Bowel test

Sorry Esspee typo.

Strongly agree with Espee that men over 50 should request a psa blood test.
Some years ago a friend was diagnosed so I suggested my dh get tested too. To our total surprise he was also diagnosed with prostate cancer. Both are well now and are checked twice a year.
A simple test for anything can and does save lives. It might make some nervous but really, Just do it.

I have every test going but never feel anxious as I know that if they find anything sinister it hasn’t been around for long. That is the whole point isn’t it?

My husband, on the other hand, avoided doctors and tests. He was too much of a man for that type of thing.
His prostate cancer was too far advanced by the time they found it and he died 10 months later.

When did the men in your life last have a PSA test? It is a simple blood test, nothing more. Women go through embarrassing and uncomfortable tests regularly, all your men need to do is have a tiny amount of blood taken. Please make them go to have the test.

The new style test is so much simpler! Only one sample, not five days worth. DH and I have just had to do ours. So reassuring when you get a negative, though still waiting for DH’s.

Granmarderby10

I have a feeling that as this test is a relatively new kid on the block there is a tendency to over focus on the negative outcomes because it has been less talked about generally and people aren’t as informed about that part of our body.

It isn't a new kid, just a newer version of what used to be called an FOB in the trade - Faecal Occult Blood, which you used to have to smear a bit of pooh on a bit of cardboard which would be sent to the lab to see if there was any old blood in it which would signify a problem.

I always do the test as does DH. We'd want to know, whatever happens. Crazy not to, IMO.

Yes, my ruddy brother!!

Sorry, am going to be a bit blunt here ..... but I do know that anxiety is a horrible thing as I have it over other things.

My Dad died at age 62 with bowel cancer - no signs or symptoms whatsoever, (he was an medic so knew), and his mother had half her bowel removed in the 1950's. Therefore my brother and I have a familial chance of getting bowel cancer and I was advised by the geneticists that I had 5 yearly colonoscopies as should my brother ...... But despite having private health insurance from work, which in over 30 years he has never used, he will not even put a bit of pooh in a tube. Now I can understand a fear of doing it, but it could be far far worse if you didn't??

Colonoscopies aren't particularly pleasant, but neither is having major surgery and a Colostomy and having to deal with that on a daily basis, which I do for a reason totally unconnected to bowel cancer.

It's worth it if only to prevent it getting that bad that they do have to firstly do a colonoscopy, but then possibly have to cut half your bowel away and you may have to pooh in a bag?

Honestly - it's worth putting the pooh in a tube xx

No I don’t feel anxious I just do them and hope for the best, I know of two people that have died from bowel cancer, and three others that are living with it, I’m very grateful that I have received mine in the past, I don’t hesitate to do them

Auntieflo you can request a test, if you want one.

"Bowel cancer screening is offered every 2 years to men and women aged 60 to 74. People older than this can ask for a screening kit every 2 years by calling the free helpline on 0800 707 60 60."
www.gov.uk/guidance/bowel-cancer-screening-programme-overview

Likewise in Scotland
"In Scotland, only people aged 50 to 74 will be invited for bowel screening every 2 years.
If you’re 75 or over, you can still take a bowel screening test every 2 years. However, you’ll need to request a new test kit each time as the Scottish Bowel Screening Centre won't send you one."
www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/screening/bowel/bowel-screening

I wouldn't be afraid of the test results, but the thought of all the procedures ot might involve if I had cancer.
I'm a terrible coward.

Good advice Oldbat1 and I'm very sorry to hear about your husband.

Nana56 it's not ridiculous to feel nervous but please summon up your determination and do the test.
Most likely, all will be fine but if it isn't you have a head start on dealing with it.

Husband has bowel cancer picked up in 2013 from poo test. Since then he has had two major surgeries and two 6month cycles of chemo. Cancer has metastasised to lungs and liver and he is now on palliative care. IF it had been picked up earlier it may have been cured. More chemotherapy likely to start with the hope of buying more time but the chemotherapy is so awful he may decide not to have more. My advice DO THE POO TEST.

I always do the bowel test. I almost didn't do what would have been my last mammogram. My DDs urged me to go. I had early breast cancer.
Have the tests. They can be scary but much worse if a cancer is found too late.

I do it each time it arrives and fortunately it has always been negative. My DH won't do it, Just like he won't do the home Covid test (unless it proved absolutely necessary). Neither of us have had Covid.
I'm going to steal the attitude of an above poster
""To refuse testing for almost anything strikes me as selfish and uncaring."" and use this the next time a test arises.

The test is so much easier now. The old one was a bit of a thought over three days but this one is fine. Very happy to receive a slim envelope with negative result.
I am apprehensive about other screening tests though. Worrying more as I get older.

Maybe I'm odd but I don't feel anxious at all about the results. I'm just grateful that the tests are available, and I know that the tests would catch anything at an early stage and it would therefore be treatable.

I would be more anxious if the tests were not available and I would be thinking I could have a cancer and not be aware of it.

Two of my brothers-in-law don't do it either. They put it straight in the bin. Like I said, cancer won't happen to them so they don't need to bother. Strange attitude.

We both did the tests when they were sent.

But now, presumably because we are too old, DH is 83, I am 80, they are no longer sent out to us.

To refuse testing for almost anything strikes me as selfish and uncaring.

As I said, my husband refuses to test. Although he is generally a good husband and a wonderful father and grandfather, on this issue he is stubborn and selfish. The one and only bowel screen he did resulted in him being called in for a colonoscopy. It turned out to be polyps and they were removed. The result was that he now refuses to do the test saying he’s not going to all that rigmarole again when there’s nothing wrong. I completely disagree with him over this, but what can I do?

Additionally, my BiL (not husband’s brother, my sister’s husband) died from bowel cancer. He did the screening test, it was discovered to be cancer and so he was treated. He was told he was clear, but it returned within six months and killed him in less than a year. So my husband uses this too, saying ‘well the test didn’t help Mike did it?’

MerylStreep I totally agree with you.

DDiL's DF died of bowel cancer when he was 40 and she was 6. Others in the family have had the disease and died as well.

She and her sister had genetic screening and it looks as if, cross fingers, neither has the gene that made others in their family vulnerable to the disease, but they are both still screened every 2 years. both have now lived over a decade longer than their father.

To refuse testing for almost anything strikes me as selfish and uncaring. As for not doing it, when a disease is in the. family, because you are scared you might find out you have got it, well words fail me.

Hello Nana56 No it is not ridiculous to be anxious about doing the bowel cancer test.
The tests are targeted at the over 60s aren’t they? - because age is a risk factor.
I have blithely attended all my cervical and breast screening appointments without a thought for the outcome really and luckily so far all’s been well.
I have a feeling that as this test is a relatively new kid on the block there is a tendency to over focus on the negative outcomes because it has been less talked about generally and people aren’t as informed about that part of our body.

It is also about poo and embarrassment and getting older seems to tap into all the worries about becoming incapacitated.

So just take the test and forget about iit.
If anything shows up then you are better off knowing than not and wondering “what if”
Early diagnosis would lead to early treatment and that is the really good news
Don’t be afraid of fear or ashamed to admit your worries it’s human.
My best wishes and take it easy Nana?

Bowel and Breast cancer screenings are two of the least invasive tests for major killers. Taking the tests not only saves lives, a lot of heartache and cost of treatment.

I agree Calendar It's the 'cancer happens to other people ' attitude.

‘When ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise’.

But not in matters of our health. I think we are fortunate to be offered free bowel and breast cancer checks, and anyone who doesn’t take advantage for fear of the results is just sticking their head in the sand.

My friend's father died of bowel cancer. She won't take the tests as she is 'too scared.'