Скачать или смотреть The Slow-Growing Polyps That Become $300,000 Cancer (If You Skip Your Colonoscopy)

This detailed anatomy shows multiple colon polyps—the mushroom-shaped and bumpy growths protruding from the intestinal wall into the lumen. These adenomatous polyps are present in 40-50% of adults over 50 and represent the precancerous stage before colorectal cancer develops over 10-15 years. Colonoscopy with polypectomy interrupts this progression, preventing 76-90% of colorectal cancers that cost $150,000-$300,000+ to treat.
This video explains:
Polyp anatomy: pedunculated (mushroom-shaped on stalks) versus sessile (flat, broad-based)
Adenomatous polyps (precancerous) growth rate: 1-2mm per year on average
Why 10-15 year progression allows screening to catch polyps before cancer develops
Multiple polyps increase cancer risk and shorten surveillance intervals
Polypectomy costs: simple removal ($3,000-$5,000), complex/large polyps ($5,000-$8,000)
Post-polypectomy surveillance: 3-10 years depending on findings
Advanced adenomas (≥10mm, high-grade dysplasia, villous features) requiring 3-year follow-up
Lifetime screening costs with polyps: $15,000-$30,000 versus cancer treatment $150,000-$500,000
With 50 million Americans needing colonoscopy screening and 40-50% having polyps requiring removal and surveillance, polyp detection and removal represents a multi-billion dollar industry. However, preventing even 10% of the 150,000 yearly colorectal cancer cases saves $3-5 billion in treatment costs while saving 15,000+ lives annually.
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER:
Educational content about colon polyps and cancer prevention through screening. This does not constitute medical advice. Not all polyps are equal—size, histology, and number determine cancer risk and surveillance intervals. Some large or flat polyps require specialized endoscopic resection or surgery. Incomplete polyp removal allows cancer development. Surveillance colonoscopy intervals must follow pathology results and guidelines—skipping recommended surveillance allows cancer to develop. Family history or genetic syndromes require earlier and more frequent screening. Consult gastroenterologists for personalized screening schedules.
SOURCES:
Adenoma-carcinoma sequence and polyp growth rates
Colonoscopy polyp detection and removal effectiveness
Post-polypectomy surveillance guidelines
Colorectal cancer prevention cost-effectiveness research
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"40% of adults over 50 have colon polyps that slowly grow over 10-15 years. A $3,000 colonoscopy finds and removes them before they become $300,000 cancer.