Question
I would say the vast majority of polyps will not become cancerous. But, it is too risky to leave it alone. For example, if I am doing a colonoscopy for a patient and I see a small lump, statistically speaking maybe that lump has 1-2% risk that, within 10 years, it will evolve to become cancerous.
But I can’t take that risk, so I will remove any small lumps. Having said that, not all polyps will progress to cancer, you cannot predict which will and won't when it is small and early.
I would say the vast majority of polyps will not become cancerous. But, it is too risky to leave it alone. For example, if I am doing a colonoscopy for a patient and I see a small lump, statistically speaking maybe that lump has 1-2% risk that, within 10 years, it will evolve to become cancerous.
But I can’t take that risk, so I will remove any small lumps. Having said that, not all polyps will progress to cancer, you cannot predict which will and won't when it is small and early.
Polyps in the colon can be broadly classified as pre-cancerous polyps or polyps without cancer potential. The polyps are seen during colonoscopy. Your endoscopist will look at the polyp and magnify the scope to visualise the surface characteristics of the polyp. If all the features are consistent with a polyp which has no cancer potential, it can be left alone. If the polyp looks like a pre-cancerous polyp, your endoscopist will remove it whenever possible. If your endoscopist is unsure, the polyp is removed for confirmation.
According to the current screening guidelines for colorectal cancer released by the Ministry of Health Singapore, there are 3 risk categories, namely average risk individual, increased risk individual and high risk individual. A direct family member of a patient with colon cancer is an increased risk individual. If the patient with colon cancer (your family member) was diagnosed before the age of 60 years, you are recommended to undergo colonoscopy once very 5 years starting at an age 10 years before the patient developed the cancer.
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