Colon polyps are the precursors to colon cancer. All colon cancers start from polyps, but not all polyps turn into cancer. Polyps can be found in up to 25% of individuals above the age of 50. They are slow growing and it may take 5-15 years for them to progress to cancer. The goal of screening colonoscopy is to identify the polyps and remove them then by lowering the risk of colon cancer.