Risks of Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is a safe procedure for most healthy people, but it does come with some risk of complications. Colonoscopy risks include:
Bleeding: It’s normal to see a little blood in your stool if your doctor removes a polyp or takes a biopsy. However, major bleeding can occur and needs treatment. While it’s rare, it can be life threatening.
Perforation: Rarely, a colonoscopy can tear the colon wall, and you could need surgery to repair it.
Reaction to anesthesia or sedative: There’s a chance of an adverse reaction to the drugs used during the colonoscopy.
Studies have concluded that colonoscopy risks in the elderly often outweigh the benefits. However, patients older than age 70 are more likely to have complications, so older adults may choose other, less invasive methods of colon cancer screening.
Risk factors for colon cancer include:
Age 50 or older
African American ancestry
Biologically male
Personal or family history of polyps or colon cancer
Chronic inflammation in the colon
Obesity or poor diet
Lack of exercise
Diabetes
Smoking or heavy alcohol use
https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/colonoscopy/benefits-and-risks-of-colonoscopy
I don't advocate for or against a colonoscopy but, it was an eye opener to see that there are risks involved considering the procedure is push so hard on patients.
It’s beginning to be pretty obvious these days that following the money trail is the way to make medical decisions.
I know 2 people who had colonoscopy complications. One ended up with a kidney misdiagnosed as cancerous and removed in error. The other had internal bleeding and ended up with her entire stomach removed (the day after the colonoscopy—this happened just last month to my friend; she’s learning to eat without a stomach and doing well).
I had one colonoscopy at 50 but I think I’ll go back to the stool sample method going forward.