I found out I have a polyp during an endoscopy, and the doctor recommended a polypectomy. I'm a bit worried could this be an early sign of cancer? Also, is there any chance the polypectomy itself could cause malignancy later? And is there a way to tell if the polyp is benign or malignant without surgery or removing it?

Dr Kamran Mohammed

General Practitioner

• MBBS
• FIDM
• 5+ Yrs

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A colon polyp found during endoscopy doesn't automatically mean cancer, but it's a good idea to remove it for preventative measures, as it can potentially become cancerous. While polypectomy itself doesn't cause malignancy, it can remove polyps that might otherwise become cancerous, There's no way to definitively tell if a polyp is benign or malignant without a biopsy, and the doctor will usually take samples during the polypectomy procedure.

Answered 2 days ago