Colonoscopies are recommended for patients over 50 every 10 years, but those with a family history of cancer or bowel disease may need them more frequently. Doctors may also recommend colonoscopies for specific diagnoses and treatment plans.
The question of whether or not a patient needs a colonoscopy depends on a number of factors. This medical procedure involves examining the intestinal tract with a camera inserted into the rectum and is done to look for signs of polyps, lesions, and other health problems in the colon. While getting a colonoscopy can be inconvenient, this test can be extremely helpful in identifying early signs of colon cancer and other health conditions.
As a general rule, if a patient is over 50, they will need a colonoscopy every 10 years until age 75 or 80, as the biggest risk factor for colon cancer is age. You can also use a virtual colonoscopy, which involves using medical imaging equipment to get an image of your colon, along with stool tests to look for signs of bleeding and ulceration in your colon.
If a patient has a family history of cancer, they will need colonoscopy more frequently, due to the increased risk of cancer. Cancer in close family members is a marker for a colonoscopy every five years starting at age 40, and a high incidence of cancer, especially colon cancer, in the family history would suggest that a patient may need a colonoscopy every three years starting 10 years younger than the youngest family member diagnosed with cancer. In other words, if a patient’s father was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 35, the patient should plan to have a colonoscopy at age 25 and every three years thereafter.
A patient may also need a colonoscopy if they have a history of colon polyps or bowel disease. A doctor will make recommendations based on the individual patient’s condition, but routine screening may need to begin at age 15, with follow-up screenings between two and five years, depending on the patient’s circumstances. People with a history of familial adenomatous polyposis, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel disease, and other intestinal conditions may need a colonoscopy on a regular basis to check for early signs of a problem.
In addition to basic colonoscopy recommendations used as rough guidelines in patient care, there may be specific circumstances in which a doctor recommends a colonoscopy as part of a diagnosis and treatment plan. When a doctor requests that a patient undergo a colonoscopy, it’s a good idea to follow the recommendation. If the patient has recently received a screening colonoscopy, they may ask if the doctor can review previous results and withdraw the recommendation for a repeat, but the doctor may feel that the patient’s condition warrants a second look in the intestines.
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