Abstract
The aging society is rapidly growing in Japan. Nevertheless, there is no consensus in the country for age limits to screen for colorectal cancer in elderly people. We investigated-among 18 primary care physicians and six hospital endoscopists in Setagaya city-opinions on screening for colorectal cancer in elderly people. 22.2% of the physicians responded that there is a need for fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) in people over 90 years (vs. 0% in the endoscopists) and 15.4% of the physicians responded that there is a need for colonoscopy (CS) in those over 90 years (vs. 0% in the endoscopists) . Japanese people over 90 years still have a life expectancy of 4.41 years in men and 5.76 years in women (Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, 2010) . We suggest that local physicians cease to recommend CS in citizens over the age of 90 years or in adults with a life expectancy of less than 10 years, and in elderly patients who are unable to consume a gallon jug of fluid (Golytely) by themselves in preparation for the procedure. Furthermore, the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society should recommend an upper age limit on screening for colorectal cancer, such as those seen in the Guidance Statement from the American College of Physicians (2012) .
