The American Medical Association has succeeded in scaring everyone over sixty to get a colonoscopy after their "get a mammogram!" campaign was so successful.
So happens I have medical books that are 15 years old.
They say to get a colon. IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS AND/OR
A FAMILY HISTORY of colon cancer. They don't say "all over sixty." It's a con job. Guarantee they'll be coming out with another warning to have ANOTHER thousand dollar test. My husband was told yesterday to have a colonoscopy. Why? Oh, it's something you should have. Does he have any symptoms? Nope. Pain? No. Blood? No. History? No. So we call and they say it's $1,270
for the test. Oh; that doesn't include the TEST READING (hundreds of dollars). Oh-then back to the doctor (they wish)for an office visit ($270) to get His take on the results.
Thanks, but no thanks until all these doctors have a telephone pole shoved Plus their b***s in a Vice grip.
That is, when they come back from Tahiti.


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Aster

Not all people with rectal cancer or other bowel problems have symptoms which is why the exam is recommended. Wouldn't it be a shame if your husband has colon caner with no symptoms and by time any symptoms or problems do show up it is too late to treat them because you didn't think it was necessary for him to have the colonscopy his doc recommends. I shudder to think what would have happened to my father if he had not been a volunteer firemen requiring routine physicals. He had no symptoms but on a routine exam was discovered to have prostate cancer. This could very well be your husband with bowel cancer that shows no symptoms. Isn't his life worth the simple test of a colonscopy???

A little cynicism regarding the medical field can be a healthy thing; however your cynical approach is not helpful but can be harmful. Everyone should question physicians about their conditions, medications ,etc. If a patient is not happy with that physician they should switch; But to see tests that are recommended to people to save lies, as a big conspiracy is unfortunate for you and your family.

I guess i have also questioned the motives of the health care industry in promoting these tests for everyone over 50. I think though if I am really honest it is partially that I am fearful of the test. (colonoscopy) and of what it could find. I do think it has saved lives and I am thankful that i have good insurance to cover the costs. I know everyone is not that fortunate.

Last December at age 53, I dragged my husband in for his first colonoscopy because of the recommendations. Much to our surprise, he had several polyps removed that turned out to be precancerous. Just think if we would have waited until he had symptoms, it would have been too late.

He had NO symptoms and NO family history of colon cancer but he had precancerous cells. Are we ever glad that he got it done. He'll have another one done this year and because insurance has changed we'll have to pay his deductible and co-pays so this one will cost us quite a bit but thank God that there is a procedure that can find colon cancer.

I wouldn't rely on information that is 15 years old. Just think how far the medical field has come in treating cancer that is caught early. Why would anyone want to wait until they were having symptoms to have a colonoscopy or wait until they found a breast lump to have a mammogram?

Don't fear a colonoscopy. The prep is the worst which is done at home. I slept through both my colonoscopies. My husband was awake but very relaxed and he didn't feel a thing.

Maggie

This an old thread-- still important.

Colon cancer is second only to lung cancer in cancer related deaths and it's because people don't like have a colon exams.

When symptoms occur --- many times it's too late!!!

This an old thread-- still important.

Colon cancer is second only to lung cancer in cancer related deaths and it's because people don't like have a colon exams.

When symptoms occur --- many times it's too late!!!
I am going to play devil's advocate on this just for perspective. If these tests are very important, then the cost of the tests should be reasonable as well. It is unreasonable to expect some one to pay out of pocket the amounts of money charged for these procedures since the numbers of people that take these tests should more than pay for equipment and salaries of technicians to run these tests. I agree that prevention is always better but, to a person who has very little money, health procedures that are expensive have to be weighed against life expectancy.Colon cancer is usually a slow growing cancer and if spotted in the latter years of life, the treatments will kill before the cancer does. I do believe there is a competitive corporate belief system at work in the United States where they take a simple procedure and parce out each little area until everyone is out of money. Then when the real problem comes a long, life to money ratios are figured the same way insurance companies figure life expectancies to sell life insurance at a profit. If you life to benefit ratio is not met, then you do not get the optimum treatments. The realities of the old country doctor who valued the life he was responsible to, no longer exists and I think that people are dying of neglect all over the United States due to the patient being a 15 digit alpha numerical medical code on a computer someplace.