Are you worried about colon polyps? Let's find out exactly what they are!

Have you ever heard a relative or friend say, "I have a small tumor in my colon?" Or has a doctor ever told you about something like that? When we hear the words "colon polyps," many of us think about cancer. But are all these tumors really cancer? Why do they form? Should we be afraid of them? Okay, today we will find answers to all the questions you have about this. Don't worry, I will explain it to you in a very simple way.

Simply put, what are these colon polyps?

Think of our colon as a long tube. The small, fleshy growths that grow on the lining of this tube are called ``Colon Polyps.'' To be precise, these are abnormal growths of cells that have grown together.

These can come in a variety of shapes. Some are like little balls of wax, with a " head " and a "stem." Doctors call these ``pedunculated.'' Others are flat, raised like a lump, without a stem. They are called ``sessile.''

The important thing is that having a tumor in your colon does not mean you have cancer. Most of these are harmless, harmless tumors. However, some types of tumors, if left untreated for a long time, have a small chance of becoming cancerous. That's why doctors do a colonoscopy to check for these tumors. Remember, almost all colon cancers start with a small tumor. So if we remove the tumor early, we can stop the cancer from developing.

Are there different types of these nuts?

Yes, these tumors are classified in different ways. The most important classification is whether the tumor is likely to become cancerous or not. This is determined by a doctor after examining the removed tumor under a microscope.

How common is it for these tumors to develop?

This is more common than you think. Especially as you get older. Just think, about 20% of adults, or about 1 in 5 people, may have these. This risk increases even more after the age of 50. About 40% of people of that age, or about 40 out of 100, may have these tumors.

But don't worry. As I said before, a very small percentage of these tumors turn into cancer. And that takes a very long time. Usually about 10 to 20 years. The only thing we do with the ``(Colonoscopy)`` tests is to find and remove these tumors during that time, preventing cancer from developing.

How do I know if I have these? What are the symptoms?

This is the most dangerous and important thing about this. Most of the time, these tumors do not show any symptoms. Yes, you may not feel any difference or discomfort. By the time symptoms start to appear, the tumor may have turned into cancer. That is why it is important to get screened early, without waiting for symptoms to appear.

However, very rarely, some symptoms may appear. They are:

• Blood in the stool: You may notice blood in your stool when you go to the toilet, or you may see blood on the toilet paper. Sometimes this bleeding is not visible to the naked eye. But when you keep losing blood little by little, you may develop iron deficiency anemia . Then you may feel tired all the time, pale, and pale.
• Change in bowel habits: You may suddenly develop persistent constipation or diarrhea for no apparent reason. You may also notice more mucus in your stool than before.

These symptoms can be caused by many other diseases. So don't panic when you see them. But if you notice something like this, definitely see a doctor and tell him about it.

Why do these tumors form? What are the risk factors?

The main reason for this is changes in our genes (Genetic mutations). Simply put, the cells lining our intestines are constantly being renewed. When these cells divide and form new ones, sometimes small mistakes happen. The abnormal cells that form due to those mistakes are what grow into these tumors.

There are several factors that increase this risk. Let's look at them in a table.

How does a doctor diagnose and treat these?

The best and most accurate way to detect these tumors is through a colonoscopy .

What is a colonoscopy test?

Many people find this test scary and uncomfortable. But it's not as scary as you might think. It involves giving you anesthesia (like a light sleep), inserting a thin, flexible tube with a camera attached through your anus, and examining the inside of your entire colon.

The biggest advantage of this test is that if the doctor sees a polyp, he can pass a small instrument through the tube and cut and remove the polyp at the same time as the test. This is called a ``Polypectomy''. This means that both diagnosis and treatment can be done at the same time.

The removed tumor is then sent for a ``biopsy.'' This means looking at it under a microscope to determine exactly what type of tumor it is and whether it contains cancer cells.

Are there any other tests?

Yes, there are tests to check for hidden blood in the stool, such as `(Stool tests)` and `(Virtual colonoscopy)`, and `(CT scan)`. But if any of these methods suspect a tumor, you will ultimately have to have a `(Colonoscopy)` done to remove it.

What happens after treatment?

After your cysts are removed, your doctor will decide when your next colonoscopy should be based on the biopsy results. It could be in a year, 3, 5, or 10 years. It depends on the number, type, size, and other risk factors of the cysts you have.

Can we prevent these tumors from forming?

We can't change things like genetic factors and aging, but we can definitely reduce this risk by changing our lifestyle.

• Good diet: Include fiber-rich greens, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains in your diet. Control oil, fat, sugar, and red meat.
• Exercise: Get at least 30 minutes of sweat-inducing exercise a day. Even walking is good.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Quit smoking and alcohol completely. This will protect you from not only colon cancer, but many other diseases as well.

Don't put off a colonoscopy because of fear or hesitation. It could save your life. Finding a tumor and removing it means you've eliminated something that could have been bothering you.