Would you?

joanagan

I am 81 years old. I tested positive for slight blood in my stools. I hate having a colonoscopy because of the prep. I know that the efficiency of screening declines at the age of 75 and is not even recommended at the age of 85. I will not get radiation, nor chemo therapy. Is there even a need to pursue it?

MoeKay

Hi joanagan, at age 75 and above, it's my understanding that whether to do a colonoscopy is decided on a case-by-case basis during a discussion between physician and patient. If someone is in poor health with a short life expectancy, any benefit from doing a colonoscopy would likely be limited. A few months before I turned 76, I spoke to my primary physician about whether I really needed another screening colonoscopy at my age (I had no symptoms). I believe since you have blood in your stool, your colonoscopy would be considered diagnostic, not screening.

In any event, I had previously had 5 colonoscopies, none of which ever found colon cancer or pre-cancerous polyps. I too did not look forward to the bowel prep. So my doctor suggested I take the ColoGuard stool-based test instead of having the colonoscopy. I agreed. However, the ColoGuard test was positive, so I needed to see my gastroenterologist to discuss getting a colonoscopy to rule out cancer. My gastro told me he does colonoscopies on healthy people even into their 90s. I really trust my gastro, so I agreed to the procedure. He said that while we're doing the colonoscopy, we might as well do an endoscopy because I had experienced some intermittent swallowing issues.

Well, as it turned out, this time I had a total of six polyps, three of which were pre-cancerous. All were removed during the colonoscopy. The endoscopy found that I had some upper GI issues including GERD, gastritis and esophagitis. I took medication for those conditions for some months and everything cleared up. I'm due for a repeat colonoscopy three years from the last one, when I will be almost 79, assuming I'm still in good health at that time.

I would suggest that you discuss your concerns about the procedure with your gastroenterologist. Not only polyps, but early-stage colon cancers can be removed during a colonoscopy. Not everyone who is diagnosed with colon cancer needs chemotherapy or radiation. My sister-in-law had an early-stage colon cancer found on colonoscopy. She had to have it surgically removed during a separate procedure, but did not need any further treatment. That was about 10 years ago.

Wishing you good luck and good health. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask. And I don't think the prep is nearly as bad as the prep I had for my first colonoscopy back in 1999. It's still not a day at the beach, but it's over before you know it!

MoeKay

joanagan

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1718800#Comment_1718800

Thank you for caring and commenting. I am still on the fence about it.

airborne72

I was diagnosed with Stage 2 rectal cancer when I was 66. Underwent radiation and chemo, then surgery, then some more chemo. I've been NED (no evidence of disease) ever since. However, I have had a couple of "recommended" colonoscopies since then. One in 2021 and another one more recently last month. Everything was fine.

I'm 73. Having experienced rectal cancer and its treatment it is now my firm opinion that I will not subject myself to any more colonoscopies. I would rather live with the risk and enjoy quality of life than to endure any additional tests or treatment.

Jim

joanagan

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1718866#Comment_1718866

Exactly the way I feel. I am glad you are NED, and hope you remain that way. Even at the age of 66, I might have hesitated to have treatment. I have seen what it does and certainly at the age of 81, I would not endure that agony. I have decided not to have the colonoscopy. If I am not going to subject myself to treatment, what gain is there in learning I have the disease. There are so many other reasons for blood in the stool, and I already know I have hemorrhoids. I can live with it.

Trubrit

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1718866#Comment_1718866

Jim, my friend. It is good to see you on the forum.

Joanagan, I am Stage IV, diagnosed 12 years ago. My last colonoscopy was 11 years ago, and I, like Jim, don't plan on having another one. It is a VERY personal choice, not made lightly. I wish you luck with whatever choice you make, and hope that the bleeding is just some kind of irritant and nothing to do with Cancer.

Tru

joanagan

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1718958#Comment_1718958

Thanks for your opinion. I am glad you are doing well, now. I think I just needed to find someone who agreed with me. I have had three responses to my question, and two out of three agree. I am not going to have the colonoscopy.