My mom told me when she goes for colonosopys the doctor finds polyps but removes them, there was a cousin in the family that died of colon cancer and that was it. When I had told my doctor she didn't really seem concerned. She's kind of out there anyway, but is she right?

A big factor in determining if you should have one is how old you are. Generally only people over 40 get them.

You may also want to look into CT colonography as a diagnostic alternative.

When they find polyps they biopsy them as a general practice... where I've gone anyway.

They always let you know what they find.. good OR bad. She might not have told you everything. Like that they did this and what they found.

Well this was my doctor I was asking, my mom's doctor said they haven't turned into cancer which is why they take them out when they find them, but when I talked to my doctor, she didn't seem really concerned about me getting checked, so I was wondering if she was right in not to worry about it right now.

Well this was my doctor i was asking, my mom's doctor said they haven't turned into cancer which is why they take them out when they find them, but when I talked to my doctor, she didn't seem really concerned about me getting checked, so I was wondering if she was right in not to worry about it right now.

Well your doctor can't tell you that and hers WON'T under the HIPPA laws unless you name is on the forms to give information to.

They won't always know if they are cancerous or not just through the scope when they are still small... so they biopsy them to find out... like I said... you mom knows this and just didn't tell you that part... and you doctor didn't tell you that part of the process for whatever reason.

Most polyps are not cancerous... so their presences isn't necessarily a reason for concern...

Now about the part about YOU getting a colonoscopy... as was mentioned... with a family history, they will start it earlier than the standard 50... more like at 40 or 45, unless there have been other symptoms to raise a flag to do it earlier, like blood in the stool etc.

THey tend to cost over $2,600 and insurance companies shrug at doing them earlier without a reason... and family history of colon cancer generally IS considered a good reason.

The genetic difference between you and your cousin is enough that, while it is in your family, the chances that you inherited the same genetic propensity for colon cancer is low. The fact that your mother hasn't had a positive screen infers that the genetic defect is on the non-boood side of your cousin's parents.

I wouldn't be worried unless your doctor is worried. If you're worried that your doctor isn't worried than get a second opinion.