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| Polyps can vary in size, shape and location, they may be single or multiple. Nose polyps can hinder breathing or they can swell so much that they can be seen hanging from the nostril. Polyps are quite a common condition, in both men and women over the age of 50. The majority of polyps are benign but there is also a strong link between polyps and the development of colon (bowel) cancer. As with nasal polyps, it is not fully understood why these develop. A rare, inherited disorder called Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) -- in which hundreds of polyps develop in the colon and rectum -- is a major cause of colon cancer, if left untreated. On rare occasions the bowel may become partially or completely blocked, resulting in symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating and (in severe cases) vomiting. During a colonoscopy the doctor will usually take a small piece of the polyp for examination. |
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