I am a 42-year-old female who just had a second colonoscopy, and a polyp was found. I began getting colonoscopies at 39 and was told to have one every three years because my father died of colon cancer at age 52, one of my uncles had rectal cancer, and another uncle had polyps. The first colonoscopy I had found no polyps, but this one did, and I am waiting for biopsy results. I would recommend a colonoscopy to anyone. It saves lives. The most uncomfortable part is the prep the day before, but it is such a small price to pay for a life-saving procedure.

I had my colonoscopy performed today. I am 33 years old and I had been asking my doctor to get checked for the past year or so. My mother was diagnosed in February of 2008 with colon cancer at age 63 and died in May. Since then, I really have been insisting even though my doctor kept saying that I was too young. He referred me to a specialist. Other then the 4L Klean Prep that I had to drink, everything went very well. It was quick and nicely done! My doctor found two polyps and removed them, so I am glad I went, and now I am good for the next five years. Get checked!

I got a colonoscopy back in September when I was 16. The doctor told me I had hemorrhoids and a couple of polyps that he removed. I got the colonoscopy because I had rectal bleeding that had been getting worse, not severe, but worse than it was. My great-grandmother had polyps, so it was hereditary. They were only about 1 or 2 centimeters. He told me to come back to get another colonoscopy in three years. A few hours ago, I was having diarrhea, and the first thing that I saw was blood. I'm going to make a doctor's appointment to see what her options for me are, as I am pretty confused.

My paternal grandmother died of colon cancer at the age of 90. My father has had polyps removed. At the age of 35, I was diagnosed with rectal cancer. I had been doctoring for six weeks for hemorrhoids, which I was pretty sure I did not have. I was right. I had tried to have a bowel movement and filled the pot with blood instead. My doctor said it was hemorrhoids. He never checked, just assumed because of my age. An occult test came back negative. Luckily, I insisted on a referral where they immediately found the tumor through a digital rectal exam. The tumor, and my rectum, was removed, and I have had no further instances of polyps or cancer. I am now 53. I was having a colonoscopy annually until just a couple of years ago when I was graduated to every three years. Yes, the prep is the worst part, but it is worth every bit of the inconvenience and disgusting stuff you have to drink. My motto is that you know your own body. If something doesn't seem right, go as far as you need to go until you are satisfied with what the doctor says. Get a second opinion if you are unsure.

I'm 32. I have no family history of colon cancer that I know of. I felt something "odd" in the anal region, so I went to a gastro doctor. He said it was almost certainly a hemorrhoid. We did the sigmoid deal. He saw two polyps (and one hemorrhoid). I just had a colonoscopy. I was really stressed because if we saw two in the first procedure, I was expecting many more. Anyway, it was a total of two polyps. The procedure was easy. Not eating for a day isn't a big deal for me. That drink, however, was terrible. And, in a display of horrible judgment, I was hungover the day I had to fast and drink that crap. Blah. I'm still waiting for the biopsy results, but both of the polyps were in the 3 mm to 5 mm range. I'm not going to sit here and freak out. I have to go back in three years for another one. I'm really glad we found these now. I think 50 years old as the standard recommendation is totally wrong. I'm going to start suggesting to anybody I know that they get in there much earlier.

I had my first colonoscopy at age 50. They found one adenomatous polyp and removed it. My doctor said this type of polyp would result in a malignancy down the road. I had no risk factors that I know of, and I am the oldest child, so as far as family history, I am unsure. All the prep in the world to get ready for this test is well worth it. I will get it done again in five years as the doctor recommends.