Bowel cancer screening

Lovely post Pollaidh and glad to hear such a positive story.

Quite right - well said! OH and I have been "playing poo sticks" recently! We are lucky to have this available to us.

Indeed, Pollaidh. I received my first bowel screening kit a year before my husband did - pure chance. Sent it off, result came back clear. A year later he got his. He had been feeling a bit wabbit, but hey! getting older. His result came back - "Please get further tests" He did so and a large tumour was found and removed. Had it been found earlier, it might not have spread, as later proved, to his liver and lungs.

These tests are free, useful, and not much bother to do. Please take your chance to be tested.

I think once people start talking about what is/was once a taboo subject then we can talk about things more freely...I think it is the privacy of such things that, when the time comes we are embarrassed mentioning the word.poo! feaces! breast! cervix etc etc if we say these words often enough they become common to our vocabulary and we may use them more freely...... many many yrs ago mentioning the word "breast" "prostrate" etc was not heard of other than when you went to the docs/hospital etc .and even then and now just mentioning the words can be embarrassing (not on GN of course lol) as we are all open and above lol) once you have talked about it becomes easier to mention these words...my DD have trouble with IBS in fact we all do. and has had various treatments for it.so "Bowels" is just another word to me... we must all carry on looking after our bodies and when the tests are there we must take the opportunity to use them, as with the above posts! that little test with a little stick and piece of card looks like it could have proved a lifesaver good health everyone

As it happens I've just had an abnormal result and will have a colonoscopy on Tuesday.

They say that many of the "abnormal results" are settled by a second scan, or an ultrasound, Petallus so don't get too worried. (easier said than done)

I had a first 'unclear' result and the repeat test was 'abnormal'. Helpfully, the fact sheet tells me I now have a one in ten chance of having cancer.

I have had symptoms for some months and saw my GP in September but she did not test for bowel cancer. Luckily the screening prog came up by coincidence.

I would urge anyone who is eligible for the test to have it.

Also seems you can buy a kit and test yourself for a small sum.

DH has done this and had the all clear. I haven't been sent one yet, is it an over 60 thing in England ? I see the o.p is in Scotland as says over 50. I'm well over that.

My brother had positive tests and went for colonoscopy. All clear. They think he had been eating black pudding prior to the test - yuk! I would not be surprised if I am asked to repeat the test as I have piles and these can muddy the waters, so to speak!

My first poo sticks are due next year, DH had his in 2012 and all was well. I check my poo daily and I know that sounds gross but you do get to know what is normal for you.

petallus I hope all goes well for you ((hugs))

Postman has just brought my result and all is well.

Good luck Petallus.

I did my 2nd test not so long ago and OH did his first this year, both thankfully clear...

petallus hope you get a good result ..

I sent mine off about 3 years ago and the result was unclear as was the second specimen. I had a colonoscopy- did not need any sedation, there was a small polyp which was removed. The result was normal and I was so relieved that I had done it as it could easily have gone the other way.

Received a letter just this morning asking me to repeat the test. Hopefully all will be well, but if not then I feel fortunate to be able to catch problems early through access to screening programmes such as this.

I've done 3 of these so far and all have been clear.
Can I also make a plea for breast cancer screening. I know of people who have said they are not going because it is very uncomfortable. It seems they cannot imagine how uncomfortable the alternative could be. A friend has just had a recall from her latest screening and goes for the results on Tuesday. It is thought it might be cysts but there again it might not but will at least it will have been found early.
Best wishes to anyone waiting for results of tests of any description.

Heavens above - I cannot imagine anyone refusing a free mammogram with its potential to save your life just because it is a bit uncomfortable. There are people on here who endure far worse pain all day every day (and night!). My SIL would say "Just man up!" - so perhaps it is "Just woman up!"

Sorry to be so blunt, but really - 5 minutes discomfort against the misery of treatment for advanced breast cancer - no contest!

Mishap I could not agree more. I do not understand these folk who bury their heads in the sand. A colonoscopy is just slight discomfort and a breast screen even less so.

Best wishes Petallus. I hope all goes well.

Coincidentally DH and I have recently been playing poo sticks (we us the same phrase Mishap). I have just had the all-clear letter. DH will do his when we get back home. Stomach cancer runs in DDiL's family and left her fatherless at the age of 5.

I am also part of a trial cohort who will have breast cancer screening into their 70s. Once again; better safe than sorry.

Back in the 90s I was offered a colonoscopy as part of a sampled screening.
I took up the offer. It was done without anaesthetic, following an enema at home to clear me out - not nice! I was ok, TG.
I think they always give anaesthetic now.
Husband (?DH) has had the full works a few times as his grandfather died of bowel cancer. Really worth having done.
As is breast screening. I'm in my 70s and still have 2 yearly mammograms.

I don't know whether I've ever accounted this story on GN - it's not re a colonoscopy, it's about the other end - an endoscopy (I had the helicobacter pylori virus). In my usual impatient manner, I decided I wasn't going to hang around all day in the ward recovering from the anesthesia, so I told the doc I was happy to go with mild sedation only, I'd take my medicine straight so to speak. Bit of a show off I am too, given the opportunity. He was suitably impressed, and asked whether I would mind if a group of students watched.

WELL! There I was in the theatre, nice and mellow from the Valium or whatever they had given me, but wide awake, mouthpiece in place (so I couldn't speak), when I saw the doctor grab what looked like the longest hose pipe ever and sort of loop it, double it up repeatedly and before I could sit up and take the mouth piece out to say I'd changed my mind, down went the front end (I had to swallow it too). Suffice to say I felt every probe and movement (but not painful) and at one stage it felt like it was about to come out the other end. Not very pleasant when it is pulled out either. How I got through it, I have no idea.

BUT it didn't stop me from swaggering past all the other groggy, vomiting patients in the ward on my way out, a couple of hours later.

Never again! Not even with all the praise I got afterwards from the doc when he was explaining things to the students

I am putting off a mammogram. I got my letter after a lovely day out a few weeks ago but realised I couldn't go on the date arranged so I cancelled it. Must point out that I am going to go in the New Year. This is the first Christmas I can remember when I haven't either been working long hours or worrying about something and I just want to enjoy the run up to Christmas. I know what I'm like when I have it done; worrying sick every time I hear the post arrive and shaking when I open the letter. I know it's cowardly of me and I'm definately going in January [also doing the bowel cancer screening test and will probably have a well woman check at the doctors]. I'm just putting it off for a few weeks . And I am going to have the tests done for as long as they'll let me [and pay for them if they won't].

DH had a colonoscopy 'straight' having been persuaded by the nurse that 'there was nothing to it!'.

We call it poo sticks too - doesn't everyone?

I've recounted before that my brother was really confused by his wife's decision that his poo sticks should not be stored in the fridge. The funny thing was that he was confused by why not!!

Grannyknot, I've had the same thing - twice - but the medics who did it were so good that I didn't even have the sedative. I was good to go as soon as I'd had a .

anno respect.

kitty yikes!

I discovered that DH was tucking/storing his 'kit' on the ledge above the loo door by neighbour's five year old pointing and asking me "What's that?" Told husband off of course and he didn't see what the problem was, said they needed to be where he could see them and be reminded (I'm a lot shorter than he is).