For those interested in avoiding the small but life-threatening risks of the colonoscopy procedure (punctured colon--it happens!), the good news is that the US Preventative Services Task Force has just come out (JAMA, June 2016) with recommendations that say,
for screening, annual fecal blood testing is as good as colonoscopy (and it's a lot cheaper/easier/safer). I think that once one of the screening methods finds evidence of a problem, then you are going to be stuck with colonoscopy.
No doubt your doctor might not agree that non-invasive screening is equally good, but consider that might be based on personal opinion, tradition, or his/her lifestyle needs.
The important thing is to make your choice (about screening options) and
do it. Colon cancer is NOT something you want to die from...as anyone who has had a friend or relative die from this disease knows all too well.
From the JAMA article (link at bottom):
Evidence Review The USPSTF reviewed the evidence on the effectiveness of screening with colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, computed tomography colonography, the guaiac-based fecal occult blood test, the fecal immunochemical test, the multitargeted stool DNA test, and the methylated SEPT9 DNA test in reducing the incidence of and mortality from colorectal cancer or all-cause mortality; the harms of these screening tests; and the test performance characteristics of these tests for detecting adenomatous polyps, advanced adenomas based on size, or both, as well as colorectal cancer....
Findings The USPSTF concludes with high certainty that screening for colorectal cancer in average-risk, asymptomatic adults aged 50 to 75 years is of substantial net benefit. Multiple screening strategies are available to choose from, with different levels of evidence to support their effectiveness, as well as unique advantages and limitations, although there are no empirical data to demonstrate that any of the reviewed strategies provide a greater net benefit. Screening for colorectal cancer is a substantially underused preventive health strategy in the United States.
Screening for Colorectal Cancer:**US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement | Jun 21, 2016 | JAMA | JAMA Network