An 88-year-old woman informs you that it has been over 10 years since her last colonoscopy (which was negative), and it is time for another. She reminds you that she has always kept up with all her health screening, and she wants you, as her primary care physician, to refer her to ""a good gastroenterologist to make sure [she does not] have any colon cancer"". You review her history, and you note that she has been in generally good health. She has had no weight loss, no change in her bowel habits, and no dark stool or rectal bleeding. There is no family history of colon cancer. She is eating well and continues to remain active, although slowed down a bit due to arthritis. She takes acetaminophen, an occasional ibuprofen, a multivitamin, and olmesartan/hydrochlorothiazide for her high blood pressure.
Based on the most recent recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force, what should you tell your patient?
A) Fecal occult testing is adequate for colon cancer screening given her negative history.
B) CT colonography would be preferable due to the risks of colonoscopy at her age.
C) Colonoscopy should be done, but she should be aware of the increased risks of the procedure in patients over age 70.
D) Screening for colon cancer in asymptomatic patients over age 85 is not recommended because the risks outweigh the benefits.
E) Flexible sigmoidoscopy with fecal DNA testing would be the best screening method for her.
