Precancerous polyp then eventually getting cancer

Hi - was this your primary doctor who gave you this advice? If this was not from an oncologist then I suggest you seek one, preferably a practice that is dealt with both breast and colon cancer. Having a precancerous polyp is not of great concern, and the general guidelines for your age are probably every 5 years. That's why they do colonoscopies. It's great that you started yours at 45 years. It is highly unlikely that the breast cancer is related at all with the polyp. And your breast cancer would not have spread to the colon if that is your concern. At any rate I think it would be good for you to see a different oncologist just to assuage your concerns so that you can feel better about moving forward

I didn't have my first colonoscopy until I was mid 50s from my regular doctor. I had a lot of polyps, none precancerous on the first round. Went back 2 years later (due to so many polyps on the first one), had 1 precancerous polyp and still had a lot of new polyps. The regular doctor then referred me to a GI specialist since I kept having so many polyps and 1 was precancerous. The specialist did annual colonoscopies for 2 more years until 1 polyp had cancer and 1 had precancer. They took a wait and see approach which was just fine.

Thank you for responding! The general surgeon who did the colonoscopy told me no concerns, come back in 3 years. I do have a message out asking my oncologist if she could review the results to confirm no concerns.
I just find it odd that at 45 I had a precancerous polyp. If I would not have had BC I likely would have waited until I was 50 to get the colonoscopy and that might have been very bad.

It is believed to take about 10 years for an adenoma (precancerous polyp) to turn into cancer. Because it takes such a long time for a polyp to become cancerous, colorectal cancer can often be prevented if precancerous polyps (such as adenomas) are detected and removed before they become cancerous. You did exactly the right thing by starting colonoscopy at 45. I'm 71 last year I had my first colonoscopy they found seven polyps, One of which had turned into a tumor. I may have had several of those polyps for 20 years! The surgeon in your case gave you good general information, but you should review everything with your oncologist. In the meantime eat right maintain a good weight and have fun!

Good afternoon, Rom828 @jgallagher04921 . I'm sorry you've had breast cancer and now find yourself with a precancerous polyp, which was removed. I am curious to know if your oncologist agrees with the general surgeon. A second opinion is often advisable, especially when you have doubts.

I'm 59. I've always been very healthy and I've been very careful to eat a balanced diet my whole life. In 2021, I went to see a colorectal surgeon, because my brother had had a colonoscopy during which they removed several benign polyps, but due to the COVID situation, I didn't do a colonoscopy then. The surgeon saw nothing wrong with the anoscope and I had zero symptoms.
Summer of 2022, I occasionally see some blood when cleaning myself, so I have a new visit with the same colorectal surgeon. This time, she saw a polyp with the anoscope and could even touch it. She said she didn't like the fact that it was friable. So I had a colonoscopy on Oct. 26, 2022, where she saw a benign polyp and the polyp she had seen at consultation. The biopsy said pre-cancerous polyp. So, on Dec. 17, 2022, I had a transanal resection of the polyp. It had grown quite a bit, according to the surgeon, and the biopsy revealed positive margins. Hence, I consulted with an oncologist and had chemo-radiotherapy in Feb.-March 2023. All my tests afterwards came out clean, but I developped a rare rectovaginal fistula.
New colonoscopy at the end of Nov. 2023, which not only showed the fistula but also a poplyp facing it, without being able to tell whether it was a regrowth or a new growth. In any case, the doctors didn't like my having a new polyp so early after the RT. They did not remove the polyp at the colonoscopy because I was going to have a surgery for the fistula anyway. The biopsy said the polyp was pre-cancerous. On Jan. 26, 2024, I had a radical low anterior resection to eliminate the fistula and the polyp. This time the biopsy downgraded the polyp to non-cancerous.

So, when they say colorectal polyps take a long time to grow and even a longer time to become cancerous, it doesn't seem to be always the case. Talk with your oncologist, take a second opinion if you can. Do what brings you peace of mind.

Thank you for sharing! I did ask my oncologist to review the colonoscopy and asked for her thoughts. She agreed since they removed it, I will just need another colonoscopy in 3 years.