i will be 98 on 9/4/2026. should i get a colonoscopy?

My H had a colonoscopy after age 80 due to chronic constipation. The doc said it was the last he’d have because colin cancer grows slowly.

The gastroenterologist generally has an opinion. I’d definitely have that person weigh in on pros & cons if having one at your age.

@mikead63 Yes, Minnesota is a great place despite the winter! I had the good luck to move back to Minnesota in time to go to Mayo for my complicated lung problems. It saved me a lot of worry.

@vic83 - Glad you were able to get the needed medical procedure to keep you going. I was only posting what my gastroenterologist told me, about 15 years ago, when he said that I could not have it done any more. Plus what appears to be a general consensus that the age limit is fairly well adhered to. Of course, as in just about everything else - there are, fortunately, exceptions to the rule.

@vic83 I hope that you are doing well !!

@mikead63 Thanks. I hope you are too!

Personally I'm not a fan of any invasive procedure. If it were me I'd ask for a "cologuard plus" test they are non invasive and their accuracy has improved vastly over the years. Do a poop send it in and your done!

@vic83 Very helpful information. My father is 91 and has a history of colon polyps which needed to be surgically removed after each colonoscopy. Now he does nothing.

His doctor recommended that he stop getting colonoscopies in his 80’s (around 85 from memory). She didn’t see the need for them due to the risks involved in surgery, he didn’t want to do chemotherapy if there was anything found and the likelihood in his case that he probably pass from something else not colon cancer if he let them be.

As a family we are comfortable with that decision he made some years ago and he now has dementia so we honour that approach he chose

@p I could not have explained the answer better I am in full agreement with the person that responded about the colonoscopy for someone who is 90ml

Hi there! I'm a youngster at 67 and wanted to offer my thoughts on your post. There are far less invasive ways to test for GI issues before getting to a colonoscopy. I am not a doctor and can only share what I would do if I was in your shoes. Giving a stool sample is a good first step. The next step would be the mail order test kit, then a sigmoidoscopy which only views the sigmoid colon. Comprehensive blood work could also offer some insight. Here's a link to The American Cancer Society's recommendations for colorectal cancer screening:

Colorectal Cancer Guideline | How Often to Have Screening Tests | American Cancer Society https://share.google/4p2LtZbJtizLwz55c

Good luck!

If I were you I wouldn't. I'd be worried about the sedation. At 71, I've decided to skip mammograms. If I develope breast cancer I wouldn't even do chemo at my age. I've lived a full life. It is what it is.