How To Treat And Prevent Colon Polyps

Consider Calcium And Vitamin D Supplements

Both calcium and vitamin D are important nutrients when it comes to colon polyps. While studies suggest vitamin D can be beneficial in reducing the risk of polyps, recent findings suggest taking calcium supplements may actually raise an individual's risk of polyps. For this reason, patients should carefully consider calcium and vitamin D supplements, their overall colon cancer risk, and their doctor's recommendations before deciding which supplements, if any, they wish to take.

If possible, patients should aim to get their calcium and vitamin D from food, as this makes nutrient absorption easier and avoids the risk of overdose that can sometimes come with supplements. Both calcium and vitamin D are added to juice, milk and dairy products, and some cereals. If a doctor recommends supplements, they can be obtained through capsules, gummies, and liquid formulations.

Laparoscopic Surgery To Remove Polyps

An individual with colon polyps may need to undergo laparoscopic surgery to remove the growths from their colon as part of their treatment plan. The first method of treatment typically used to remove colon polyps is resection during a colonoscopy. However, some polyps may not be able to be removed from the patient's colon during this procedure because they are located in a bend or fold in the colon. Traditionally, a partial colectomy would be performed to remove the entire section of the colon that contains the difficult polyp(s).

During laparoscopic surgery, an incision in the abdomen is made so a thin instrument called a laparoscope can be inserted positioned near the polyp. A colonoscope is then used at the same time to navigate in the colon to the difficult polyp, where the laparoscope is then used to move the colon into a better position for removal. This type of procedure makes it possible for a patient to keep the affected section of their colon and have a faster recovery.