develop into cancer. Take them SERIOUSLY!!! Do what the nice gastroenterologist says, even if it means paying for the followup colonoscopy yourself!
Certain types of colon polyps(like adenomatous polyps, for example) are "pre-malgnant" and thus can turn into colon cancer over time. Thus if one has any of these "pre-malignant" types of polyps, it is generally recommended to have regular colonoscopies(usually every 3-5 years, depending on the type of polyp found) to remove anymore polyps that might appear in the future.. Whether to have additional colonoscopies depends on age and overall health and thus a frank discussion with a knowlegeable physician is optimal.
