No cancer found in polyps removed during Bush's medical exam

WASHINGTON, July 23 (Xinhua) -- No cancer was found in the five polyps removed from U.S. President George W. Bush during a routine colon exam last Saturday, the White House said Monday.

"The president is in good health," White House spokesman Tony Snow said. "There's no reason for alarm."

Despite no cancer was found, doctors recommended that Bush undergo colonoscopy in every three years because polyps were discovered, he said.

"When you have the growth of polyps you want to just be very careful to keep your eye on what develops so that the patient, in fact, does not get into a position when you have to worry about it," Snow said.

Bush, 61, underwent the colonoscopy at the presidential retreat of Camp David, Maryland on Saturday, during which he temporarily handed over power to Vice President Dick Cheney, the third time in U.S. history that a president has handed presidential powers temporarily to his vice president.

This was the second time that Bush has ceded power to Cheney due to a colonoscopy. In June 2002, Bush handed over his power to Cheney for more than two hours during a routine colon screening.

In 1998 and 1999, two polyps were discovered during medical checks when Bush was governor of Texas, and he has been undergoing regular exams since.

Polyps are extra pieces of growths inside the large intestine. Most polyps are not dangerous, but over time, they can turn cancerous.