Bowel cancer screening

In the past few weeks I have twice been seen by my GP; had a check up at the asthma clinic; did my bowel screening 'poo sticks' (twice - due to an unclear result the first time); had blood taken for a full check up; had a flu injection - and today I had a pneumonia jab that also protects against a form of meningitis and septicaemia. I also take regular prescription medicines that cost me nothing. I am very, very thankful that we live in a country where screening occurs, where treatment is accessible and (mostly) affordable and where preventive medicine is taken seriously.

I attend any screening offered. It makes common sense, it doesn't cost us anything and as both parents died before they were each 53, almost essential. However, I have a friend who attends none of the screenings offered. In fact I think she is off the radar as far as screening procedures are concerned as she has never had any form of screening. When I asked her why, her reply was that they were unpleasant procedures. I explained that each one takes a very short amount of time and is infinitely better then finding out you have advance cancer that could have been prevented. Deaf ears I'm afraid. I know this is entirely her own business and I should keep my nose out. However, she knows nothing of her family history as she was brought up in care. Hopefully she will sail through her life and prove me wrong.

Ariadne

Thank you Lona but I am fine, I am just one of those worrier types, that's all.

Bet the take-up rate for that would be low...

Love it Ariadne

Hope all goes well, petallus! Let us know.

Having had breast cancer, I welcome any sort of screening!
By the way, there's a cartoon in my profile depicting a "manogram..." It's worth a look..

gilly You need to look after yourself

To take up the post made by Tegan earlier. I totally understand putting things off when you just can't cope with anything more to worry about.

I put both my mamogram and smear test off for months over a year (stupid I know) and was persuaded to go by another gransnetter, who said she would drag me there herself if I didn't go! Thank you Glass

There is so much illness and stress in my family that, stupid as it seems it sometimes seems an easier option just to ignore my own problems and hope they go away (although I know they don't). Looking back through my life I can't remember a time when I had nothing to worry about.

Apologies for changing the subject ever so slightly.

It would help if they said something like "If we would like you to take more tests you will hear very soon, if it is clear it will take longer" - which I think is the case - then the longer it takes, the more likely that it is good news.

Iam64 isn't is a sad state of affairs though, that we feel as if we have had a 'reprieve' or we are 'lucky' if a test comes back clear.

I've just had my mammogram screening, and when 2 weeks went by and I had heard nothing, it started teasing at the corners of my mind "They're double checking something they're not sure of" and other nebulous fears! Not helped by the fact that my friend and I went on the same day and she got called back for a biopsy. Anyway when the letter did come on Saturday (3 weeks after I went!), I just make myself rip it open there and then and - then I rip it into a million pieces and forget about it for another 2 years.

I really do think the whole process would be so much better if you didn't have to wait for the letter with the results in the mail. Of course if you have private medical care it is all very slick and you get the results there and then.

Tegan - that's a good point about the anxiety caused by various tests, but if we're lucky and the tests say we're ok, we breathe a sigh of relief till next time.

Have had colonoscopy several times with no sedation or anything - in the good old days it was not even offered. I had a whack of intravenous sedation for a gastroscopy and it was all fine.

As for fridge storage - I married a country GP and you just have no idea the things that got stored in our fridge next to the bacon! Somehow it was worse that it was a stranger's offering! But they were all bagged up and we seem to have survived.

Tegan - I am so sorry that mammogram's have this effect on you. Is it because you think it will hurt? - I have never regarded it as painful - uncomfortable certainly, but definitely not painful. Maybe you have hopeless operators - sorry that you have had bad experiences. Mind you, I do not have a lot to scan!!

Yes, good luck petallus. I hope there is nothing to find, but even if there is, try not to worry (easy for me to say).

I have great faith in the screening programme as I have a friend who was picked up on screening after having no symptoms at all, had a cancerous polyp removed, and got the all clear at a later date. She is still fit and healthy and not yet 60, and so she has, I hope, lots of time with her family that she would otherwise have missed.

All the best

Anno - I had one without a sedative, some years ago. I was dreading it, but honestly same as you, good to go back to work even, immediately after a cuppa

DH and I have always taken the test at the same time, coincidentally, and this year I had to repeat mine. It was a worry but thankfully it came back clear. I have Diverticular disease and IBS. My sister didn't do the test and was diagnosed with bowel cancer this time 2 years ago. She has since had a miserable time but is now clear of cancer. If she had only done the test at the time it would have saved a lot of pain, discomfort and worry. As I always say it only takes 15 minutes every two years, surely not a lot of time out of our lives which might well be saved. Good luck Petallus.

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).

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 .

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!!

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].

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

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.

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.

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.

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!