Colon Polyps

When To Call A Professional

You should call immediately for advice if you develop rectal bleeding. You also should have routine colon examinations starting at age 50. People with a family history of colon cancer at an early age, familial adenomatous polyposis, or Gardner's syndrome should begin screening earlier.

Prognosis

Although it is estimated that 30% of middle-aged and older people have colon polyps, less than 1% of all polyps ever become cancerous. For people who catch and treat colon cancer early, the 5-year survival rate is over 80%. If the cancer has reached the lymph nodes, the chance of survival drops to 65%. When the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, like the liver or bones, the likelihood of living more than 5 years drops to about 10%.

Additional Info

American Cancer Society (ACS) 1599 Clifton Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30329-4251 Toll-Free: (800) 227-2345 http://www.cancer.org/

National Cancer Institute (NCI) U.S. National Institutes of Health Public Inquiries Office Building 31, Room 10A03 31 Center Drive, MSC 8322 Bethesda, MD 20892-2580 Phone: (301) 435-3848 Toll-Free: (800) 422-6237 TTY: (800) 332-8615 E-Mail: cancergovstaff@mail.nih.gov http://www.nci.nih.gov/