How can I prevent colon polyps?

Doctors don't know of any one sure way to prevent polyps. But you might be able to lower your risk of getting them if you

• eat more fruits and vegetables and less fatty food
• don't smoke
• avoid alcohol
• exercise every day
• lose weight if you're overweight

Eating more calcium and folate can also lower your risk of getting polyps. Some foods that are rich in calcium are milk, cheese, and broccoli. Some foods that are rich in folate are chickpeas, kidney beans, and spinach.

Some doctors think that aspirin might help prevent polyps. Studies are under way.

source: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/colonpolyps_ez/index.htm

Points to Remember Colon Polyps

• A polyp is extra tissue that grows inside the body. Most polyps are not harmful.
  
  
• Symptoms may include constipation or diarrhea for more than a week or blood on your underwear, on toilet paper, or in your stool.
  
  
• Many polyps do not cause symptoms.
  
  
• Doctors remove all polyps and test them for cancer.
  
  
• Talk to your doctor about getting tested for polyps if
  
  
• you have any symptoms
  
  
• you're 50 years old or older
  
  
• someone in your family has had polyps or colon cancer

source: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/colonpolyps_ez/index.htm

Colon Polyp Glossary

Abdomen (AB-duh-men): The area between the chest and the hips. It contains the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen.

Anus (AY-nus): The opening through which stool leaves the body.

Benign (buh-NINE): Not cancerous.

Colonoscopy (koh-luh-NAW-skuh-pee): A test to look inside the entire large intestine. The doctor uses a flexible tube that contains a light and a tiny video camera. This device is called a colonoscope.

Large intestine: A long, hollow tube in your body that makes and stores stool. Also called the colon.

Polyp (PAH-lip): An extra piece of tissue that grows inside the body.

Rectum (REK-tum): The last section of the large intestine, leading to the anus.

Sigmoidoscopy (SIG-moy-DAW-skuh-pee): A test to look inside the lower section of the large intestine. The doctor uses a flexible tube that contains a light and a tiny video camera. The device is called a sigmoidoscope.

Stool: The solid waste that passes through the rectum as a bowel movement.

source: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/colonpolyps_ez/index.htm

For More Colon Polyp Information

American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
85 West Algonquin Road, Suite 550
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Phone: (847) 290-9184
Email: ascrs@fascrs.org
Internet: www.fascrs.org

National Cancer Institute
Cancer Information Service
Building 31, Room 10A16
31 Center Drive, MSC 2580
Bethesda, MD 20892-2580
Phone: 1-800-422-6237 or (301) 496-6631
Internet: www.nci.nih.gov

source: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/colonpolyps_ez/index.htm