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  Screening for colon cancer is controversial even though we are advised to have a colonoscopy at age 50 as a routine. However, in asymptomatic people the risk of perforation or GI bleeding offsets the benefits. The role of other screens such as occult blood in the stool, barium enemas, sigmoidoscopy and virtual colonoscopies is discussed.              

No one wants to get colon cancer and colonoscopy has been touted to be the best way to find asymptomatic precanceous and cancerous lesions of the colon that could be lifesaving. This makes logical sense, however, the United States Preventive Services Task Force in now questioning this test for healthy people who have no GI symptoms.