Intestinal polyps - Symptoms, causes and treatment

Intestinal polyps are bsmall bumps that grow on the inside part large intestine (colon). Most intestinal polyps are harmless. Howeverseveral types bowel polyps can develop colon cancer big.

Intestinal polyps can affect people of any age, but are more common in people over the age of 50. Smokers, overweight people, and people whose family members have had colon polyps or colon cancer are at increased risk of developing colon polyps.

Symptoms of Intestinal Polyps

In general, intestinal polyps do not cause symptoms, so many people are not aware of the presence of these small lumps. However, in certain cases, people with intestinal polyps may experience the following conditions:

Change bowel frequency
A change in the frequency of bowel movements for more than a week, for example to constipation or diarrhea, can signal the presence of large intestinal polyps.

Change stool color
Stool changes color because it mixes with blood, so that the color becomes blackish or red streaked.

Painful stomach
Large polyps can block part of the intestine, so the sufferer will experience cramps and abdominal pain.

Anemia consequencelacksubstance iron
Bleeding due to intestinal polyps can cause a lot of iron in the body to be used up, so the sufferer can experience anemia.

Causes of Intestinal Polyps

Intestinal polyps are caused by genetic changes or mutations, which cause cells in the intestines to become abnormal. The more active the growth of polyps, the greater the risk of becoming malignant.

There are several factors that can increase the risk of colon polyps, namely:

Aged 50 years and over.
Have a family member who has had polyps or colon cancer.
Have inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.
Have uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.
Experiencing obesity and lack of exercise.
Smoking and frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Some genetic disorders can also increase a person's risk of developing intestinal polyps. The genetic disorders in question are:

1. Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)

2. Gardner's Syndrome

3. Serrated polyposis ssyndrome

4. MYH-associated polyposis (FOLDER)

5. Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome

6. Lynch syndrome

When to go to the doctor

If you are over 50 years old and have various risk factors as above, you are recommended to have regular screening to a gastroenterologist. This needs to be done to detect whether there are polyps in the intestine.

If you experience abdominal pain and a change in the frequency of bowel movements for more than a week, or if you have blood in your stool, contact your doctor immediately. Prompt treatment of colon polyps can prevent colon polyps from progressing to colon cancer.

Intestinal Polyp Diagnosis

Polyp diagnosis is important especially to detect polyps that can turn into cancer. Because intestinal polyps often do not cause symptoms, routine screening is highly recommended to detect them early.

Screening tests performed to detect intestinal polyps are:

Colonoscopy

In a colonoscopy examination, the doctor will insert a camera tube-shaped device through the rectum to observe the inner lining of the patient's large intestine. If polyps are found, the doctor will cut and remove them, for later examination in the laboratory.

Stool test

There are two types of stool examination that can be done, namely FIT (fecal immunochemical test) and FOBT (fecal occult blood test). Both aim to detect the content of blood in the stool, which under normal circumstances should not be present. Both of these tests are also done to detect colon cancer early.

Intestinal Polyp Treatment

If there are intestinal polyps, the doctor will remove the polyps. There are various ways to remove polyps, including:

Appointment polyps (polypectomy) through colonoscopy

The doctor will inject fluid into the polyp so that it separates from the surrounding tissue and can be removed. This procedure is performed with the help of a colonoscope.

Appointment polyps (polypectomy) through laparoscopy

If the size of the polyp is too large, then the removal of the polyp is done through a laparoscopic technique. This procedure is similar to a colonoscopy, but the instrument is inserted through the abdominal wall, not the rectum.

Removal of the entire colon

This surgical procedure is performed when a person suffers from familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).

Intestinal Polyp Prevention

Some intestinal polyps arise due to genetic disorders. This is indeed difficult to prevent, but can be detected early with routine screening examinations.

As for intestinal polyps caused by other factors, prevention can be done by:

Increase consumption of fruits and vegetables.
Reduce consumption of fatty foods, red meat, and processed meat.
Do not smoke.
Avoid drinking liquor.
Maintain ideal body weight.
Exercise regularly, at least 1 hour per week.
Increase the consumption of calcium to prevent the recurrence of intestinal polyps.