Information Please

[meyan]

Hello, in January of this year during a routine  colonoscopy a benign 3mm  tubular adenoma polyp was removed.

What I need to know is it genetic?

Are my adult children at risk of developing the same; or cancer?

Do they need to have  this procedure done at an earlier age than average?

Could an unattended tubular adenoma polyp lead to cancer?

Thank you


This discussion is related to Information please.

[meyan]

Thank you for responding, I did pay the on-line doctor for an answer, however much time elapsed before I was able to obtain the info he needed to provide a accurate response. There must be a time limit? You were the only one kind enough to make the effort.
I am concerned about my children because it was actually an accident that the polyp was discovered, perhaps in 10 years...who knows what would have happened. I did consult with my family physician and she recommended telling my children not only to have the colonoscopy done; but at 40 years not at 50.

[Calathan]

I'm not a doctor, but I do computer programming for cancer studies.  My understanding is that any colon adenoma could theoretically become cancerous eventually, but that a tubular adenoma has a very low chance of becoming cancerous, lower than a tubulovillous or villous adenoma.  Also, a 3mm adenoma is very small, and adenomas of that size have a very low chance of becoming cancerous.  So overall, an adenoma of the type and size you had would be very unlikely to become cancerous.

I don't think your children would be at any increased risk for cancer due to you having that adenoma.  However, if you are concerned, I would recommend asking your doctor for more information, as he could probably give you more definitive answers than me.