Colon Cancer Screening

Knowing what types of polyps you've had is important, since only certain types of polyps increase your risk for colon cancer. You can request information from your doctor to help answer this question. A pathology report (microscopic examination of the polyp that was removed) will be most helpful.

If you cannot find information that tells you what types of polyps you've had, it probably makes sense to have a full colonoscopy three to five years after your most recent examination. You can talk to your doctor about a specific plan for follow-up.