My vote would fall with Deb's. Even though my grandfather had colon surgery at about that same age and it was very successful (he lived to 94), most 87 yr olds aren't especially great surgical candidates for radical surgery. The colon wall is thinner, more easily ruptured by the instrument during the procedure. As said, if it's only a routine search for polyps, I don't think the risk/benefit ratio is real good.