Am I At Risk Of Colon Polyps?

Are you 50 or older?

Are you African American?

Do you have a family history of polyps or colon cancer?

Do you have an inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease?

Do you eat a high-fat and low-fiber food (diet with high intake of red meat (beef and pork), fatty and fried food and processed meat (bacon, sausages, hot dogs, and lunch meats), and low in fruits, vegetables and whole grains)?

Do you smoke?

Do you drink alcohol daily?

Do you have a diagnosis of diabetes?

Do you have a sedentary lifestyle with a little or no time for exercise?

Are you overweight (your body mass index (BMI) is over 30)?

Do you have any of the following hereditary polyp disoreders: Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), Gardner's syndrome, MYH-associated polyposis (MAP), Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, or Serrated polyposis syndrome?

Based on your answers you have a low risk of colon polyps. Colon polyps are small growths of tissue that appears on the lining of your colon. There are two different shapes of colon polyps: sessile and pedunculated. Sessile polyps are flat and lie on the surface of the colonic mucosa and sometimes can be difficult to detect during colonoscopy. Pendunculated polyps look similar to mushrooms; they are lumps of tissue on a long thin stalk attached to the surface of colon’s lining. Anyone can develop polyps and it is not unusual for a person with polyps to have no symptoms. Polyp prevention measures include regular colonoscopies.

Based on your answers you have a moderate risk of colon polyps. Colon polyps are lumps that develop on the lining of your colon. They can be different sizes and shapes and most of them are harmless. In the United States, about 30% of men and women over 50 have colon polyps. Many people do not know they have a polyp until a doctor finds it during regular colonoscopy. Over the years, some types of polyps may turn into cancer. To reduce your risk of polyps, pay special attention to your diet and lifestyle. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption.

Based on your answers you have a high risk of colon polyps. Colon polyps are growths of excess tissue that develop on the lining of your colon. Some types of colon polyps may become cancerous. You can reduce your risk of colon polyps by having regular screening that includes colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, a stool test and a CT scan. People with a family history of colon polyps should consider genetic counseling, and others diagnosed with a hereditary polyp disorder should have regular colonoscopies starting at a young age. It is also important to adopt healthy eating habits, exercise regularly, limit alcohol use, quit smoking and maintain a healthy weight.