Polyps are benign growths that occur in the intestines, among other things, and can develop into cancer. In the following, you will learn how to identify colon polyps early and from what age colon cancer screening is covered by statutory health insurance.
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What are colon polyps?
Polyps are mucous membrane growths that can form on various parts of the body – including the nose, stomach, uterus or even the small and large intestine. Although polyps are initially benign, they can turn into malignant tumors over the years. So-called adenomas degenerate particularly frequently – these are polyps from glandular tissue. The earlier adenomas are found and removed during preventive examinations of the small intestine and large intestine, the lower the risk of colon cancer.
Colon polyps: 4 signs
1. Blood in the stool
Since polyps and adenomas protrude into the intestinal tract, they may be damaged during the passage of stool and leaking blood may mix with the stool. Depending on the amount of blood, the discoloration can be more or less visible to the naked eye. The shape and consistency of the droppings can also change – an example is the so-called pencil stool . As a rule, however, small intestinal polyps do not cause any symptoms and continue to grow unnoticed in the intestine. Once they reach a certain size, the symptoms accumulate.
Tip: There are now practical stool tests that you can carry out at home. The stool sample is simply sent by post to the appropriate laboratory and checked for blood there, since not all traces of blood in the stool can be seen with the naked eye. Statutory health insurance companies pay for such tests annually from the age of 50.
2. Abdominal cramps and diarrhea
While traces of blood in the stool are the most common symptom of intestinal polyps, digestive problems can also indicate benign or malignant growths in the small or large intestine. Diarrhea and abdominal pain or an obstructed intestinal passage in the form of constipation can occur. In the early stages, however, these symptoms are rather unlikely.
3. Incidental finding in colonoscopy
The insidious thing about colon polyps is that in most cases they do not cause any symptoms for years. Although the symptoms mentioned above can occasionally also occur in early stages, they only accumulate when the polyps have reached a certain size or have developed into malignant tumors. As a rule, however, the affected person does not even notice that there are already benign polyps in their intestines, which is why colon cancer screening is particularly important. Doctors can conveniently remove the polyps found during the colonoscopy using the colonoscope.
Important: Due to the unnoticed growth of the polyps, which represent potential precancerous stages, colon cancer screening plays a crucial role in terms of early detection. The earlier the polyps are removed, the lower the probability that malignant tumors can develop from them. Statutory health insurance companies cover the costs of preventive colonoscopies for men over 50 and women over 55.
4. Anemia
If larger intestinal polyps are regularly damaged by the passage of stool and blood leaks out, a so-called anemia can occur under certain circumstances. Such anemia as a result of constant blood loss can manifest itself in symptoms such as tiredness, dizziness, headaches or pale skin. With a blood test, your doctor can quickly determine whether anemia is actually the cause of your symptoms.
Book tips for a healthy gut
If you want to find out in a funny and charming way how our intestines work and how bowel movements take place, you can’t avoid the classic “Intestines with Charm” by Giulia Enders . If, on the other hand, you want to use your diet to completely rehabilitate your intestines or simply want smoother digestion, “Good digestion: The best nutritional strategies for irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, Crohn’s disease & Co.” by the nutrition docs is just right for you.
