Is it possible to have colon or rectal cancer without having polyps?
• Colorectal cancer can occur without polyps but it is less common. Individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as chronic ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, are at increased risk for developing colorectal cancer without polyps. • The risk of colorectal cancer increases with the length of time a person has IBD, as well as how much of the bowel is affected by the IBD.
People with certain types of diseases such as colitis (Crohns or ulcerative colitis) may develop colon cancer without developing polyps first. • Is it possible to have blood in your stool, but not have colon cancer? Blood in the stool may mean many things without definitely being cancer; however, blood should not be disregarded, as it is a common presenting symptom of colon cancer. • Are intestinal obstructions an early symptom of colon cancer? Intestinal obstructions are generally considered to be a late manifestation of colon cancer. • What is the best colon cancer screening test? The gold standard for screening for colon cancer at the present time is colonoscopy, which is both diagnostic (i.e. finding the polyp) and therapeutic (removing the polyp). • Does your general practitioner do colorectal screening tests or should gastroenterologists or other experts do them? A colonoscopy is usually performed by a gastroenterologist (GI physician) or a surgeon who has trained and been certif
Colorectal cancer can occur without polyps, but it is thought to be an uncommon event. Individuals with long-standing inflammatory bowel diseases, such as chronic ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s colitis, are at increased risk for developing colorectal cancer that occurs in the absence of obvious polyps. However, colorectal cancer associated with inflammatory bowel disease accounts for less than one percent of all colorectal cancers diagnosed in the United States each year. There are also reports that suggest some tiny colon cancers may arise in flat colon tissue that is either entirely normal or contains a small flat area of adenomatous (precancerous) tissue. This type of colon cancer is the exception to the rule, and it may be that a small polyp or abnormal growth preceded the cancer and was too small to see. The vast majority of colorectal cancers arise from pre-existing adenomatous (precancerous) polyps.
Colorectal cancer can occur without polyps, but it is an uncommon event. Individuals with long-standing inflammatory bowel diseases, such as chronic ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s colitis, are at increased risk for developing colorectal cancer that occurs in the absence of polyps. The greater the extent of colonic involvement by inflammatory bowel disease and the greater the duration of the disease, the greater the risk of colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancers in individuals with chronic inflammatory bowel disease may appear as flat, plaque like lesions or may even be indistinguishable from the surrounding colon tissue. Large mass-like lesions with distinct margins seen with most colorectal cancers are uncommon in inflammatory bowel disease. Colorectal cancer associated with inflammatory bowel disease accounts for less than 1 percent of all colorectal cancers diagnosed in the United States each year. There are also reports that suggest some tiny colon cancers may arise in flat colon ti
Colorectal cancer can occur without polyps, but it is an uncommon event. Individuals with long-standing inflammatory bowel diseases, such as chronic ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s colitis, are at increased risk for developing colorectal cancer that occurs in the absence of polyps. The greater the extent of colonic involvement by inflammatory bowel disease and the greater the duration of the disease, the greater the risk of colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancers in individuals with chronic inflammatory bowel disease may appear as flat, plaque like lesions or may even be indistinguishable from the surrounding colon tissue. Large mass-like lesions with distinct margins seen with most colorectal cancers are uncommon in inflammatory bowel disease. Colorectal cancer associated with inflammatory bowel disease accounts for less than 1 percent of all colorectal cancers diagnosed in the United States each year. There are also reports that suggest some tiny colon cancers may arise in flat colon ti
