Is a Colonoscopy really necessary for a healthy person?

Question

I recently turned 50 and went to the doctor for a routine physical. I'm a very healthy vegetarian. In fact, my last doctor visit was when I had a routine physical when I turned 45. I had not been to any doctor for anything for the past 5 years. I never get sick and don't take any pills (other than vitamins). I'm told I need a colonoscopy, but I'm skeptical of our medical establishment. I have health insurance, but I still don't think it's necessary for "everyone". I think doctors recommend them for everyone for two reasons: for the money, and so they don't get sued by the lawyers that chase doctors. I don't want to have it, so can anyone give me a good reason not to?

Answer 1

Age is the number one risk factor for colon cancer. Does that mean that age causes colon cancer? Not directly. It's just that by age age 50, one in four people has polyps. You'll learn more about polyps and their role in #11.
Alcohol
I have good news if you like merlot and bad news if you like vodka.
While wine has shown a protective effect, other alcohol (primarily liquor) appears to cause colon cancer. Increased risk seems to be mainly associated with distilled spirits like gin, vodka, and bourbon.
Diabetes
A study published in the journal Gastroenterology found that insulin dependency contributes to colon cancer development. In general, diabetics are up to 40% more likely to develop colon cancer than people who don't have diabetes. Articles that discuss diabetes as a cause of colon cancer include the following:
Diet
Diets high in fat and cholesterol (especially from animal sources) have been found to cause colon cancer. Low-fiber diets have also been associated with increased risk, but the research isn't as clear. If you'd like to learn more about dietary causes of colon cancer, check out the following:

* Fish Triumphs Over Cow
* More Bad News About Red Meat
* Sugary Foods Linked to Colon Cancer
* Fatty Diet Increases Colon Cancer Risk
Environment
The risk of developing colon cancer varies throughout the world. Studies indicate that colon cancer rates are lowest in Kuwait, India, and Romania and highest in the United States, Switzerland, and Canada. Why these rates differ isn't clear. For example, does living in the U.S. cause colon cancer or are Americans simply more likely to receive screening than Romanians? Related articles that discuss environment as a cause of colon cancer include the following:

* Radiation Exposure and Colon Cancer
* Asbestos Exposure and Colon Cancer
* Working the Night Shift May Cause Colon Cancer
* Disinfectants Hinder Colon Cancer Detection

My husband is over 50, and the doctor recommend that to, but he is not going to do it. We have a very healthy life stile, we take all kind of good vitamins, antioxidants and once in a wile, we do the liver cleanse, fruit diet, fasting, and take Aloe Vera juice, Probiotic, fiber,those are very good for digestive system. Good luck to you, and enjoy every day of your life,you are doing great job already with your diet
http://home.bluegrass.net/~jclark/liver_cleanse.htm

Answer 2

I was a healthy 44yr old.
Never one to go to the doctors unless I had to get a cut stitched up, tetanus injections, or have a baby.
The only reason I went to the doctors this time was to get a compulsory health clearance to start a job.
After telling him about a couple of very common run of the mill complaints that I had (not constipation) he booked me in for a colonoscopy.
Thank goodness because they found that I had a small tumour growing in my lower colon.
Catching it this early meant that I was cured by surgery alone. No Chemo No Radiation treatment.
Get the colonoscopy done. It doesn't hurt, it's only uncomfortable.
If you don't want it done because it's embarrassing, well, you won't be the first to " Die of Embarrassment".

Answer 3

There is a one very important reason doctors recommend a colonoscopy.... TO SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES!! Give some thought to that reason. Don't let ignorance be your downfall or the death of you. During a colonoscopy, if the doctor finds a polyp he will clip it out and get rid of it before it has a chance to turn into cancer. There are no symptoms of a polyp. This is why doctors recommend a colonoscopy.... so they can prevent cancer from forming! "Healthy" people get cancer, too. There is NO good reason to not have a colonoscopy. So, get yours done.

Answer 4

Well, it is up to you. A colonoscopy would pick up if there are polyps in your colon. I don't think that polyps would only happen to someone who ate meat. Polyps have the potential to become cancerous. By then you have a much bigger problem. So, if you want to take more control of your health, you might go for this. The polyps would be removed. They would be tested to see if they became cancerous or not. If they were cancerous, then you would discuss treatment. If they weren't cancerous, then there isn't a problem of them becoming cancerous. And, if you had no polyps, you could pat yoursel on the back knowing you were doing quite well.

Answer 5

I was diagnosed with breast cancer less than a year ago, and I've lived a very healthy life. With colon cancer, it can be found and gotten rid of in the polyp stage. If you have any symptoms, it is already too late and is cancer. During a colonoscopy you are drugged up and won't remember a thing.

Answer 6

Oh god please spare me. If you're looking for someone to validate your argument, you won't get it from me.
Yes, the American Cancer Society urges everyone to get colonoscopies so that doctors they have nothing to do will get millions of dollars that they will never see. Or maybe it has something to do with the fact that colonoscopies save lives by actually preventing cancer?
Let me enlighten you, dear:
1)Doctors do not get a dime from patients who get colonoscopies. Trust me; if they did I'd be on a beach in Maui right now. I mean, come on! If doctors made money off of colonoscopies, they would be able to retire early instead of picking hemorrhoids out of people until they're 70.
2)Yes, we tell people to get them so that if a patient gets colon cancer they can't come back and try to sue us for malpractice because we didn't. So we're damned if we do, damned if we don't. If we do, twits come on and complain that they're the "exception"...they're special...since they're "healthy" it can't happen to them. If we don't...we run the risk of getting sued.

By the way, define "everyone"...are you part of this special invincible society that doesn't need to get those big bad evil medical tests because you can't get cancer? Were you injected with some special dye that makes you invincible?When it comes to cancer, there are no exceptions. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, is immune to it. It can happen to you, and it can happen to me. Cancer doesn't care how healthy you are now. Trust me, dear, I see it happen every sincle day..."Oh, I'm healthy...I've never had a health problem before...I'll be fine....I don't need that...it can't happen to me" A year later, they're dead from a cancer that could have been cured if they'd just had a simple medical test.

So, in short: get your @$$ to the doctor...excuse the pun

BTW: Steve F, you're a ****. If people who had a daily bowel movement didn't get colon cancer we'd have a LOT less colon cancer; it has nothing to do with how often you s--t. Twit.

Answer 7

Yes, they recommend a colonoscopy when you turn 50. And no, I don't think you need to get one. Unless you have a strong family history of colon cancer or other problems like diverticulosis or polyps, or yourself are having any kind of problems like changes in bowel function or bleeding, in which case it would not hurt to have it done. Just be prepared for him to suggest it to you at every visit.

Answer 8

The doctor's are just after your money, I'm sure....Besides, if you DO have the precursors for colon cancer, why bother finding out about it until the cancer has spread to other organs where it cannot be treated so easily? Besides, only 60,000 people or so will die (because they were just like you) next year from colon cancer anyway!

It's just like this whole "clean your teeth" hoax, they're just after your money!

Are you REALLY asking this question seriously?

Answer 9

Yes I can! It is a simple procedure to find and remove polyps before they turn into cancer. Colon cancer can go years undetected until its too late. Don't take the chance. Prove your healthy, Toooptimistic. Get the test!

Answer 10

Hemorrhoids are associated with constipation and straining at bowel movements. How to get rid of hemorrhoids https://tr.im/wAsQe
Pregnancy is also associated with hemorrhoids. These conditions lead to increased pressure within the hemorrhoidal veins that causes them to swell. Other conditions, for example chronic liver disease, may also cause increased venous pressure and may be associated with hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are very common and are estimated to occur in up to one-half of the population by age 50.