Colonoscopies Explain Why U.S. Leads the World in Health Expenditures

[Honeycombe8]

61. There are less riskier, less invasive tests that are almost as good.

There is no need for a non-high risk person to get a colonoscopy. There is always the exception...a person can get anything at any time (brain tumor, melanoma, a rare carcinoma, lung cancer). There are no guarantees.

But if someone is concerned and wants to be tested, there are several tests that are almost as good as colonoscopy but cost a lot less and have less risk (or no risk).

I am tested every year in a non-invasive way, at my annual GYN exam. I would guess that your sister was not, given her age. Had she been so tested, that test WOULD have picked up her colon cancer, although at a later stage than a colonoscopy would have. And that test would've cost her ins. co less than $100, and would've been free to her (part of her preventive annual GYN exam). Risk vs. cost vs. benefit.