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| T o p i c : Colonoscopy
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| Q: Should
a 76 year old person have a colonoscopy with no history of colon cancer in his family? |
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| A: If a 76 year old person is in excellent health, appears physiologically
younger than the stated age, without any serious chronic medical problems, has never had a
barium enema or colonoscopy and has a projected life span of another 10
years then one could apply the same criteria for screening as would apply to the
average 50-60 year old person. These decisions are innately complex and personal and
should be made in conjunction with the primary care physician or gastroenterologist.
Since most people regard the bowel cleansing preparation as the worst part of
the process, it is really not that much more difficult to prep for a full colonoscopy as
for a flexible sigmoidoscopy examination. Remember the criteria for screening exams
are entirely different than in the person who has any personal or family history, signs or
symptoms that warrant diagnostic testing or surveillance as opposed to screening.
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