Bowel Screening for cancer

For the poo sticks, an idea is to use a cotton wool bud to remove a tiny bit from the toilet, before flushing, transfer this to the stick.

Sorry to read about your husband Culag

My husband participated in the trials for this test about 10 yrs ago. His results were fine. Unfortunately he died a few years later of a type of bowel cancer that could not have been detected by this proceedure. He was just bl..dy unlucky. Sorry for posting this but it niggles me sometimes.

I've done the test twice and agree it's better than a mammogram!

Yes, jinglbellsfrocks it was stressful and I think I turned to GN for a bit of support at the time.

The polyp was mentioned to me at the time of the colonoscopy and I had to wait for a couple of weeks for it to be biopsied. It seems if polyps get large enough they are likely to turn cancerous.

Eventually I got the all-clear and I am being monitored from now on. No more poo tests but another colonoscopy in a couple of years' time.

What is so scary is that when you get the dreaded letter saying the result of the second test is still abnormal, you are helpfully given statistics as follows:

Out of every 10 people, five are clear, one gets an abnormal result which is not cancerous (like polyps) and one person is diagnosed with cancer.

Thanks for your reply Iam64, both OH and myself are in our mid 70, so I think I must ask at the surgery. I think it is a very important test.

The tests start when you're 60 sara4, and arrive through the post a couple of days after the birthday cards. I did mine, as we have a family history of bowel cancer, and a very good friend has been in treatment for that for over 7 years. 3 years ago, one of her regular scans confirmed it had wandered into her liver. More chemo, more surgery, but she's 3 years clear, at 62.

I've just had my 2nd test as part of my 65th birthday celebrations (no name change for me though). I have also had kidney tests as a result of concerns on a recent (monthly) blood test. Last week, I had the mammogram screening, which frankly I find more unpleasant than the poo collection. So, I'm grateful for the monitoring.

Where do you get the tests from? I did on as a BUPA screening about 10 years ago, but haven't heard of anyone round here (east midlands) receiving any tests through the post. Perhaps I have to ask at my doctor's.

Would that polyp have been dangerous petallus? Or not? Were they able to tell you when they recalled you that that was all it was? Must have been a lot of anxiety if not.

It is a bit yukky to do the test. It's the waiting for the results I don't much like. I do tend to take advantage of tests which are offered, to be honest. They are free and it's not a hardship.This one is particularly beneficial for my husband, as both his father and brother died from bowel cancer.

I have been doing the tests for a few years.

Last one came back with an abnormal result and I had a colonoscopy (which I didn't find too bad actually but then I had been given a sedative).

Believe me, if you have had an abnormal result you are too frightened to bother about a bit of pain or the enema drinks the night before.

One polyp was found and removed.

Yes, the tests are messy and I do wonder how older people would manage on their own. You have to be quite adroit!

We have had that test here( France)and both sent the samples in, not difficult. But I read somewhere that the test isn't very reliable.
Back in the 90s I was offered a colonoscopy as part of a random survey, a much more thorough test, but very uncomfortable (without anaesthetic in those days.) Preparation included giving yourself an enema.
Evidently not many people took up the offer!
Husband's grandfather died from bowel cancer and he has had a few colonoscopy tests. Worst part is the stuff he has to prepare and drink the night before.
We don't find the poo test difficult, TG.

It is like some people's fear of making a will, they are afraid that if they do it, they will have it and if they do not they won't. Plus, I think, a false prudishness about getting involved with defecation because it is something you never talk about and do not like to admit you do!!

DDiL's fathered died of bowel cancer when she was only 5. It runs in her family and she and her sister have regular screenings.

My DF regularly attended a Well Man clinic so his bladder cancer was picked up very early and as a result he continued to live a normal life for many years afterwards. My reaction to all such tests is do it and relax. The sooner any health problem is picked up the easier it is to resolve.

I've mentioned before that my brother was most put out that his wife would let him put his in the fridge - well it did say keep it cool!

The first test I received came just before Christmas and in all the preparations, I lost it. Probably thrown out accidentally. Last years test I completed and went to work after posting the samples. I had great pleasure in telling everyonecat work that I had just done something I'd never done before, posted my poo

I do it. I do all of the required tests. I am always apprehensive when I see the envelope with the results but so far so good.

We were lucky enough to be living in Tayside years ago, where the initial screening trial began for over 50's which was another stroke of luck. First screen for my husband came back clear. Two years later, the second came back clear. Two years after that, the third was positive for blood. His bowel cancer was caught at such an early stage that taking out a section of bowel and rejoining the remainder was all he needed. That was in 2007. Touch wood, he should have his final follow up colonoscopy next year and if that is still clear, he will be "signed off". So please take the test, every time!

Same here; got a couple of holidays coming up and scared of getting a false positive reading which will ruin my holiday, but will do it as soon as I get back. I did do one a few years ago when I had IBS.

Ashamedly I didn't do mine when it came last year as I had a small bleeding haemorrhoid (a legacy of childbirth) I will do it this year though as I felt very bad for not doing it.

I think squeamishness is.probably the reason. Also following instructions on test. Many people who have had strokes for example have reduced literacy and struggle with such things. A friend had to lurk outside the loo shouting instructions to husband with impaired reading. My OH has very little reading, so had to give him a tutorial first. You do need to be close for this
But I agree it is very important and should not be avoided.