Never Want to Have a Colonoscopy? Do This Instead.

Getting grown-ups to get a colonoscopy can be about as easy as getting kids to eat Brussels sprouts. Actually, adults may be better at putting off a colonoscopy than kids are at sliding sprouts under the table. Barely half follow the screening guidelines for tracking down colon polyps. Even more don't get any kind of colon cancer check. Ever.

Not you, of course! (But maybe your spouse, neighbor, best friend?)

And definitely not us! Both of us YOU Docs had our first colonoscopies at age 50 (right on schedule) and both of us turned out to have some precancerous colon polyps, which were removed on the spot. That's one of the nifty things about these exams: Any colon polyps are usually zapped there and then. No second round needed. Read all about our colonoscopy experiences!

You probably know the rule of thumb: Get a colonscopy every 10 years, starting at age 50 (earlier and more often if there's colon cancer in your family).

But if you secretly don't have any intentions of doing that, do this: Get just one colon check between 55 and 64, and it doesn't have to be a colonoscopy. We've just seen convincing new data that having one sigmoidoscopy -- which uses a shorter scope and doesn't go up as far (are you wincing less already?) -- cuts your risk of colorectal cancers nearly as much as more frequent tests. It's also faster and cheaper.

Is it the best? Not quite. (We're both beyond grateful we had colonoscopies.) Is it good enough to seriously cut your odds? Yep. Is it way, way better than nothing? Absolutely, positively.

Find out why eating more Mexican food helps you prevent colon cancer.