[Villages PL]

My doctor gave me a "fecal test kit". That's because I have been refusing to get a colonoscopy. I'm 71 & 1/2 years old. The Mayo Clinic website suggests there's no need to get tested over age 75. I'm almost there, so give me a break! There's no history of colon cancer in my family.

You might wonder, "What's the big deal, do the fecal test." My mother did a fecal test in her late 70s and it was positive. So she went for a colonoscopy and it was negative. She said, "never again." I think there must be lots of false positives for various reasons and I don't want to go down that road.

Here's what makes it worse: If I don't go along with the HMO and doctor's request, I could be dropped as a patient. I called the doctor's office today and notified them that I'm not going to do the test. The receptionist said she will pass it on to the doctor. So, I'll have to wait and see what happens.

If I get dropped, I'll have to look for another doctor.

Why not do the test? It's just that I have no risk factors and I'm almost 75 anyway.

Any comments/opinions.