Colon cancer and anal cancer generally begin as benign polyps in the colon
But bear this in mind: even benign colon polyps aren't always cancerous! Adenomatous polyps are usually cancerous, but this takes a while, sometimes even years, to develop and therefore they usually stay noncancerous over time.
On the other hand, if you have a malignant colon or an enlarged prostate, a benign colon polyp is likely to be cancerous. If this is the case, your doctor will likely have to remove it surgically.
As we all know, colon cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the colon. There are a lot of reasons why someone develops this disease: constipation, a lack of fiber, a diet high in fatty foods, obesity, medications, stress, and the like. When a person develops colon cancer, polyps often become infected, resulting in inflammation of the colon wall and tumor growth. However, when you have benign colon polyp, there's usually no inflammation of the colon and the tumor will simply fall out. The cancer may be very hard to detect initially and there are also quite a few symptoms associated with this form of cancer.
Polyps and colon cancer may seem very similar at first glance. Although the symptoms of polyp cancer may resemble those of colon cancer, they vary depending on the stage, location and intensity of the cancer.
Polyps grow in pockets of fluid inside the digestive tract, where they create pockets where cancer cells can hide. They usually start growing in the upper third of the intestine, usually in the rectum, where water can collect. After a while, the polyp will expand and start to cause intestinal damage. When this happens, the colon becomes infected with bacteria and can lead to ulcers and the growth of cancer cells.
A benign colon polyp is not the same thing as a malignant colon polyp. Most people who have polyps do so because their bodies are not able to expel the waste that is normally collected in the colon – for instance, people suffering from diarrhea and colons that don't pass stools regularly. or those who've had problems with constipation because of their weight loss or medications can develop these polyps.
However, benign colon polyp can also develop if the colon has become inflamed or irritated because of some trauma or surgery. Some medications can also weaken the lining tissue in the colon. When that happens, the polyp is more prone to grow and therefore is more likely to become cancerous than the one that was originally developed. In this case, you'll usually see some symptoms like vomiting, weight loss, abdominal pain, and an upset stomach.
You should see a doctor right away and treatment is advised
Because polyps are not cancerous, they can be removed with surgery and chemotherapy. If you already have cancer, surgery is probably going to be your only choice, unless of course the polyp is very small.
One thing you can do to prevent colon cancer is to avoid eating processed foods and unhealthy fats. Stay away from fatty foods and processed foods. Fruits and vegetables are the best choices, as they're much higher in fiber than other foods.
Drinking plenty of water will help you to flush toxins out of your body, thus reducing the risk of developing colon cancer. Water helps your body flush out harmful waste material and helps to regulate your bowel movements. Drink at least 8 glasses of water every day.
Another way to prevent colon cancer is to get regular checkups to detect if you have any serious health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure. This is very important as this could slow down the digestion of food and slow down the elimination of wastes. You should also be careful with certain foods, such as processed meats and fats. Some foods contain large amounts of saturated fats.
Regular checkups will help keep your colon clean, which helps to keep it healthy and strong. A healthy colon means a healthy body. Having a colon that's free from polyps is one of the ways to maintain good health and to prevent cancer.