After CT scan revealed colon polyp how long should it be left till colonoscopy - ie could this be cancer?

My grandmother died of bowel cancer at 56 (my age now), her three sisters also died of bowel cancer. My eldest aunt died riddled with cancer in that region so they did not know where it started. One of my grandmothers sisters daughters also has had a colostomy.  My mother now tells me that she was diagnosed with a polyp at least 28 years ago by her former doctor who said he didnt want to do anything, and she appears fine.  I have had colon problems for 20 years. Severe diarrhea and severe bleeding at times.  About 5 years ago my appendix abcessed and I had it drained - no appendectomy. But I had a CT scan after to check it had healed and was told I had diverticulitis.  This year my appendix burst and I got peritonitis. Afterward for 6 months, I suffered a lot of pain, alternating constipation and diarrhea, bleeding, nausea, bloating and constant tiredness. Eventually this got investigated in May this year, the hospital doctor could see that I was ill and said I needed a CT scan.  Since this time my symptoms have improved, i dont get the bloating and constipation any more but still get all the rest, the pain, diarrhea, bleeding and nausea and constant tiredness.  I waited 6 weeks for the scan, was told by work to try to get my Gp to hurry it up. He said he couldnt do that if he didnt think it was cancer. Both he and the hospital doctor thought it was a stricture. Then I finally had my scan on 23 June. I have rung and rung but was toldno onehad even looked at the results, then a couple of weeks ago I was told they had found a polyp in the right colon and it needed to be removed by colonoscopy, I was only told this as a favour as I wanted to know if I could be cleared by the hospital to go on holiday - ie cant get travel insurance if still under hospital. However, my consultant was on holiday and would not even be looking till this week at the results, then recently my GP who also does some hospital work told me that they dictate or write letters that are still waiting to be dealt with 5 weeks later. So in short they found a polyp in someone with many relatives who have had bowel cancer (although they don't know this piece of my history cos up to now it hasn't been relevant), however, the polyp showed up on June 23rd and here I am 2 months later waiting for them to even write to me.  How long does it take for these things to develop into cancer. Should they be taking this more seriously or am I just panicking?

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  In the US, the recommendation is for everyone to get a colonoscopy at 50 and earlier if they have a family history of early onset colon cancer or if they have digestive problems.  I am shocked that during the 20 years you have had colon problems, a doctor has never recommended a colonoscopy.  I would recommend trying to get a colonoscopy ASAP, however polyps usualy don't turn into cancer in months, but in years.  However, the polyp could already be cancerous, but hopefully you would have caught it early.

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  In the US, the recommendation is for everyone to get a colonoscopy at 50 and earlier if they have a family history of early onset colon cancer or if they have digestive problems.  I am shocked that during the 20 years you have had colon problems, a doctor has never recommended a colonoscopy.  I would recommend trying to get a colonoscopy ASAP, however polyps usualy don't turn into cancer in months, but in years.  However, the polyp could already be cancerous, but hopefully you would have caught it early.

[Snazzy_Shazzy]

I did have a flexible sigmoidoscopy 6 and a half years ago and was told my bowel was healthy. Then a year later my appendix abcessed for the first time, they drained it but said it had disintegrated, so didn't need to take it away.  They did follow up with a CT scan a few months later to see if it had healed, at that time they told me that whilst it had healed I had a lot of diverticulosis. I thought this was strange considering a year earlier I supposedly had a healthy bowel.  But they said I had probably had them for a long time and that they were the cause of my bowel problems.

[Snazzy_Shazzy]

I've still heard nothing official regarding the polyps. But through work and for another reason, I am about to embark on a course which means I will have access to and can read the report on my own scan.

[patient915]

I think you should get a colonoscopy soon, as a colonoscopy looks at a lot more than a sigmoidoscopy.