How frequently are polyps cancerous?
Approximately one percent of polyps with a diameter less than a centimeter are cancerous. If there is one polyp that size, the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that the doctor remove it and that a repeat colonoscopy is done three to five years later. Without any polyps, the recommended repeat date is ten years later. If there is more than one polyp or the polyp is bigger than a centimeter, there is an even higher risk for colon cancer. Up to 50% of polyps greater than two centimeters (about the diameter of a nickel) are cancerous.
