Polyp to cancer how long

A colorectal polyp begins with a gene mutation in one of the stem cells that are constantly dividing to produce the cells that line our colon. Only a few mutations cause cancer.

But colon cells grow and divide so rapidly that we replace the entire lining of our colons once a week. And each time these cell divide, they pick up more and more mutations, and the risk of cancer rises. As cells with the mutation build up on the surface of the colon, they form a small cluster that appears as a polyp.

They continue to divide, picking up even more mutations — some in the genes controlling cell growth. While a diet high in fiber is beneficial on multiple levels and highly encouraged, the research to date has not been able to prove an association with reduced risk of polyps or colorectal cancer. Is there any way to prevent polyps from forming?

Another anti-inflammatory called celecoxib Celebrex also is used to reduce the risk of polyps and cancer in people with an inherited condition called familial adenomatous polyposis, or FAP. Studies are currently underway to determine whether or not people at average risk of colon cancer would benefit from these or other preventive medicines. Until we learn more, there may not be much you can do to prevent the formation of polyps, but there is plenty you can do to prevent them from becoming cancerous.

I may sound like a broken record, but it bears repeating: Regular colorectal cancer screenings give you the best possible chance of finding polyps and removing them before they ever have the chance to turn into cancer. This important step, plus three others — getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding tobacco — could prevent as much as 90 percent of all colorectal cancer.

Ask an expert: What you should know about polyps A Providence provider answers frequently asked questions about polyps. When patients are screened, the doctor can remove any polyps before they become cancerous. Other times, colon polyps can cause rectal bleeding, change in stool color red streaks , long-term constipation or diarrhea and abdominal pain.

If you are experiencing a combination of these symptoms, you should visit your doctor. The growth and mutation of colon polyps into cancer is a slow process, taking an estimated 10 years on average. So as long as patients are screened, it is unlikely they will develop cancerous polyps. Simply getting a colonoscopy after turning 50 can help save your life.

Jump to content. A polyp is a small growth of excess tissue that often grows on the lining of the large intestine, also known as the colon.

Colon and rectal polyps occur in about 25 percent of men and women ages 50 and older. Not all polyps will turn into cancer, and it may take many years for a polyp to become cancerous. Anyone can develop colon and rectal polyps, but people with the following risk factors are more likely to do so:. Polyps grow in two different shapes: flat sessile and with a stalk pedunculated. Sessile polyps are more common than previously thought and harder to detect in colon cancer screening.

The large majority of polyps will not become cancers. Certain types of polyps are more likely to turn into cancer.

Removal of polyps during a colonoscopy reduces the risk of developing colon cancer in the future.