You should worry some about adenomatous polyps as they are considered precancerous polyps, although they are not a cause for immediate panic or severe worry.
Most adenomatous polyps are removed before they turn into cancer, although adenomatous polyps are the source of most colorectal or colon cancers, which makes it crucial to detect them early and remove them.
Adenomas or adenomatous polyps are abnormal growths in your colon or rectum and have the potential to become cancerous over time, although most don't turn into cancer as they are often removed soon enough.
Adenomatous polyps are precancerous polyps but if removed soon enough before they develop into cancer then you don't really have to worry as long as you get regular follow up colonoscopies.
Being precancerous polyps, the adenomatous polyps have the potential to turn into colorectal cancer if they are left untreated and not removed.
Although when first detected, the adenomatous polyps are non cancerous or benign.
But around 10 percent of adenomatous polyps develop into cancer, often over several years.
But if the adenomatous polyps are found and removed soon enough, they are not as serious as the adenomatous polyps are highly treatable and are often removed during a colonoscopy to prevent them from developing into cancer.
Almost all of the colorectal cancers also stem from these polyps.
And removing these polyps during a colonoscopy stops the polyps from turning into cancer.
The most common types of polyps are tubular adenomas, which are also lowest risk.
Tubulovillous adenomas are intermediate risk.
Villous adenomas are the highest risk for cancer.
The size of the polyps also matter as polyps that are larger than 1 centimeter have a higher risk of developing into cancer than smaller polyps.
The polyps are also often asymptomatic, but large polyps can cause bleeding, which results in stool changes or anemia.
Once the polyps are detected during a colonoscopy, the doctor will then determine the frequency of needed follow up colonoscopy screenings, based on the size, number and type of polyps that are found.
It's important to get a colonoscopy when needed to detect any potential polyps and get them removed as when they turn into cancer the colon cancer or colorectal cancer becomes harder to treat.