@gencyberfunk: It is affordable since we are doing it (and pretty much the rest of western europe as well).

However that doesn't mean everyone is doing this, you will not get a letter in the mail you should do a colonoscopy from this age and up. It doesn't work that way.

But no one is stopping you to get it at any age for a very cheap price (I paid 15 euros)

I was oblivious to the fact that apparently some other countries don't give you that option but that doesn't mean they can't.

As somebody else pointed out , I should take this into consideration when commenting. I did know you needed to take insurance yourself but I did not know it worked like this.

Countries in western europe don't work that way. There is the obvious difference that you're autmatically insured, no matter who you are.

But we also don't care about percentages, we care about certainty and complete coverage for every individual. It is still your choice to to do that test though, no one is going to tell you to take a test at 35 but you can.

However we are widely informed through national media about cases like this, it's also the reason I went for a colonscopy at the age of 36. You can be sure of it a lot of other people don't do that, they make the math themselves, and choose themselves.

The governement or companies will not choose for us, people would revolt if we had your system. They would simply not allow such a system to exists, it would not considered be fair.

Heck I can do even three colonoscopy's in the same month, all covered, at any age, because I would want a second and third opinion.

@MDK4thewin: damn, that sounds unreal to me. I can go test for whatever I want, and it will cost me next to nothing. I will keep this in mind when I comment on this subject in future.

@gencyberfunk: seems like the problem is with your healthcare system, you don't need a referral in europe, you just call and go.

and polyps cannot grown into cancer during a period of 3 years, also the reason why I need to go back every 3 years.

and it's commonly known around here that a colonoscopy prevents colon cancer in nearly all cases.

It has nothing to do with a blasé attitude, it's to point out you can prevent this. You can't do that in your country, well maybe that's a problem with the way your country operates not with my comments.

@MDK4thewin: this is more common than you think , I only mentioned it so people would keep in mind this can be prevented in most cases. This man is dead yes, but maybe somoen will read this , do a colonoscopy and not die of colon cancer because of it.

@cherub1000: I can understand that, but it should be known that it's a cancer you can prevent in nearly all cases. I'm trying to help here.

@OrionMD: You should go sooner, if they don't find anything, you don't have to back soon anyway, better to be safe than sorry. Source: did my first colonosopy at 36 , they found polyps that could turn into cancer. I have no relatives that got it.

@gencyberfunk: I had my first colonoscopy at 36. . I had no reason to get a colonoscopy, I did it because I saw in the news that's the easiest cancer to prevent, and you can die of it as soon as in your late thirties.

So you can just go and get a colonoscopy, They found 3 polyps, 1 could grow into cancer. Because of it I had to go three years later. My doctor said If I didn't had come , I could already dealing with cancer.

So I don't understand why people are so upset when I mention this. It's to help people.

@thecupidstunts: 94 percent are pretty good odds.

@walbo: in this case a colonoscopy can prevent it.