Colon Cancer Screening - When to Stop?

It is recommended that everyone get screened for colon cancer beginning at age 50, and every 10 years thereafter (if normal). For those with a strong family history or bowel disease screening usually begins earlier.

In the past few years many sources have suggested that screening should stop at age 75 if normal. This has evolved to say that screening should stop when life expectancy is less than 10 years. But many have stopped colonoscopy at this age.

In a recent study, researchers found that compared with no screening, colonoscopy at age 80 prevented 10 cancer deaths for every 1000 people screened.

Screening was cost-effective in those without significant medical conditions until ages 83. In elders with severe illnesses, screening was cost-effective until age 77.

Nearly a quarter of people older than 75 have never undergone colorectal cancer screening. Most of these should be checked.

In addition they found that other modalities, such as stool screening for blood or sigmoidoscopy were also useful, though less accurate.

I would recommend colonoscopy until at least 80, maybe older if you are healthy. After that, at least until age 85 stool testing for blood should be performed.