A carpet of polyps in the bowel

[BikingBeatrix]

Just trying to work out what this might mean. I am guessing the polyps are flattish, so no stalks, and over a wide area. But could they actually be a rug of polyps, so over a smaller area? Obviously more tests and procedures are pending and we‘ll have more info fairly soon. The description of the carpet were the words of the doctor doing a colonoscopy - they removed some polyps and they‘ll have gone for testing- the ‚carpet‘ could not be removed.

Is it likely to now be on the so-called cancer pathway, so pretty quick? Has anybody got any experience of such a description for bowel polyps? If so, what happened next?

[BikingBeatrix]

I should perhaps add I know this isn’t necessarily a cancerous thingie - but I suspect the risk is there. We‘ll see ......

[KingIrving]

I was listening to a radio health program and they were discussing a new finding about calcium supplements with and without vitamin D causing polyps in the colon.
If you are on calcium supplements, I can try to find the link for you

[BikingBeatrix]

That’s interesting. I am on vit D and Calcium prescribed by the medical team looking after my care. I have various health problems. But it’s not me that’s got the polyps. It’s my pfb that’s got them. }

[KingIrving]

How old is your child?

I don't think it applies to him/her. Anyway I found link

If you can't listen to it, I hope you can read the transcript. If not, I can copy/paste it
www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/healthreport/calcium-vitamin-d-supplements-serrated-polyps/9564126#transcript

And here is the study www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29496722

[BikingBeatrix]

Thanks for the link. He’s an adult, late 20s. He’s still my baby though ..... I offered to attend the next appt with him and he wants that so we’ll get more info then.

[JeNeBaguetteRien]

Can I ask if your son has had symptoms, or why he's had a colonoscopy (if that's how the polyps have been discovered?)
I know you must be worried, it's good that you can go together to the appointment. Have you got long to wait?

[BikingBeatrix]

AFAIK he had symptoms like blood in his stools and some abdominal discomfort or pain, possibly also some looseness. He mentioned it to me about 6 months ago and I said he should discuss with his GP. Recently he did - I think GP examined his belly, but no idea if he found anything - I think he suggested it might be an irritable bowel but they should do a colonoscopy just in case. Whatever he’s got I am glad for that as at least now it’s being dealt with.

[JeNeBaguetteRien]

Has your son had his colonoscopy yet?
Is he still having symptoms?

[BikingBeatrix]

Thanks for asking, jenebaguette. I found this thread popped up by accident- not sure why, so much later. Things have moved on a bit. I asked the question in the heading AFTER the colonoscopy-this week his biopsies came back negative for cancer. Huge relief on that obviously. But he has been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease and he has a lot of polyps. The stubborn ones still need to be removed - long term there’s a small risk of cancerous changes if polyps are left. Meantime he’s seen a surgeon but will be treated medically (ie tablets etc first) first and he’s to have an MRI. HE’s wai for appointments for those. we’ll find out further down the road exactly how the polyps will be removed.

[allypally999]

Polyps don't always mean the worst. I had some removed over 30 years ago and I am still here and still don't have bowel cancer (or polyps at the moment).

[BikingBeatrix]

That’s good, allypally, that you’ve had no further problems. The risk (of cancerous changes) is minor, I know, but the surgeon does want to remove them and that wasn’t possible for most of them during the colonoscopy, hence the talk of surgical procedures. Still, at least we (kind of) know what’s happening now.

[Drogonssmile]

Just popping in because I work in gastro. Glad to hear things are looking positive. He'll probably have a surveillance programme where he has a colonoscopy every so many years to check for further polyps.

[Missingstreetlife]

Some polyps grow into cancer (not all) so they remove to test and prevent. They will monitor. If it's cancer it can be treated, some are slow growing, some more aggressive. Try not to panic, it's worrying of course, but prognosis could be its benign or complete recovery.

[Missingstreetlife]

Xpost! Best wishes.

[Violet25]

I’m wondering if it may be en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Familial_adenomatous_polyposis
I have early onset bowel cancer but do not have FAP. Given the carpet of polyps it would be useful to know if your child has this in terms of keeping an eye on it going forward.

[allypally999]

I had them removed by surgery - not great but no worse than piles surgery. He might need cushions for a few days. Good luck!

[JeNeBaguetteRien]

Hope your son is doing well OP.

Like Violet I thought of FAP when you first posted but didn't want you to be googling like mad if you had a long wait to see a consultant.

If they couldn't remove the polyps with a colonoscopy are they considering removing sections of bowel? I hope there is a colorectal nurse specialist or someone who can advise your son.

[BikingBeatrix]

I did consider FAP when I heard too. Ex nurse so a fair knowledge, and not always useful! But I was reassured quite quickly as the areas (he has 2 carpets I think!) are small and we’re talking dozens rather than hundreds or even thousands overall. The biopsies seem to have come back all clear too. The boy sees the gastroenterologist this week - and is happy to go alone, which suits me as I’ve quite a lot on though I’d have gone if he‘d wanted me there.

I think they can resect bits of bowel via keyhole surgery methods nowadays - obviously better than opening the abdomen right up if achieving whatever they want to is possible that way. I think i‘ll just let this thread lapse now - I feel slightly uncomfortable discussing my son’s business on the interweb.

[JeNeBaguetteRien]

You could ask for the thread to be deleted, just report one of your own posts.
All the best.