Colorectal polyps should be removed because some can develop
into cancer. In most cases, the polyps may be removed during a
colonoscopy. People over age 50 should consider having a
colonoscopy or other screening test. Regular colonoscopy helps
prevent colon cancer because polyps can be removed before they
become cancerous. People with a family history of colon cancer
or colon polyps may need to be screened at an earlier age. For
people with adenomatous polyps, new polyps can appear in the
future. Follow-up colonoscopy is usually recommended 1 to 10
years later, depending on the: Person's age and general health
Number of polyps Size and characteristics of the polyps Rarely,
the health care provider may recommend a colectomy (removing
part of the colon) if polyps are very likely to become
cancerous. The outlook for people with colorectal polyps is
excellent if the polyps are removed. Polyps that are left behind
can develop into cancer over time. Polyps can cause bleeding.
Over time, some polyps can develop into