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By Mayo Clinic staffSome polyps may become cancerous (malignant), meaning you could develop colon cancer. The earlier polyps are removed, the less likely it is that they will become malignant.
References
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- What I need to know about colon polyps. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/colonpolyps_ez/. Accessed June 14, 2009.
- Torpy JM, et al. Colon polyps. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2008;300:1480.
- Fletcher RH. Screening for colorectal cancer: Strategies in patients at average risk. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 14, 2009.
- Levin B, et al. Screening and surveillance for the early detection of colorectal cancer and adenomatous polyps, 2008: A joint guideline from the American Cancer Society, the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American College of Radiology. CA, A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 2008;58:130.
- Colorectal cancer screening. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/colorectal-screening. Accessed June 15, 2009.
- How is colorectal cancer found? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_1x.asp?rnav=criov&dt=10. Accessed June 15, 2009.
- Seitz U, et al. Endoscopic removal of large colonic polyps. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 15, 2009.
- How is colorectal cancer treated? American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_4X_How_Is_Colorectal_Cancer_Treated.asp?sitearea=. Accessed June 15, 2009.
- Can colorectal cancer be prevented? American Cancer Society. Accessed June 15, 2009.
- Picco MF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fla. June 19, 2009.
- MYH-associated polyposis. Cancer Net, American Society of Clinical Oncology. http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Types/MYH-Associated+Polyposis. Accessed June 19, 2009.