Colon cancer is the second most common cancer in the USA currently attacking one in twenty adults. That means that there is a one in ten chance that you or your spouse will become afflicted with it if the overall incidence is not decreased by pre-emptive intervention. With early detection by screening colonoscopy this cancer is extremely preventable because it almost always begins in the dysplastic tissue of an adenomatous polyp which may be present in the colon for months or even years before actual cancer develops. In early stages, when we really have the best chance of preventing it, there are no symptoms. That is why the American Cancer Society recommends that all Americans over the age of 50 be screened for colon cancer even if they feel fine. If unbeknownst polyps are found and removed before they become malignant, cancer is almost always prevented. When polyps are removed, a repeat colonoscopy, looking for new polyps is recommended in 3-5 years, depending on size, histology, and the number of polyps. If no polyps are found, a repeat colonoscopy isn't needed for 10 years, unless you are at high risk, because of colon cancer in your family.
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![[A Snare Excision of Colonic Polyp]](/cache//grey12_126061684f820d74bd7445afdbda5dc4.gif "[A Snare Excision of Colonic Polyp]")