Polyps in the colon are common after the age of 45 years. Most colon polyps are small and harmless. Some polyps are large and can present with bleeding in the stool. Over time, some types of colon polyps can progress to colon cancer. It has been conclusively shown that looking for polyps with a colonoscopy and removing them significantly reduces the risk of colon cancer.

A Colonoscopy is recommended once every 10 years starting at the age of 45. Individuals with a family history of colon cancer are at a higher risk and may require more frequent colonoscopies and may also benefit from genetic testing to ascertain the risk of colon cancer.