1. < Aging Well
Profile picture for noelcliffmsncom

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

Posted by noelcliffmsncom @noelcliffmsncom, Jul 16 8:57pm

I am in good physical and mental health for 98.
My bowel habits changed a year ago from firm stool to more water.
My doctor recommended a gastroenterologist at local rural hospital.
Is colonoscopy a better choice for discovering cause for change ...
or is there a better way? I gave stool sample and have appointment.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

Profile picture for hicopd
hicopd | @hicopd | Jul 21 11:29am

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.

REPLY
Profile picture for vic83
vic83 | @vic83 | Jul 21 11:36am
In reply to @mikead63 "@vic83 - Agree! I always research potential doctors. I am fortunate to live in the state..." + (show)
Profile picture for mikead63 @mikead63

@vic83 - Agree! I always research potential doctors. I am fortunate to live in the state of Minnesota where there is an abundance of excellent medical facilities and physicians. In fact I have a procedure scheduled at Mayo Rochester in August after researching and interviewing a number of other options and physicians.

Jump to this post

@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.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for Fred
Fred | @fred1 | Jul 21 2:47pm
In reply to @vic83 "@fred1 I had a colonoscopy at Mayo Clinic at age 83 and they told me to..." + (show)
Profile picture for vic83 @vic83

@fred1 I had a colonoscopy at Mayo Clinic at age 83 and they told me to come back in 3 years (age 86). I have a history of multiple colonoscopies and each time I had colon polyps.
Cologuard Plus site specifically states that this blood test is for adults 45 years of age and older who are at AVERAGE risk for colon cancer. It is not for people with history of colon polyps It is not a replacement for colonoscopy in high-risk individuals.

Jump to this post

@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.

REPLY
Profile picture for mikead63
mikead63 | @mikead63 | Jul 21 5:54pm
In reply to @vic83 "@mikead63 Yes, Minnesota is a great place despite the winter! I had the good luck to..." + (show)
Profile picture for vic83 @vic83

@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.

Jump to this post

@vic83 I hope that you are doing well !!

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for vic83
vic83 | @vic83 | Jul 21 10:17pm
In reply to @mikead63 "@vic83 I hope that you are doing well !!" + (show)
Profile picture for mikead63 @mikead63

@vic83 I hope that you are doing well !!

Jump to this post

@mikead63 Thanks. I hope you are too!

REPLY
Profile picture for gigipatula
gigipatula | @gigipatula | Jul 23 10:29am

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!

REPLY
Profile picture for isadora2021
isadora2021 | @isadora2021 | Jul 24 5:17am
In reply to @vic83 "@fred1 I had a colonoscopy at Mayo Clinic at age 83 and they told me to..." + (show)
Profile picture for vic83 @vic83

@fred1 I had a colonoscopy at Mayo Clinic at age 83 and they told me to come back in 3 years (age 86). I have a history of multiple colonoscopies and each time I had colon polyps.
Cologuard Plus site specifically states that this blood test is for adults 45 years of age and older who are at AVERAGE risk for colon cancer. It is not for people with history of colon polyps It is not a replacement for colonoscopy in high-risk individuals.

Jump to this post

@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

REPLY
Profile picture for dsmiller
dsmiller | @dsmiller | Jul 24 10:26am
In reply to @pml "I think that is fantastic that you are 98 and apparently in good health! I'm 80..." + (show)
Profile picture for pml @pml

I think that is fantastic that you are 98 and apparently in good health! I'm 80 and they told me that I would never need to get another colonoscopy since I'm in good health too. Your change in your bowel movements could be related to diet or side effects of any medications you are taking. Do a search on the Mayo Clinic website of the side effects of all your medications and over the counter supplements that you are taking. You also might want to get a second opinion just to be sure. It's also important to keep in mind that these days doctors seem to want to order expensive procedures. My husband had lung cancer and was taking Keytruda treatments which cost $25,000 per infusion. He reacted badly to them and refused anymore treatments. The cancer doctor got really mad because they would be losing all that money. She didn't even care to see him when he was so sick from the Keytruda. We got another cancer doctor. But my point is that money seems to play a more important role these days in patients care than it used to. Something to consider.

One thing that really helped with my husband's cancer was prayer. We gave everything up to God and let him handle it. After all, he made you and he can fix you! I'll say a prayer for you also.
I wish you the best!
PML

Jump to this post

@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

REPLY
Profile picture for jewlz1
jewlz1 | @jewlz1 | 1 day ago

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!

REPLY
Profile picture for benthedog
benthedog | @benthedog | 17 hours ago

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.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.