What Are the Signs of Colon Polyps?

Colon polyps are clumps of abnormal cell growth on the colon lining. Because signs and symptoms of colon polyps are generalized and may indicate other conditions, contact your physician as soon as possible if you experience these symptoms.

Bleeding Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of colon polyps may include red streaks of blood in the stool, red stool, black stool and bright red blood on toilet tissue after a bowel movement.

Change in Bowel Movement

Colon polyps can cause constipation and diarrhea. Polyps can range in size from smaller than a pea to as large as a golf ball; thus, a large polyp can partially block a portion of the colon, causing stool to become narrower than normal in shape.

Additional Symptoms

Additional symptoms of colon polyps include stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. These symptoms can occur if the polyp partially or completely blocks a portion of the colon.

Considerations

Colon polyps don't always cause symptoms. Certain medications like iron supplements can cause black stools, and certain foods such as beets can cause red stools. Another cause of bright red blood on toilet tissue is hemorrhoids.

Complications

Although colon polyps are generally harmless, they can lead to colon cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic, larger polyps carry a greater risk of turning cancerous.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Colon Polyps