Who Should Get a Colonoscopy?

• Everyone 50 and older.

  About 1 in 4 people age 50 and older has colon polyps.
  (which can develop into cancer).

• People with a family history of colon cancer.

  Colonoscopy is recommended before age 50 for people with a family history
  of the disease. If a parent or sibling has had colon cancer, talk to your doctor
   about when and how often you should get a colonoscopy.

There are other risk factors for colon cancer.
Your doctor may also recommend colonoscopy because of other risks for
colon cancer or other health problems you have.