Do I need another Colonoscopy at the age of 84 if I feel healthy?
I’ve had 3 colonoscopies over the last 14 years (spaced every 4-5) and 2-3 polyps were detected and removed each time. My G.I. team recommends another now. I am 84 and take high blood pressure and high cholesterol medication. I feel good, look younger and I think I am in good health, exercising at the gym. Should I have another Colonoscopy? Why?
Healthcare Providers (4)
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You understand and agree that use of the Website does not in any way create or establish a physician-patient privilege or physician-patient relationship between you and any Medical Professional Member. You should recognize that the information provided on the Website (including past questions and answers and articles posted on the site) is provided for your general information. These materials should not be relied on as medical advice and reading and reviewing them is not a substitute for direct consultation with a medical professional about a specific medical problem.
Without limiting the foregoing, you understand and agree that submitting a Free Question or receiving an answer to a Free Question does not in any way create or establish an physician-patient relationship between you and any Medical Professional Member, or between you and us. The information and answers provided in response to Free Questions is intended to be generic medical information, not medical advice, and is based upon the very limited information provided by you in a Free Question. Specific medical advice can only be given with full knowledge of all of the facts and circumstances of your situation. If you are currently being treated by a doctor, that doctor is the best person to give you advice about a medical case or medical matter. Under no circumstances should the information obtained on this site be used to make decisions about the quality of service provided by a doctor or about the proper course of a medical matter.
Since you are in good health and had polyps in the past, doing another one will remove any polyps which have a risk of growing into colon cancer.
It depends if you had had polyps before and if you have family history of colon cancer. If no polyps and no family history of colon cancer, you don’t need one.
The current recommendations for patients aged 75-85 is to continue screening on a case-by-case basis. If patients are otherwise healthy and the life expectancy is greater than 10 years, then we usually can continue screening.
Yes, if you have a history of polyps you should continue to do these every 5 years.