Johns Hopkins Health Alert
What You Can Do To Prevent Colorectal Polyps
Low-dose aspirin can help protect against colorectal cancer, but talk to your doctor first.Colorectal polyps are small, non-cancerous (benign) clumps of cells that grow in the rectum and colon. Over the course of 10–15 years, some of these polyps—usually the ones that are larger than a pea—may become cancerous. Fortunately, regular screening for colorectal cancer helps to identify and remove polyps, often before they progress to cancer.
It’s not known why some people get polyps, but some individuals are more prone to polyps than others. For instance, the older you get—especially after age 50—the more likely you are to have polyps. You’re also more likely to develop polyps if you’ve had them before (polyps tend to recur in most people), or if someone in your family has had polyps or cancer of the colon. Your behaviors also influence your risk of getting polyps: Eating a lot of fatty foods, smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, not exercising and being overweight can all contribute to the formation of polyps.
Most polyps don’t cause any symptoms. You might not know you have polyps until your doctor finds them during a physical examination or colorectal cancer screening. However, some people may notice rectal bleeding, especially after a bowel movement, constipation or diarrhea that lasts longer than a week or blood in their stool (the stool looks black or contains red streaks). In these cases, you should see your doctor for an evaluation. Polyps can be diagnosed by a digital rectal exam, barium enema, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy.
Following a healthy diet, exercising, and not smoking may help prevent polyps. Furthermore, research indicates that regular strength aspirin (325 mg a day) may thwart the growth of polyps in people who have recovered from colorectal cancer. For people who haven’t had colorectal cancer, other research suggests that aspirin use is most effective as a protectant if you have a mutated form of a gene that helps break down aspirin. Based on this data, your doctor may recommend aspirin to reduce the risk of polyps if you are at high risk. Always consult your doctor before beginning regular aspirin therapy to determine if the practice will be more beneficial than harmful given your individual medical history. In some people, regular use of aspirin can cause serious side effects, such as bleeding in the digestive tract.
Posted in Colon Cancer on April 10, 2007
Reviewed June 2011
Medical Disclaimer: This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician. Click here for additional information: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Disclaimer
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