[skyguy79]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

When I got my ear wax removed yesterday, the 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, I'm almost 75, and I don't want to be pushed around.

Any comments/opinions.

Colonoscopies are a much better experience than they were years ago. I had my first one at the age of 60, 10 years after I should of and a fairly large pre-cancerous cyst was found. I have NO history of colon cancer in my family and I'm glad I didn't use that logic as a reason to resist having one. The doc simply looped it and snip... voilà, it was gone. I've had another since with no abnormalities found and due for another soon. I'm no where near as hesitant now as I was before my first. However, having one done and having peace of mind is ultimately your decision to make. Not mine, not anybody else's!