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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.

  1. 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.

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