Seniors Beware! Five Health Screenings You Should Never Do After Age 70? Endoscopy and Colonoscopy Called Out — Doctor Insights and Cancer Subsidies Explained

As Taiwan faces increasingly severe demographic challenges due to low birth rates and rapid aging, public awareness of personal health continues to grow. Taiwan’s widely praised national health insurance system offers various subsidized health screening programs tailored to different age groups and populations. However, a recent social media rumor claimed that individuals over 70 should absolutely avoid five specific health checks: colonoscopy, enhanced CT (computed tomography), exercise electrocardiogram, full-body PET-CT scan, and painless gastroscopy. The claim argues that, due to declining physical function after age 70, the risks of these screenings outweigh their benefits. In response, fact-checking platform MyGoPen has released an investigative report to clarify the misinformation.

Can people over 70 undergo colonoscopies? Assessment should be based on medical history and patient condition.

The report reveals that the original online rumor stated “absolutely do not do these if over 70” and referred to them as “five health checks even doctors avoid,” suggesting that undergoing too many tests could harm health and urging people to better care for their parents’ well-being. Regarding the claim that “if polyps are found at age 75, complications won’t occur until after 85 anyway,” MyGoPen cited family medicine physician Dr. Liu Peng-chi, who explained that comparative studies on colonoscopy show individuals with a medical history face a higher near-term risk of death from colorectal cancer. For those who underwent colonoscopy at age 75, the protective effect manifests within 10 years. Conversely, those who never had a colonoscopy carry a higher long-term risk. The doctor emphasized that the claim advising seniors over 70 to avoid colonoscopy lacks clear prerequisites or conditions—simply stating they shouldn’t have the procedure is medically incorrect.

Could CT scans trigger kidney failure? Plain CT or MRI can be alternatives.

Regarding the claim that “enhanced CT requires injecting contrast agents into blood vessels, which are metabolized by the kidneys and may cause renal failure,” Dr. Liu noted that for elderly patients or those with kidney disease, physicians conduct thorough pre-examination assessments. They may opt for a “non-contrast” approach—known as “plain scan”—which is suitable for detecting high-density objects like bones or stones. For tumors or cancers, however, contrast agents are still necessary to visualize detailed structures. Clinically, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can also serve as an alternative, particularly for brain, vascular, nerve, and soft tissue evaluations, though it takes longer. The physician stressed that due to varying patient conditions and illnesses, blanket statements like “elderly people shouldn’t do CT” or “contrast agents harm kidneys” are overly simplistic and inaccurate.

Is PET-CT radiation extremely high? NHI coverage limited to nine major cancers.

Additionally, the rumor criticized PET-CT for having ten times the radiation of standard CT scans and accused premium health centers of exaggerating its benefits. Dr. Liu explained that PET (positron emission tomography) is ideal for detecting cancers prone to metastasis, though sensitivity and accuracy vary by cancer type. Patients should not assume all cancers can be detected. Notably, PET requires mandatory injection of radioactive tracers—unlike CT or MRI, where contrast agents are optional. The radioactivity in PET comes from these tracers, and clinicians evaluate both the necessity of the test and the patient’s cumulative radiation exposure from other procedures. Therefore, generalizing risks is inappropriate. The doctor added that each diagnostic method has unique advantages, limitations, and indications. In Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI), PET-CT is primarily covered for nine highly metastatic cancers:

Non-small cell lung cancer Breast cancer Lymphoma Colorectal cancer Esophageal cancer Head and neck cancers (excluding brain tumors) Melanoma Thyroid cancer Cervical cancer

Is 65 considered elderly? Criteria for hospital senior priority privileges?

The report notes that PET-CT is only covered when prior CT or MRI scans fail to provide sufficient information for staging or treatment planning. Importantly, routine follow-up scans are not reimbursed by NHI, nor can individuals freely self-finance these tests. Finally, regarding the claim that “seniors over 70 should avoid certain health checks,” Dr. Liu pointed out that while 65+ is socially defined as elderly, from a hospital perspective, eligibility for “senior priority” services typically begins at age 80 or above. The rumor’s use of “70” lacks a clear definition, and patient conditions vary widely—one person in their 60s may be frail while another in their 80s remains robust. Applying a single age cutoff oversimplifies the clinical complexity.