Colon polyps are growths in your large intestine (colon) . The cause of most colon polyps is not known, but they are common in adults. Most colon polyps are not cancer. But some growths can turn into colon cancer. If a colon polyp is the kind that can turn into cancer, it usually takes many years for that to happen. People over 50 are more likely than younger people to get colon cancer. So experts recommend that everyone age 50 or older have a screening test to look for colon polyps.

Most polyps are found during screening tests for colon cancer. Screening is advised if you are age 50 or older or you have a higher risk for the disease. The four screening tests for colon cancer are: Colonoscopy. In this test, the doctor inserts a small viewing tube all the way into your colon and looks for polyps. The doctor can also take out any polyps he or she finds. Flexible sigmoidoscopy. See similar questions...

You inherited a certain gene that causes you to develop polyps. People with this gene are much more likely than others to get the kind of polyps that turn into colon cancer. See similar questions...

The short answer is yes. Your risk of developing colon cancer increases when you have polyps and even if your parent, sibling, or child has polyps. That's a good question and one the medical community is still asking itself. Some studies indicate that breast cancer increases colon cancer risk and others say it doesn't. You may have heard that men are more likely to get colorectal cancer than women. You may have heard it the other way around, too. See similar questions...

Colon polyps are usually taken out, because some of them can turn into colon cancer. Polyps are removed during a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. The polyps are sent to a lab to see if they are the kind that can turn into cancer. If they are, you will need to have screening tests more often than other people. See similar questions...

Adenomatous polyps account for between 30-50% of all colon polyps. If these polyps are not removed, they can develop into cancer. Another 10-30% of polyps known as hyperplastic polyps and mucosal tags do not increase the risk of cancer. See similar questions...

Polyps are mushroom-shaped growths on the inner lining of the large bowel. Although they are non-cancerous, one type of polyp called adenoma is the precursor of colon cancer. If untreated, some adenoma will grow bigger and become cancerous in a number of years. Polyposis is a hereditary condition in which an individual develops hundreds of polyps in the large bowel. For more information, please go to the section on FAP. See similar questions...

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No. Over half of colon polyps are hyperplastic, which are benign and carry no risk of colon cancer. Adenomatous polyps are precancerous. However, once removed, there is no longer a risk of cancer. See similar questions...

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The colon is about six feet long and is the part of the body's digestive system that moves waste material from the small intestine to the rectum. See similar questions...