Final answer:
The presence of polyps in the large bowel significantly increases the risk of cancer, making their removal and surveillance pivotal. While a high-fiber diet may help prevent colon cancer, it does not treat existing polyps. The guiding principle for treating such a patient is recognizing polyps as a risk factor for cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Guiding Principle for Treatment of Polyps
The discovery of numerous polyps in the large bowel of a patient during a screening colonoscopy is a significant finding that warrants careful consideration. The presence of these polyps is associated with an increased risk of cancer, as most colon cancers arise from benign mucosal growths such as these. The screening and removal of polyps through colonoscopy are critical prevention strategies for colorectal cancer. A colonoscopy is both diagnostic, allowing for the identification of precancerous polyps, and therapeutic, as it enables the removal of these polyps before they potentially become malignant.
While a high-fiber diet is associated with a decreased risk of developing colon cancer due to its role in hastening bile acid excretion and diluting the concentration of carcinogens, it is not a treatment for existing polyps. Instead, polyps found during colonoscopy are typically removed during the procedure because of their potential to turn into malignancies. This intervention can help to prevent colorectal cancer. Screening for faecal occult blood tests and colonoscopy is recommended for individuals over the age of 50 or those with a family history of colorectal cancer.
Therefore, the patient's polyps should not be considered a normal, age-related change or a benign finding without consequence. The principle that should guide treatment is that these polyps constitute a risk factor for cancer, and management should be focused on their removal and ongoing surveillance to prevent cancer development.