Unfortunately, colon cancer diagnosis has increased among Americans. That is why the age for your first screening has been raised to age 45. Getting the appropriate screenings is essential to finding polyps, which may be pre-cancerous. When it's time to get such screenings, professionals must make the process as comfortable as possible. When it is time to screen for or remove polyps in Houston, TX, make an appointment with the Houston Digestive Diseases Consultants team.

How Do Doctors Remove Polyps in Houston, TX?

The easiest and fastest way to remove them is during your colonoscopy. When you have a colonoscopy, your doctor is screening you for colon cancer. Finding them during this screening can prevent cancer as doctors are removing them before they turn pre-cancerous.

After the removal, your doctor will do a biopsy of the polyp to test for cancer. They remove it while you are sedated during a colonoscopy, so it is a minimally invasive option. However, if your doctor finds some too large to remove at this time, they may have to do endoscopic tattooing. During endoscopic tattooing, your doctor marks the large polyp with ink to find them faster during surgery later. Your doctor will schedule you to have surgery to remove the ones marked with ink.

How Do You Manage Polyps?

Removal is the only way to manage these colon growths. Even if they aren't cancerous at the time, they can eventually turn into cancer when left in the colon. After removal, your doctor can advise on nutrition and lifestyle adjustments to prevent reoccurrence. 

Focus on having a balanced diet filled with fruit and vegetables and less meat. Proper hydration is also essential for keeping the colon clean. After removal, expect to return earlier for your next colonoscopy than someone with no polyps or a history of colon cancer. Most people can go 10 years between screenings if no growths are found. Depending on how many polyps and the type found, your doctor may want you to return in five years or so.

Colon cancer is a life-threatening disease that continues to affect more Americans each year. However, it is a highly treatable cancer when found early. That is why getting proper screenings to check for polyps is essential, so they can be biopsied and removed as needed. Your local doctors at Houston Digestive Diseases Consultants are experts in removing and treating polyps in Houston, TX. Call us at 713-777-2555 for more information and schedule a screening to save your life.