Does bowel resection treat familial adenomatous polyposis?

Familial adenomatous polyposis, or FAP, causes many polyps to develop in the large bowel because of an inherited gene change. A colectomy removes part or all of the colon, sometimes with removal of the rectum or creation of a pouch or stoma depending on the person’s anatomy and polyp burden. Removing the tissue where polyps are growing can lower the chance that an advanced polyp or bowel cancer develops there. FAP can also affect the remaining rectum, small bowel, stomach, or other tissues, so surgery is one part of long-term care rather than a complete solution.

A colorectal surgeon and a genetics-informed gastroenterology team usually review the number, size, and appearance of polyps, bowel symptoms, family history, and any test results before recommending timing and extent of surgery. Ask how bowel function may change, whether a temporary or permanent stoma is possible, and which areas still need endoscopic checks after surgery. Relatives may also benefit from genetic counselling and an appropriate surveillance plan. Read more about [Bowel Resection](/treatments/surgical-oncology/colectomy/).

Contact a clinician promptly for new rectal bleeding, persistent change in bowel habit, unexplained weight loss, worsening abdominal pain, or increasing fatigue. Seek urgent help for severe or rapidly worsening abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, a swollen abdomen, inability to pass stool or gas, or heavy bleeding, because these may signal obstruction, bleeding, or another complication requiring immediate assessment.

Which operation fits my polyp pattern and bowel anatomy? How will surgery affect bowel movements and daily activities? What surveillance is needed for the rectum and upper digestive tract afterward? Should my relatives receive genetic counselling or testing?