Colon Polyps

A colon polyp is a growth on the surface of the large intestine or colon. While some colon polyps are benign, meaning they are not cancer, other types of polyps may already be cancer or can become cancer later.

While anyone can get colon polyps, certain people are more likely to get them than others. You have a greater chance of getting polyps if you are 50 years of age or older, have had polyps before, if someone in your family has had polyps, or if someone in your family has had colon cancer.

You may also be more likely to develop colon polyps if you eat a lot of fatty foods, smoke, drink alcohol, are overweight, or don’t exercise.

A colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy are the tests used to check for colon polyps. If polyps are found, the doctor will remove them during the procedure in most cases. The polyps are then tested for cancer.

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What Our Patients Are Saying

From the reception desk to the provider, all was very professional and efficient! Thank you!
I’m very impressed with the thoroughness and thoughtfulness of Khadra and the efficiency of the team in setting me up for a procedure.
Very happy with the care received at DHI. Jonathon Thelen P. A. is very professional and has a wealth of knowledge to answer any questions I may have.
They all listened to what I had to say and offered suggestions that may help me further.
Excellent!
Efficient check in process, caring staff, and Dr Walling was very thorough with my patient assessment.
Saw Dr. Plaehn - on time, professional, friendly. He explained everything clearly and answered all questions
I was in for my follow up to my colonoscopy. The staff were friendly and very helpful. I met with Kaddah (sp?) and she explained all my test results completely and so I could easily understand them. She even talked with me for a few minutes on what I could do to help myself and my conditions. Very informative and very pleasant. Thank you very much.
Efficiently run with all staff being extremely friendly.
Khadra was very thorough and pleasant during my evaluation. She was also very knowledgeable and offered information to me that was extremely helpful.

Our Doctors

We’re proud of our team here at Digestive Health Institute. Our health care providers include some of the very best colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists and physician assistants. To learn more about our qualified team of specialists, click their image or visit our providers page.

Lucas Julien, MD

Razvan Opreanu, MD

Scott Plaehn, DO, FACOI

Albert Ross, MD

John Walling, Jr., DO, FACOI

Siaka Yusuf, MD

Dorian Jones, MD

FAQs

What happens during my first visit?
If you are a new patient, you can expect to have a complete physical exam. You will also be asked detailed questions about your current problems and your past medical history, your current medications, allergies, your family history and other pertinent medical information. If you are taking medications, please bring a completed medical history form with you to your appointment. Once the physician has reviewed your medical information and completed the physical examination, a plan of care will be developed. You may need to be seen again in the office, be referred back to your family physician for follow-up care, or require additional testing. If additional tests are needed, we will assist you in scheduling these tests.
What if I need to schedule an endoscopic procedure?
An endoscopic procedure allows the physician to visualize a part of your gastrointestinal tract with a special instrument called an endoscope. If your family physician has ordered testing, you will be contacted by telephone by one of our staff members. If an Digestive Health Institute physician orders testing and you are in the office, the procedure can generally be scheduled during the course of your visit. You will be given a date, time, and location for the test, as well as written instructions telling you how to prepare for the test. If you have any questions about the procedure, please feel free to ask one of our staff members or the physician.
How do I get test results?
We ask that you wait 10 to 14 days before contacting us for results. Often results come from several different sources. This information needs to be compiled and reviewed by your physician before you can be appropriately advised. You may call 517-332-1200 and press “8″ and your call will be directed to the triage nurse.
What insurances do you accept?
Digestive Health Institute accepts payment from most insurance companies including Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, Physicians Health Plan, Cofinity, Sparrow Professional Health Network, Medicaid, McLaren, Health Plus, and several others. Accepted insurances are subject to change at any time without notice.

If your insurance requires an authorization from your primary care physician, you may be asked to assist us in obtaining this authorization.

All patients are responsible for all copays and deductibles at the time of service.

If you have any questions regarding your benefits or insurance coverage, please contact our Billing Department at 517-332-1200 #6.

What if I need to contact the doctor?
To contact your doctor during business hours please call our main number 517-332-1200. If you have an urgent need to speak with the doctor after hours please call our answering service at 517-483-9124 and the doctor on call will be paged. In the case of a medical emergency please proceed directly to the nearest hospital emergency room.

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