Will new information about colonoscopies make you more likely to have the procedure?

A new study has found clear evidence that colonoscopies save lives. Doctors have long recommended that everyone between the ages of 50 and 75 be screened for colorectal cancer, but only about 6 in 10 people have fully followed that advice. Today’s Question: Will new information about colonoscopies make you more likely to have the procedure?

reggie

What an exciting daily question! Having crossed over the magic age barrier, I’ve already had one. More unpleasant to discuss than to experience. Having lost a dear friend (who didn’t have a colonoscopy when he should have) to colon cancer, I’ll do them on schedule. Ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure (or in this case, no cure).

Steve the Cynic

Let’s just say, I believe in evidence-based medicine.

Gary F

3 more years….

Amazing how people like to talk about the details at the office and in social settings.

jon

Having never considered getting one, and really not needing to for another ~20 years, hearing about my father and grandfather being treated for items found during colonoscopies is probably the most relevant information I need to convince me to get the procedure done when it’s time.

However, who knows what recommendations might change and new technologies might be available by the time I need one.

Collon P

Your assessment is correct jon. Having a bug up your butt can be and most often is hereditary.

Jim G

My great grandfather died of colon cancer. I’m fortunate to live in a time and place where medical research can lead to a longer and more healthy life than he had. I’ve been through the procedure twice, no sweat. As my last nurse reminded me as the mild sedative took effect, “Just breathe, this won’t take long.”

Philip Benson

Why spend money on tests if we cannot afford the treatment?
CJ

Dad had polyps so when I hit the big 5-0, I went in for one. Don’t remember a thing, and as it turns out, I had half a dozen of the flat variety that needed to be burned off. Felt kinda yucky for a few days after that but also relieved that the situation was discovered and dealt with early on. Have to go back at 52 as a result, but again, it ain’t that big of a deal (the preliminary enema was worse because I was awake for that). When one considers what it would be like to deal with colon cancer, this procedure’s a cake walk.
Brian McKinleyl

Try finding Dave Barry’s lines about colonoscopy. They’ll lighten the occasion.

Be brave, have it done, it might save your life.

My wife dropped me off, but not before asking the doctor, “While you’re up there, see if you can find his head?”
GregX

Medicine costs … if you don’t have the money in the first place … the information just isn’t a factor – even if you find out you really should have that test.
Mark C.

No, it isn’t going to change my mind when I get to that age. The recently released study only compares the reduction of deaths amongst those who had polyps removed to general population statistics, not between people who had colonoscopies and those who did not. It’s of quite questionable value as a result. Another recent study of a very large group in Spain showed basically equal number of cancer cases spotted by colonoscopy and blood stool tests. This would actually seem to suggest we should be doing the much less expensive stool test than colonoscopies that cost a multiple order of magnitude more. Further, I generally oppose doing invasive procedures unless there are other indications to justify such procedures, so I think our preferences should always be toward other methods (stool tests, possible use of MRI, blood tests) as our primary screening tools.
Jane Strauss

Nope.
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Will new information about colonoscopies make you more likely to have the procedure?

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