Is a colonoscopy ever too risky?

@pml, I can imagine seeing such an extreme side effect would make you stop in your tracks and refuse a colonoscopy. Different bowel prep kits are made up of slightly different combinations of ingredients. I have never seen the side effect of death related to any of the preparations. Here's a list of preparation options:

Colonoscopy prep kits: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22657-colonoscopy-bowel-preparation

Luckily colon cancer is one of few cancers that can be detected early. Left undetected and untreated is a horrible alternative. I wish my dad had had a colonscopy earlier. His colon cancer wasn't detected until it was too late. He didn't want to do a colonoscopy. 🙁

@wck, baking soda and water alone is not an effective method to prepare for a successful colonoscopy. Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) may be an ingredient in some types of bowel cleansing preparations for colonoscopy. Complete bowel cleansing is essential for thorough examination of the colon during colonoscopy. Suboptimal or incomplete bowel preparation has potential negative consequences, such as missing polyps or other abnormalities, the need for repeated colonoscopies, and increased procedure-related complications.

- Optimizing Bowel Cleansing for Colonoscopy https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(15)00102-0/fulltext

While the prep isn't fun, you don't want to have to repeat it due to an unsuccessful colonoscopy.

@dunbun13 and @wck, preparing for a colonscopy isn't the top of anyone's wishlist. Here are some tips both from Mayo Clinic experts and from fellow members of this forum that I think you'll find helpful.

Dr. Derek Ebner, a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist, offers tips on how to make colonoscopy bowel prep, essentially a strong laxative, easier.

Had one at 78, in May per Dr. suggestion. It went well, and Doc said, "that's it" and I won't need another one ever. Doc should know if it is risky for you or not due to age, and what benefit it would have over cologuard. I wonder if cologuard would be adequate for you. I did that previously.

Hi Vic83
I had a colonoscopy at age 84 and all went well. The worst part is the preparation, as always.
This was how I got my diagnosis of microscopic colitis, so I am glad I had it done.

One just has to "bite the bullet" and do the colonoscopy!

I am 78 and had my 5 year colonoscopy in October. Three polyps were the kind that turn to cancer. My mother died of colon cancer at age 61. I have been having colonoscopy on the 5 year program for a long time and will continue. I will have to die of something, but I do not plan to let colon cancer be the cause.

I’m 74 years old and I have been going for colonoscopy’s every five years, now I’m due again in July. I’m already getting worried about it and I do this every time I’m due, I would rather have the test done at home but I was told many years ago that the test is not a good alternative because if they find cancer cells in the specimen you’re already late for early detection, the scope is better because if they find polyps, they can be removed immediately. It seems like a viable explanation so I continue to have it done, I know that the preparation is a bother but from what I’ve heard from people who have had colon cancer it doesn’t seem so bad compared to what they’ve experienced. I also go through with it because I have had lung cancer so it’s probably a good thing that I do, amen.

Vic83 -- I know one woman with the same misfortune. He was in his 40s. What were the ages of the two you knew?

One was 50s - never got a colonoscopy, the other I think late 60s.

Husband age 82, due to have next month. Told intestinal lining can be thinner in older people and that increases risk of puncture. I am scheduled to have one in 2027 and I will be 84. Father had colon cancer and I do not take chances. We both feel our bodies are younger than our years.