"Sometimes they just go away on their own, but removing polyps is thought to be one of the mechanisms by which we can prevent the formation of cancer in the first place." That's why regular screening is so important. The downside is that if a polyp is found in your colon, you may have to get screened more frequently.

Can polyps shrink on their own?

Smaller polyps are often not noticeable, or can go away on their own, but problematic polyps can be treated with medications, non-invasive surgery, and/or lifestyle changes.

What happens if polyps are not removed?

The most common are hyperplastic and adenomatous polyps. Hyperplastic polyps do not have the potential to become cancerous. However, some adenomatous polyps can turn into cancer if not removed. Patients with adenomatous polyps have an increased chance of developing more polyps.