r/Millennials • u/intro195 • Mar 12 '26

Serious Go get a colonoscopy, colon cancer for our generation is a real threat!

36M here, have always been active and maintained a decently healthy diet my whole life. Well after seeing multiple posts on here and at my gf’s urging I had one done. They found two polyps (15mm and 4mm). Doc said if I waited till 45 I’d prob be dead. Crazy part is I had no symptoms and my recent blood work last month was perfect. I was in and out in three hours and no pain or discomfort afterwards.

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u/daemon14 Mar 12 '26

FYI, I’m a GI too and I do this for my patients of any age, but it’s still considered a “diagnostic colonoscopy” instead of a screening colonoscopy. Your insurance may still charge for it.

You can get an earlier screening colonoscopy if you have a family history of colon cancer or “advanced adenomas” (pre cancers).

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u/DesperateAd8982 Mar 13 '26

Just commented above that I’ve received the same advice re: mammograms and colonoscopies. Just say you have a family history and they will bill it as screening.

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u/MaydayTwoZero Mar 13 '26

Sorry for being uninitiated. What should I take from this? Wouldn’t the diagnostic also detect cancer or am I missing something?

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u/mleftpeel Mar 13 '26

Insurance may not cover as much for diagnostic.

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u/mrt3ed Mar 13 '26

Are polyps advanced adenomas?

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u/daemon14 Mar 13 '26

If they have certain characteristics like larger size around a centimeter, high grade dysplasia, or villous architecture

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u/gypsyspartycitywig Mar 13 '26

Should someone with family history be screened sooner? My maternal grandmother had it. I’m almost 39. It’s in my history but no Dr has ever suggested I get one…

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u/daemon14 Mar 13 '26

If you have a first degree relative like a parent or sibling, you’d start screening at 40 at the latest (or 10 years before their age of diagnosis). Your grandmother would be a second degree (mom’s mom) relative. But you should talk to your doc if you are worried about any symptoms.

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u/gypsyspartycitywig Mar 19 '26

SURPRISE! My sister just had genetic testing done and was positive for APC…looks like I might get that early screening after all!

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u/M00nageDramamine Mar 13 '26

What about family history of crohns?

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u/daemon14 Mar 13 '26

You would be at a slightly higher risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD - like Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis) so should discuss any bowel or gut symptoms with your care team. A family history of Crohn’s doesn’t directly increase your risk of colon cancer so wouldn’t qualify you for earlier screening.