When do you stop having colonoscopies?
 

Am 75 years old now. My last colonoscopy was about three years ago. Have never had any polyps before so is there really any point in going through the process again?

Consult with your doctor , having said that I doubt I will have them after 75 .

I had one at 50, clear...and 60, clear...will not bother at 70. At best, may have one of those ColoGuard poop tests.

Obviously speak with your doc, but as an internet expert on everything...I’d say not to bother.

My last colonoscopy I went to the doctors office and picked up his day of food in a box. It had some powdered dink mix, and oatmeal for breakfast, soup for lunch, and aa afternoon snack and lots more powered drink to just add water. Nothing bad tasting. Oh yea, a handful of pills to take to um get things moving.

The best part, when I wake up from the procedure he tells me the results, but I am so foggy I never remember what he says, except the part where he puts me under doctors orders to fart as often as I can. He never puts a time limit on that, so I am still under orders to let em rip!

I have gone every 3 years for a long time. Last time in the DR. said come back when you hit 75 for your last one. He told me this when I was 70.

Just do the yearly 'mail-in fecal exams'

Once the Doctor's boat is paid off he'll tell you you don't need to come back for another. ;)

ColoGuard poop tests.

I've read that unless there is a reason to suspect issues then no need to get one done. This test is supposed to detect issues.

I've had a history of IBS that has gotten worse since that damned accident so I go every two years but have been considering pushing that to 3.

When they quit sending me flowers.

My father died as a result of colon cancer. Kaiser still only says I need one every ten years. So I had my last two years ago at 77. In the back of my mind, I seem to remember seeing something indicating they wouldn't continue to give them after the age 85. I don't know what other policies at other doctors/medical providers are.

Had my last colonoscopy at 75. No polop’s. Doc said no need to have another. PSA was low as well. Wife did the cologard, and she talked to her PA, who said
60-70% of those tests were false positives. No results back yet. If it is positive she may see a urologists.

Worked with a GI doc (was also a pastor) who would recommend colonoscopies every 6 months until you died. I'm pretty sure he would also have given one more at the funeral if he could submit a bill. Not even kidding. I wished they could have buried him with a worn out endoscope fully sunk.

75 years old. I feel sorry for the person who had to give you the colonoscopy.

My dad developed colon cancer in his mid-90's. Lived his last 3-4 years wearing adult diapers. Died at age 98 in 2017. Living to age 70 or 75 doesn't give you immunity.

No it doesn't but the colonoscopy has a small risk associated with it. Plus it takes me a couple of days to recover from it.

I have a friend who works in management at a hospital. She said they refer to the machine as the moneyscope.

I'd say 5 years before you plan on dying anyway. It would take at least that long for soemthing they find to turn into anything nasty.....

(Rodney Dangerfield voice) I’m all right now, but last week I had a rough. My proctologist - he’s the only one I see eye to eye with. There’s a job, you start at the bottom and you stay there. (rim shot)

As several have said, do what the doctor YOU TRUST says to do. If every three years then do that, five years do that, not needed then don't worry. Just remember their job is called "practicing medicine", NOT doing an engine rebuild on your Porsche which is has to be perfect!
John

Still better than McDonalds, even if not quite as effective in clearing you out.

i got the orange flavor and kept it super cold. it was easy to slam. and the duration on the toilet could be measured on a stopwatch. BAAALOOOSH! done. of course you're on the toilet multiple times, but i bet it's not even a minute each session. i say, 8-minutes total if i remember the horrors correctly. i'll youtube it next time.

Please don't.

My bother-in-law was clear at 50 and stage 4 colon cancer at 60. They snipped out a section of colon and he had another colonoscopy at 62 and another at 65 and was clear.

Stage 4 is metastatic. Chemo too?

I've had two colonoscopies. In both cases other cancers were found as part of the process. One was a very simple melanoma, but I wouldn't have known. The other was found biopsied and excised along with 10 inches of my intestine. Very rare cancer. I'm now on a monthly infusion, and scanned every 6 months. Same cancer that killed Steve Jobs, Aretha Franklin, Dave (founder) of Wendys. There's one other members wife on Pelican who also has this.

I'll keep going back as long as they will keep doing them.

E

when my doctor quits sending me in.

When they stop being fun?

I'm not looking forward to it. And I can't imagine the fun of the prep.

Yes it did spread and yes on the Chemo. He is 68 and clear.

when you start to enjoy it.

when your dead

when your doctor starts to enjoy it