When I had my first (and only) colonoscopy I still had excellent insurance from my ex...and I had a procedure that wasn't invasive. It isn't clear to me now because I don't recall the details...but it seems that they expanded everything with AIR and took pictures.

I didn't have anything inserted except for a nozzle for air. It was more like an ultrasound.

When I went to a new health care provider they did the stool sample test. They mail the kit and I mail it back. It always comes up negative. But after a number of years you are supposed to go in for a colonoscopy.

I will say this: my sister, a nurse, died of colon cancer, and she never had a colonoscopy. It is a crazy story. In her late 50's she had some bad signs...some rectal bleeding...but still refused to have a colonoscopy. Our mother died of metastatic cancer that went to her colon. I didn't tell my sister what to do because no one could tell her what to do.


Well, she never had a colonoscopy and ended up with colon cancer and died. When I told my doctor he scheduled a colonoscopy for me the same week.

I am kind of afraid of the the invasive procedure, too...but I will probably have one.


Do it. My sister had...something like a 100 chemotherapy treatments. It was crazy. She had some special treatments. Her life was extended a bit...but not by much. She did not want to die. She wasn't ready.


If I were you I would express my fears to everyone. Even the technicians. Just tell everyone to take special care.


I think you can do the baseline colonoscopy and then the stool sample tests for several years. It will be okay.