Bowel screening letter

Do any test you are offered, this is my view- because we are lucky we can have them, especially with the state of the NHS.My hubby has been invited a few times for bowel screening (camera & turned them down each time) I think hes nuts - although he has recently done the poo sample test

harrigran

I am another that had a negative poo test just a couple of months before being diagnosed with bowel cancer. If you are not bleeding at the time of test it will have a negative result.
I wonder why they can't do a blood test every few years to pick up on markers, surely can't be any more expensive than all the kits and postage and lab work.

'Every few years means more would be missed, found too late. It would be much more expensive to have to attend somewhere to get bloods taken, fewer people would bother, the markers aren't reliable as they show increases for reasons like pregnancy, smoking etc. Then if there was a marker there'd be further tests before identifying where in the body a cancer may or may not be.

HattieTopper
Your relative probably knew there was a problem but didn’t want to acknowledge it. My mother and sister had bowel cancer, mother lived with stoma for 30yrs, sadly my beautiful eldest sister died of bowel cancer, I and siblings had to have screening which is so important. Never ignore signs, bowel cancer is treatable if detected early. Postal ‘Poo’ tests are so so important, please do them! Xx

You would be a fool not to take the invitation, it could save your life and at the same time save the NHS money treating you in the future, what's the matter with you?

My dh was told he had piles by the GP it is only because of such tests that his bowel cancer was discovered! He has now been on treatment since 2013 receiving major surgeries but is incurable Stage4. They can no longer operate as it is in bowel lungs and liver but a gruelling chemotherapy regime is keeping the cancer cells spreading too quickly.

agree, happens to me every two years total waste. You should at least be able to opt for texts

I am another that had a negative poo test just a couple of months before being diagnosed with bowel cancer. If you are not bleeding at the time of test it will have a negative result.
I wonder why they can't do a blood test every few years to pick up on markers, surely can't be any more expensive than all the kits and postage and lab work.

It is up to people to decide if they take the test or not. The NHS offers the choice. Sending out is part of preventive medecine and saves on expensive treatment at a later date. Statistics presumably show that once over the age of 74 the percentage of money saving returns is lower. Over a certain age we are no longer offered smear tests for cervical cancer. The NHS has to judge how best to spend its (our) money.

I guess it is so that you are looking out for the kit, and you can look at what it involves before you get it, also if for whatever reason it doesn't turn up you can chase it up
I do it, even if it doesn't catch every possible cancer, I do have every test going for ecerything. One showed up a concern , fortunately it wasn't malignant but it couldmhave been. I've had other things picked up ok tests. The bowel.one is at least not invasive

I take any test offered! The breast screening programme saved my mother’s life! And mine.

DaisyL

I had one a couple of years ago and they told me they were going to request another one after three years. Not sure if I will do it as I am over 80 but if I do I will make sure to ask for pain relief - last time it was extremely uncomfortable. I was all clear last time although they removed a polyp and sent it off for a biopsy. It may not be perfect but it does save lives.

Sounds like you had a colonoscopy. A camera up your rectum and usually goes right round to your appendix.

The test this thread is about is what I Call Poo in a Box test. They write to you first to say you are eligible then they send a box with instructions and you just put a very small sample in and it is tested. Results are very quick and come in the post.

I used to do the test until the last one when I was 75. I hadn't realised you could request further tests.
I'm glad a reminder is sent beforehand. M0nica makes the point very well, as ususal.

I think the letter is sent in case people are upset or shocked when the test pack just drops on their doorstep without any warning.

No comment!

www.everlywell.com/products/ for usa
insuers pay many

given staring 45yrs not75 to late for many
if younger can pay them their selves

I have to request one now as I’m past 75.

please take the test, i did not, i ended up very ill and then they discovered i had bowel cancer, doctor words when i said i dont want an operation (i was scared), okay....your choice....you have about 6 months left, i took the operation but ended up with only half my bowel because of the size of the tumor, it has left me with serious toilet problems and needing to take a lot of loperamide... but i am still here and that is so worth it when my son or grandson gives me a cuddle. so before you think of it as a waste of nhs money, please think of the cost of thousands of people dying.

The first letter is to 'prime' you mentally. It gives people a chance to do some information -gathering about it.

" Do you know they just sent this out without any warning - will I now get Cancer if I don't return it ? " etc etc

They can't do ever right in some people's eyes.

We’ve had these tests for a few years now, and will continue to ask for them to be sent, now that we are both 77. It is reassuring to be told that it is clear, but do not neglect any symptoms that might occur. Hoping your husband’s treatment goes as smoothly as possible NannyMags. 💐

My Dad had bowel cancer, which he thankfully recovered from. I was called for a colonoscopy following a routine screening test, they found a polyp which was graded as having a ‘high’ chance of turning cancerous. I was checked for 3 years and then discharged back to routine screening. I cannot understand why anyone would not participate in the screening programme, I understand it isnt 100% but it doesn’t even involve a trip to a surgery. I am very grateful for the screening programme

Apart from improving uptake, could it be that the letter is sent out from a different place than the kits. Our letters come from the local North Wales health trust, but the kits come from Cardiff or Swansea "down south".

Thank you. We are 10 minutes from the Viking Unit, chemo ward. He is coping well so far, some side effects and he is very irritated by the stoma bag but other than that he is coping better than expected.

NannyMags Hope the chemo goes ok & there's not too far to travel for it. Good luck for a really good recovery from this.

Fridayschild That's such good news. It's nice to here of succesful operations, thank you for sharing it.

HattieTopper

Puzzlelove

Not sure whether to post this here or under health but here goes.

Can anyone enlighten me as to why a letter is sent out to tell us that we are being invited for bowel screening and that the kit will be sent out shortly? Seems like another waste of NHS money. Surely the letter could be sent out with the kit.

My brother in law did the test every single year from the tests being started and he was always given the all clear. Two weeks after receiving the all clear once again, he was rushed into hospital with terminal bowel cancer and died.

I would not touch these tests with a barge pole.

I’m not really sure why you feel this really sad occurence would make you say you wouldn’t touch the tests with a barge pole. That sounds as if you are strongly against them, even though they do often lead to detection before symptoms appear, meaning much more chance of a cure.

If you are talking about the FIT Tests, my husband has always done his, he got negative again in July by December he was passing blood in his stool’s it is cancer. Colonoscopy confirmed this. He has undergone a 6 1/2 hour bowel surgery to remove part of his bowel and is now receiving chemotherapy. They only pick up cancer if it is bleeding.