The colon is a complex organ that serves as the final stage of your digestive process. Colon cells are generally programmed to grow and die at a specific set rate, but sometimes this natural progression of cell growth in the colon lining can become abnormal, leading to mutated colon cells. These cells then clump together to form polyps.
While these clumps of abnormal cells are definitely unnatural and shouldn’t occur in the first place, in most cases they are harmless. Sometimes, however, these polyps can metastasize into cancer, which is why it’s so important that you keep an eye out for the symptoms of colon polyps. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms on this list, you may suffer from colon polyps.
1. Rectal Bleeding
Rectal bleeding is when blood is emitted from the anus with or without a bowel movement. This is one of the more alarming symptoms that is commonly associated with colon polyps, but rectal bleeding is not necessarily a sign that you have abnormal growths in your colon. Rectal bleeding is also a common sign of hemorrhoids and can also occur if you experience a tear in your anus.
If your rectum is bleeding, it is usually the best choice to consult with your physician immediately. In the case of minor anal tears, however, the bleeding will usually stop quickly, so you may want to wait 12-24 hours before seeing your doctor to see if the bleeding will stop on its own. If your rectum continues to bleed for more than 24 hours, however, it is probable that you are suffering from colon polyps and you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Your doctor will likely perform a colonoscopy to determine where the blood is coming from. If it is discovered that you have colon polyps, common treatments include using a forceps or wire loop to remove the polyps. If your polyps have reached advanced stages, a laparoscope is commonly used to remove the polyps.
2. Change in Stool Color
If your stool changes in color, this may be a sign that you have colon polyps. When polyps release blood, this blood can mix in with your stool, causing your stool to take on a very dark brown or even black color.
Black stool isn’t necessarily a sign of colon polyps and can sometimes be a harmless reaction to dietary changes. However, if your stool remains black for more than a day or two, this may mean that blood is being released into your colon. If this condition persists for more than a couple of days, see your doctor immediately for a professional opinion.
3. Change in Bowel Habits
While some alteration in the frequency and consistency of your bowel movements is normal, but if you experience constipation or diarrhea that lasts more than a week, this could be a sign of a large colon polyp blocking the natural flow of your digestion.
If you are either abnormally constipated or are experiencing loose bowels, wait a few days and assess whether you have made any changes to your diet or exercise habits recently. In most cases, a change in bowel habits is normal and is nothing to be concerned about. But in the case of persistent alterations to your natural bowel movement cycle, medical help should be sought immediately.
4. Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain can be the result of any number of issues, most of which are harmless and which will pass in short order. Frequent abdominal pain can also be a sign of many other types of serious digestive distress that don’t have anything to do with colon polyps.
Yet it can’t be denied that colon polyps that are large and left untreated for a long time can produce excruciating abdominal pain. It’s possible that a polyp is obstructing your bowel and it may even be the case that a polyp has metastisized into colon cancer. If your abdominal pain persists longer than a few days, contact a doctor immediately.
5. Cramping
Similar to abdominal pain, cramping could simply be a sign that you ate a meal that disagreed with you. Then again, cramping could be a sign that a large colon polyp is obstructing the natural flow of waste excretion through your bowels.
Bowel cramping is often resolved with a bowel movement. But if you are unable to produce a bowel movement, or if your bowel cramping persists for more than a day or two, it could be a sign that a more serious condition is affecting your digestive system. Even if the cause ends up not being colon polyps, seeing a doctor is important in the instance of persistent bowel cramping.
6. Anemia
Polyps generally release blood into the colon gradually over a long period of time before they are noticed. Small amounts of blood in stool is rarely noticeable, but this release of blood can result in an iron deficiency.
Chronic internal bleeding makes it impossible for your body to maintain the levels of iron that it needs to properly circulate oxygen throughout your body. This results in anemia, which is experienced as fatigue and shortness of breath.
While anemia isn’t always a sign of colon polyps, it is always a serious condition for which you should consult your doctor to develop potential treatments.
7. Blood in Stool
Blood in your stool can be normal if noticed rarely and in small quantities. Like everything else in the human body, the digestive system is prone to injury that can release blood and heal quickly. But if you notice blood in your stool regularly and persistently, this could be a sign that you have polyps in your colon.
While in some cases the blood released from colon polyps blends into your stool, other times it remains visible on the surface. If you notice blood in your stool for a significant duration of time, you should have a doctor perform a colonoscopy as soon as possible.
