Polyps: Abnormal outgrowth of tissues in the body

A colon polyp is a small clump of cells that forms on the lining of the colon, which are mostly harmless. — TNS

I recently had a colonoscopy and the doctor found a lot of polyps. I was very scared. What are polyps?

Polyps are small, abnormal growths of tissue.

They grow and project out from a mucous membrane or organ in the body.

So they can project from many parts of your body, not just your colon as some people believe.

Polyps may or may not be attached to the mucous membrane surface by a narrow stalk.

Those that have a stalk are called pedunculated polyps.

Those without a stalk are called sessile polyps.

Polyps are not usually very large – they tend to be less than half an inch wide.

To the naked eye, they can look like small, flat bumps or tiny mushrooms.

Ugh! I have mushroom-like structures inside me? What causes them?

That depends on where they are situated.

They are most commonly located in the uterus and colon.

But there are many other places polyps can develop, such as the stomach, cervix, ear canal, nose and throat.

Polyps can be caused by different reasons, which vary depending on where the polyp is situated:

• In the colon

  Polyps can happen for no known reason, or because of genetic changes.

  But underlying colon conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can also cause polyps.

  Some people have a familial, or inherited, condition in which their colon has many, many polyps.

  As you get older, you also have a higher risk of getting colon polyps.

• In the uterus

  The lining of the uterus is the endometrium.

  When glands in the endometrium grow too large and protrude, they can give rise to polyps.

  The cause is unknown, but it is hypothesised that if you are a woman with high oestrogen levels, you are more likely to get polyps.

• In the cervix

  Possible reasons include congestion of the blood vessels in the cervix (which disrupts blood flow and causes polyps to develop), chronic infection or inflammation caused by bacteria or fungi, the use of chemicals that irritate the cervix over a long period of time, and high oestrogen levels.

  It is always good to go for a gynaecological check-up regularly if you are a woman.

  Cervical polyps can be easily detected during a routine examination.

• In the throat

  You can get this if you constantly shout loudly, causing an injury; smoke; do intense breathing; corrode your respiratory tract with chemicals; or sing too loudly.

  This is why a lot of singers develop throat polyps.

  You can also get polyps here if you suffer constantly from gastroesophageal acid reflux (GERD).

• In the nose

  This is usually caused by inflammation or infection.

• In the bladder

  Bladder polyps are rare, but can still happen.

  Strangely enough, they are usually associated with smoking.

Are polyps cancerous?

I mean, they are abnormal growths, right?It is true that polyps grow through rapidly dividing cells, which is similar to how cancer cells multiply, but they are generally benign.

However, they can indeed become cancerous.

For colon polyps, around 5% to 10% of them progress to become colorectal cancer.

That is why it is important to remove them once detected.

Do I have to scan my body regularly to see if I have polyps? I mean, they are all inside me, right? I wouldn’t know if any grow or not.

Polyps do cause symptoms, depending on where they are located in your body.

But by the time they cause symptoms, they are usually already large and have eroded, causing them to bleed.

For example, if you have colon polyps, they can cause blood in your stools, diarrhoea, constipation, or even abdominal pain.

Uterine polyps can cause irregular menstrual bleeding, pain, and even infertility if they block your Fallopian tubes.

But most polyps are “silent”, and you won’t know you have one (or several) unless you do a routine health check-up, or if they are discovered when you are checking for other conditions.

Should I be doing regular checks then?

Yes, in your case, you should be doing regular checks for colon polyps.

It is recommended to do regular colonoscopies for anyone aged 45 and above as part of their regular health routine anyway.

You will have to visit a gastroenterologist for this.

If the gastroenterologist finds polyps inside your colon, they will snip it off and send it for testing.

You will then be asked to return in three years to do another colonoscopy if the polyps are benign.

If no polyps are found in your colon, then the recommended duration for a colonoscopy is once every five years.

Do all polyps have to be removed?

It depends on where the polyps are, how many there are, their size, and if they are causing problems for you.

In a colonoscopy, the gastroenterologist will definitely remove any polyps they can see because they cannot tell if it is cancerous or not just by looking at it.

Throat polyps may go away by themselves if you give your voice adequate rest.

That is why you hear of some famous singers forgoing concerts and performances if they develop laryngeal polyps – so that they can give their voices a rest.

Dr YLM graduated as a medical doctor, and has been writing for many years on various subjects such as medicine, health, computers and entertainment. For further information, email [e-mail]. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Neither The Star nor the author gives any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to such information. The Star and the author disclaim all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.