Can you test too much for colon cancer prevention?

Yes, it is possible to test too often for colon cancer as a preventive measure, which is usually unnecessary and sometimes even detrimental.

For the general population (people without increased risk), a stool test (iFOBT) every two years between the ages of 50 and 74 is sufficient. This is the guideline in Belgium and many other countries. Testing before age 50 and after age 74 does not improve survival rates but does increase the risk of unnecessary follow-up examinations. A colonoscopy is an examination with a camera in the bowel. It is only recommended if your stool test is positive, you have symptoms, or if you belong to a higher risk group (e.g., a strong family history, certain hereditary syndromes, previous polyps). Testing too often exposes you to several unnecessary risks. A colonoscopy is generally safe, but it remains a medical procedure. Excessive colonoscopies increase the risk of bowel perforation (very rare but serious), bleeding, and complications from sedation. Performing numerous tests without medical reasons can primarily lead to anxiety and overdiagnosis (finding problems that would never become a problem). This offers no additional health benefit. For example, if you were to perform a stool test every day, you would likely get a false positive after a month, resulting in anxiety and unnecessary follow-up tests. Testing more than recommended does not improve survival rates, but it does increase risks and unnecessarily costs healthcare money.

Source: https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/a-1328-5126

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2025-11-22 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2026