How often should you have a colonoscopy after age 70?
How often should you have a colonoscopy after age 70 or 75?
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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.
The answer depends on the individual.? A patient who has no polyps and is in generally good health would still be 10 years after 70 (so 80 would be the next one).? If you have polyps you may need it sooner.? 5 years if 1-2 polyps, 3 or sooner years if more than 3 polyps removed on the last one.
Great question. There is great debate among physicians as to when to stop colorectal cancer screening. This would depend on the patient’s overall state of health and their risk factors for cancer (family history, prior colon cancer or adenomatous colon polyps). American Cancer Society guidelines recommend a colonoscopy every 10 years starting at age 50 in patients with no family history of colon cancer and no history of polyps. Most patients have their last colonoscopy by the age of 75 (if in overall good health). Although some patients continue having colonoscopies well into their 80’s, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines have set an upper age limit of 75 in patients with no major risk factors such as family history and personal history of colon cancer and polyps. This is based on studies which have shown that the net benefit of cancer prevention is small after the age of 75. Always talk with your doctor to determine when to stop colorectal cancer screening.