What's your "sell by" age?
 

Sell by = not much life left in it.

My wife is out driving a woman to the clinic to get a colonoscopy.

The woman is 95 years of age. Getting a colonoscopy.

I guess I have to admire her optimism, but if I make it to the age of 95 I will be well past my last colonoscopy or prostate biopsy appointment. I'm thinking maybe 75 is my cut off age. What's yours?

What are they looking for, ancient cave drawings?

OMG hahaha. I just spit out my coffee! Thanks for the laugh.


Yeah at 95 this is pretty silly unless you plan on living to 105 or theyre trying to confirm diagnosis of colitis for treatment perhaps?

I don't know if I'll ever be at the age where I just tell them to cut it off :D

I reckon she's always taken good care of her health; women, as a rule, seem to be very good about this - much more than us men, so it's maybe as much a habit as anything. Or just afeared of dying...or both.

That said, I'm on the 3 year plan for colonoscopies and the six month plan for prostate exams, so I think if I can get 75 or 80 out of this old bag of bones, I'll probably let someone else have my place in line at the examination clinic.

I just had my annual "wellness exam". Not a physical anymore. I don't think I've been "probed" in 15 to 20 years.
I'm in my early 60's. I asked my doctor about a PSA test, since a classmate recently went though prostate cancer.
She said she could order it, but even if it came back a high number, something else would likely kill me before the prostate cancer.

They still want me to do another colonoscopy however. I'm on the 5 year plan, although it's been 6 or 7 since my last one. Haven't scheduled it yet. Around here the cutoff for them is 70, so maybe this is my last one? Maybe one more?

My wife refuses to schedule her second one. She threw up from the prep mix, and says she won't go through that again.

I was just reading about the age of quitting colonoscopies.

Most said 70-75 years is about it. The fear of perforating the bowel gets more after that age.

I'm sure every Dr. has their own opinion.

If I am no longer mobile, I'd probably just do everything to make my last days/months/years comfortable. Not being able to at least walk somewhere would be the end for me.

I am 70. Got my first colonoscopy last year. May get another at 74 ?? If I make it that long. Not sure but I think I am done with things like that before 80.

My Aunt had a hip replacement surgery at age 95. She was so happy with it she had the other one done at age 97. She lived happily until the age of 99.

Her brother, my Uncle, had a heart valve replacement surgery at age 98. He lived to 101.

I just had my In-Home Health Assessment done last Friday. The nurse left a mail-in FIT test. (Cologuard)
I mailed that in yesterday. If it comes back negative...I'm done with the scopes. I'm 70 years old.

What "wildthing" said. I pretty much feel this way. I had my last colonoscopy at 77, and my PSA has always been super low, so I won't get any more. I read that after 75, it was not particularly productive or beneficial to go for any major operations or procedures. I'm subscribing to that.

This.
Thing about cancer. It's always growing in everyone's body. Your body just triggers the bad cells to die. Seems that there's other factors at play then the most aggressive screens can catch.

I've gotten a colonoscopy every two years due to chronic colitis. Always clean. Now that I'm 70 my Gastro just meets with me every three months until something changes.

Vic just got back from the trip. So much wrong here.
The woman isn't 95, she's 90. This was a regular, periodic exam. We didn't understand why the Council on Aging wanted us to meet them at their bus barn instead of just coming and getting her in one of their cars, the collecting the woman. (Vicki wasn't her driver, she was there to accompany her). It was so they could pick her up in the bus, instead of using one of their cars. Maybe this was an old folks colonoscopy field trip or something? Turns out she is so obese they have to use a vehicle with a lift because she has trouble getting into their cars.
It's sad. I wonder how someone can get into that state. I'm glad Vicki is helping her out. She says she's a real sweet lady.

I read somewhere once that 80% of your healthcare dollars are spent in the last 30 days of your life.

Which seems to prove the old adage "You come into this life crapping yourself, and you go out crapping yourself".

Yep, at 95, I'd be done. I'm 52 and haven't started yet. Yeah, I know, I'm 2 years in. I'll blame CV19.

I kind of feel like a colonoscopy for a 95yo is something that Drs wouldn't be requesting or recommending.
Right, my grandmother is in her late 90s. I'm pretty sure that she's done with colonoscopies. My grandfather died many years ago. Her mother lived until she was 98, so granny's running on good genes. She's out lasted her son, her youngest. I know that she's ready to shake off the mortal coil. She's told my mother (her daughter) that "she's ready to go be with the Lord." But, since covid hit, she's been avoiding people and covid like they were the plague. Granted, wanting to go to sleep and not wake up is not the same as wanting to get sick and die on a ventilator in a hospital.

THere are exceptions for every rule. You're relatives clearly have GREAT genes!

Seems like past 80, the hospital is just milking the insurance doing the colonoscopy.

I'm over 5yrs past my 'sold' date

At 79, yeah...I've said "no thanks" to some tests/procedures. I have a couple of abdominal aneurisms. For a while, they were monitored with scans. After reading of the surgery to repair these, I put a halt to the scans. But overall, I'd say it depends on what the problem is...

Another factor is that with the current state of things, I don't really feel like I belong anymore. Not suicidal, but kinda ready to go.

It's really the old quality of life vs. quantity of life debate. It's up to the individual to decide...or should be.

Something isn't right for sure. I don't know if it is on the doctors or the insurance companies or what, but encouraging someone in such poor condition at her advanced age to get routine periodic, invasive exams doesn't seem right.

My Mom's doc said no more colonoscopies after her last, which she had in her late 70's and she has had some issues like diverticulitus. He said the risk is too great. I've had friends who's colonoscopies went south and their bowel was pierced and they almost died as a result. Doing one at an advanced age makes no sense. My Mom's cardiologist keeps wanting her to come in for an appointment. For what? She's 87 and has dementia. We'll do things like her RA infusions to keep her comfortable but stuff like a cardiology work up make no sense given her age and condition.

Holy crap! I just about spat out a mouthful of Coylyte. Prepping for a colonoscopy tomorrow morning.
Thanks for a laugh on what otherwise would just be a crappy day.SmileWavy

I have a number of patients that age that are very active, mentally and physically.

I have other patients that are 10 years younger than me, and look like they would drop dead at any moment.

You know that's just some scam to get you to buy more produce, right?

(48y here myself, maybe halfway done?)

It depends on health. I had an aunt who lived to 97 and her last 3 years were awful. My mom passed at 81 after living in a nursing home for 4 years: she had dementia. - I do want to live like that. Average life expectancy is approx 78, I will be 73 this year so I'm in the winter of my life based on that average. If I had to pick a number 83-85 is ok by me.

With some goods those sell by dates are pretty close, maybe even too far out.
Find an out of date can, dump the contents out, and look at the lining on the can.

Two brothers, born in 1918 and 1920. One was a washout aviator and one was merchant marine. Both got gifted a little business -- both retired early, but the elder was a hypochondriac and had every local doctor on speed dial. The younger didn't see a Dr until his last day. One partied really hard, the other, well, he visited lots of doctors. Both died 92-94y. I know which way I lean...

In my 'neck of the woods'....there are med centers popping up everywhere.
Nice looking buildings...lots of new workers and equipment.

There is a reason for that....

Yep, on the paternal side of the family they sure did. But I think the maternal side of the family pee'd in the gene pool. I'm hoping to make it to 60 very shortly but 61 might be a stretch.

My best friend from high school got prostate cancer at 45. He bought it for nine years before he passed away. I’m still bummed and miss him.

My Dad, 94, just hit his. They are sure he has prostate cancer but with his bladder bleeding issues, neither he nor his doctor really want to do a biopsy. PSA is 196. I think this is his last year.

My Mom's Doc has made the point a few times that modern meds have kept her body going long after her brain was engaging with the world. Her quality of life generally sucks. Dementia is a *****.

If youre over 50 get a F^&*%$ colonoscopy.

Its the difference between a day on the toilet and a day off work and "Sorry sir, you have stage 4 colon cancer and 6 months to live."

I had a polyp and was in and out in 3 hours at age 50. At 65 the above would have been my prognosis. 100% painless except for some chafing from a day on the porcelain throne.

That is all.

It's not just at 80 but dependent on the situation. My father had colon cancer that spread to his liver and brain at 72. The clinic he went to in Santa Barbara (where he had a section of his colon removed prior) told him & my mother he could live six more months if they operated on the brain cancer. If they didnt' operate, it would be about six weeks. Of course my parents said, "Opoerate!." After his operation, he was mostly a vegetable and died a week later. The operation cost around $250K in 1992, which would be around $520K now. They made a tidy sum and cleared the bed for another patient.

Today I have an appointment with the local facility that does colonoscopy procedures to set up my next date . I am 65 and on the 5 year plan . Depending on the results and the advice of the docs will determine how long we do this . My guess is age 70 might be my last .

A few years ago, my Dad at age 96 had a PSA of 124. They didn't want to do a biopsy on him either. So he had a "female hormone injection". One shot. Wish I knew more about that but I don't. As a result, his PSA went down to a 12 (TWELVE). He lived to be 98 and died of other causes. Look into it red-beard.

I have known too many old guys that died as a result of untreated prostrate cancer that otherwise were healthy enough to live longer. How long, no one knows. But outrunning PC is not a good idea unless you're going down the drain anyway.

Usually starts with a chronic backache. Usually that's too late. So when I was diagnosed in 2019, I said OK to radiation. Wasn't a deal at all. I've had root canals that were worse. Except for the 5 weeks that is.

A friend of mine's husband is having his prostrate removed today because it is cancerous.
He is in good health and is 60 years old without any symptoms. What I find strange is he had a blood test for his heavy equipment license and it showed up on the results.
They can detect cancer from a blood test?