Anyone doing the NHS Bowel Screening?

[parkie]

I first did this a couple of years ago at which time it was clear.
This year the test was 'inconclusive' and I was asked to repeat it after which I was told, by letter, that, following the results of the test, I was advised to go the my local hospital and an appointment had already been made for me.
I had a colonoscopy last week which was unsuccessful because the stuff I had to take the day before to clear my system out didn't work so I had to go through it all again today.
The process was a bit uncomfortable but the end result was I was given the 'all clear'.
I had 80 cm of my bowel removed 10 years ago so I was a bit apprehensive about what the result could be but the point of all this is to encourage anyone who finds themselves in the same position to have the test. The medical staff are great and go through every eventuality with you and I think it pays to have your mind set at rest for the sake of a bit of inconvenience.
The chances of it being cancer are quite low but if it is, the sooner it is diagnosed, the better.

[chi-chi66]

yes I have done it, last year..thankfully came back all ok.

[shaneystar2]

I've done it a couple of times now .All clear .However my husband did it ,all clear and six months later he was operated on for anal cancer .Explain that one .

[tonyav]

My aunt did it last year ( 83 years old ) everything came back ok.

[parkie]

Sorry to hear that shaneystar. There's no guarantee, I know. We can only rely on what our results are at the time and hope nothing else transpires before the next test.

[owdhamer]

I wish i had done it years ago.

[parkie]

How are you doing owdhamer?

[owdhamer]

Ok, I think parkdale,but i dont know for sure.

[Graham-W]

Did it for the first time this year. It was a piece of p!ss. Well........ not exactly, but you know what I mean. Thankfully, all clear.

[parkie]

When you think of all the advances made in the name of science and they still haven't got a known cure for cancer.
We can only hope and pray they will one day.

[guilliebrougues]

It is good to have this test done. Cannot explain about your husband shaneystar. But at least you knew that six months beforehand he was okay.so the question of how long has he had it need not apply and at least they were able to treat it. Hope he is okay now.

[sunny-dave]

Known throughout the NHS as Pooh Sticks --- but everyone should just overcome the yuk factor and do it - I have & all clear so far.

[Graham-W]

Trouble is, the cancer is part of your body, so the antibodies are reluctant to attack it because it's "normal". Attack it with chemo and the antibodies learn to protect the "normal" part of your body from the nasty drugs you want to attack them with.

[shaneystar2]

He certainly wasn't Ok when he did the test .I could see that and it was only my insistence that he went to the doctor that saved his life .
My question is why it wasn't picked up on this test .When I asked I got told he may have "slipped through the system ".Hmm.

[parkie]

I can appreciate how you feel shaneystar. Both my mother-in-law then my own mother, some years later, were misdiagnosed and they both died of bowel cancer so I've had enough personal experience of it. I just live in expectation that things are progressing somewhat and that these things will become a thing of the past before long.

[boxtops]

Good OP parkdale, everyone needs to take part in these tests, they do pick up a majority of problems (even though there are evidently exceptions).

I wish I could persuade some of my friends to go for cervical screening checks too, it's undignified but it's lifesaving.

[shaneystar2]

I do hope so parkdale .. It's an awful thing .
We've been very lucky really with the treatment he received and so far it's all clear .I'm glad I didn't rely on their test though and relied on my intuition :)

[douglas9401]

I did it last year and had a clear result back within days. Its a great idea and gives a new punchline to the old gag 'what's brown and sticky'.

[LoftyLottie]

From what I gather (I might be wrong) the test detects whether there is any blood. I haven't had it done because I suffer from IBS and diverticulitis. Have done for most of my life. Me, I'm ostrich about any tests or screenings - I have such a fear of hospitals and procedures due to previous experiences that I keep away if I can.

[parkie]

Can understand that Lottie. Personally I'd sooner know.
Anyway. Feeling a bit shattered now so it's an early night for me.
My wife and I are taking our neighbour out for her 85th birthday tomorrow. All her family are on hols in USA.
Night night.

[boxtops]

The process gives a whole new perspective to smearing poo on a window :-(