Bowel cancer screening test

Merlin5

Merlin5

Merlin5

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Joined
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Finchley, London
Seems I'm now at that age where NHS will start sending me letters to test for various diseases and illnesses. Today I received an NHS letter saying I'm on the bowel cancer screening programme and will be sent a home testing kit in 2 weeks and then I send it back to them.
This is literally poo through someone's letterbox. :eek:

Anyone done screening for this? Chances are everything will be fine but just bringing it to my attention, I can't help feeling anxious.They say most people (98 out of 100) get a normal result where nothing is found.

It does make me consider reducing red meat consumption though.
 
My dad had this from age 70?

Earlier this year it flagged up abnormal cells that were cancerous, a couple of months later he had the op and a section of bowel removed some low level chemo (that is still pretty nasty) and he's all fixed.

If he hadn't been having these screenings it would have gone undetected until it had grown too far and it would have either killed him or at best left with a colostomy bag.

So yea, I'd advise everyone go for whatever pre-emptive checks are on offer.

Since turning 40 I'm eligible for an annual check up / blood test which I do.
 
Nope never had it but please make sure you do check! I lost my grandfather 12 years ago to bowel cancer... All because the Hospital were checking for prostate cancer and overlooked it.

Please get screened
 
In Scotland we get screened every two years from the age of 50 and it used to be a right unpleasant faff with you needing to take a sample for three days, I won't go into details but there was no way to do this without wanting to throw up. But the last screening was all 21st century and very simple and clean.
Nothing to be anxious about just a precaution.
 
My old man told me about being invited to do this screening thing a few months ago. I think he said you get three swab things you have to get some poo on over the course of a week or two and then send it off.

Might seem a bit gruesome, but it's probably gotta be one of the least invasive screenings you can do, and in the comfort of your own home (if you so wish).
 
dirtychinchilla said:
I'm sorry for your loss, but he didn't die because they were looking for something else...
Click to expand...

Correct. Cancer still killed him. However he was getting treated for the wrong type.

My family would’ve been able to go to court over it, so I’ve been told, but they didn’t want to go through the stress. He lived a long happy life, that’s all we can ask for
 
My dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer when he was in his early 40s. He was operated on and has been clear ever since (30 years). As such, when I hit 40 a couple of years ago, I had a colonoscopy which thankfully came back clear. I should think I'll have these (or some sort of check) every few years.
 
Just had the new one that you get at 55 now.

The do it yourself enema was a little tricky but was fine in the end.

Then off to the hospital and the waiting was the worst, but once in the room only took a few minutes.

You can see it all on the big screen, was quite interesting and only hurt a little when they hit a bend !

Was given the all clear as nothing was found.
 
Merlin

Beat you to it mate - I posted a year or so ago I had pooed through a letter box. have done about three and I am now a dab hand at poo collecting. Hit a wrong button somewhere my font has changed ?? - I did buy my own kit once from a Uni online and it came with a little sling you tape across the pan - Since then I open up a newspaper and fold it longways then gaffa tape it in place - not to high - not to low - you don't want a whirl-nut whip building up under you. - Trust me you do get used to doing it - first time is always the worst.

Look at it like this - collect poo or have chemo
 
Condolences to those in this thread with family losses to bowel cancer.

^Indeed DXP55, you're quite right of course, option 1 is a far better choice, no question. I'll just have to faece up to it.
 
Im having a camera sent up to check the entire area soon.

They told me to organise two days off work for it o.o
Two days.... One day to poo for 4 hours non stop and one day for the procedure
 
Diagro said:
Im having a camera sent up to check the entire area soon.

They told me to organise two days off work for it o.o
Two days.... One day to poo for 4 hours non stop and one day for the procedure
Click to expand...
Prep will be the day before, 2 drinks a few hours apart, camera insertion will involve you being drugged a bit so you won't want to go to work afterwards. Drugs make you drowsy and compliant so the consultant and nurse can direct the camera.
My last one was a few years ago now and I saw the staples used to rejoin my intestine after a section was removed.
Andi.
 
tom_nieto said:
We should all be having a one off flexible sigmoidoscopy at age 55. Poo on a postcard is a bit hit and miss.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(17)30396-3/
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Ain't nobody going to fund that.

I was diagnosed with UC 7 years ago but all except my first flexi-sig have showed very little inflammation. I still have decently strong symptoms from time to time though. The 3 colonoscopies I've had since 2012 may have all been flukes and just been done at a time when I'm been in remission, but it's a bit of a mystery. But I quite like the fact that if I want a colonoscopy I basically just have to ask. So although I'm technically at higher risk of Bowel Cancer, if I do getit it'll get snuffed out pretty quick. I'm under 30 though so probably shouldn't worry about such things.
 
I did one last year when I was 60.
Poo on some toilet paper, get your lolly stick and spread a bit on the card, six times in all.
They are supposed to be coming out with an easier method.
 
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