Bowel Cancer Test Kits

[mikey4444]

Sorry for putting this into Chatterbank, but I wasn't sure where else to post it !

I last had a bowel cancer screening kits sent to me 2 years ago, when I was 60, and 2 years before that when I was 58. But I haven't received one recently. Does anyone know if these kits are sent out on a regular basis ?

[sandyRoe]

They are in NI. I got and returned another one just a week ago. All clear, they tell me.

[jd_1984]

Is it annually after 60?
I know my dad did one last year which led them to investigate further. A small tumour was found, fortunately it was operable without the need for chemo. An example of why early detection is so important.

[douglas9401]

Every two years still in Scotland too, Mikey. Maybe not to the day mind but roughly two years.

[mikey4444]

Well, it may come this summer, when I am 62. Enough poo talk for now, but thanks everybody !

[jd_1984]

You can obviously go and request one at anytime within the 2 years.

[mikey4444]

JD....not terribly keen but thanks !

[janbee]

I get one every two years.

[anneasquith]

maybe Body & Soul ?

[mikey4444]

Thanks annie...I will remember that next time.

[Peter Pedant]

Having HAD ca Colon boys and girls

get pooing -

early diagnosis ( wh er mine wasnt ) has a 95% survival

and so it was that at age 47 the surgeon said to me - you have a 50% chance of walking back into this room in five years ....

[retrocop]

I had two screening tests sent to me at 60yrs and 62yrs. All clear nothing to worry about. Last year went to GP's with stomach pains. Another poo test. All clear. Two weeks later a colonoscopy. I have Colon cancer detected. Had a bisection of my colon last October.Now at the Royal Marsden on Chemo. Others will give a positive recommendation of this test. I considered it useless in my case. Even the GP was shocked after all the previous tests proved negative. That is not to say any chance might not be worth taking. Take the test but it is NOT 100% reliable.

[Hypognosis]

I'm only posting this because it relates to screening and because I made a bit of a thing about care.data privacy concerns, in a thread on AB

http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/your-practice/practice-topics/it/patients-miss-out-on-bowel-cancer-screening-after-opting-out-of-caredata-claims-caldicott/20009004.article

The commenters explain the significance with far less verbeage than the article.

[Hypognosis]

I narrowly miss out on the opportunity of a test, afforded by a proposed change to the minimum age for testing, in Wales, after the plans are dropped…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-31153820

[Baldric]

I'm 63, I've never seen one.

[Peter Pedant]

O god retro that is terrible !

I splattered the lavatory bowl with pink mucus and heard my mother say clearly - " carcinoma of the rectum " -she had been dead for 20 y

and I have to say that got me ( n my ass ) to the doctor p d q .
[ and a psych consult for hearing things ]

I hope it goes OK - retro - terrible news

[retrocop]

Baldric
My three tests missed much so ,personally speaking, you probably will not of missed much either by not having one.
My wife,with nearly fourty years experience in the NHS works in the day unit of a London Hospital in the endoscopy,colonoscopy unit so can speak on this subject with some authority. She also has little faith in the Faeces sample test.
In an ideal world and with time and money available every one should have a colonoscopy available to them as a matter of course if they have concerns.It is almost proof positive.
Her NHS Trust,St Georges, have plans to do a quicker less expensive test which will be available to 55yrs and above. It is called a Flexible sigmoidoscopy and investigates the lower third of the bowel where the cancer usually starts.
This scheme has already taken off in several other trusts throughout the country and hopefully will,sooner rather than later,be available nationwide. Sadly. Those in Wales shouldn't hold their breath judging by the way the Welsh NHS is performing.

[Peter Pedant]

Thx for the article Hypog
I opted out of Caldicott and that had nothing to do with my diagnosis

the implication is that not agreeing with centralisation will give you cancer.

My ass ! Any Gp's surgery has dates of birth on it and can organise screening.

Dame fiona whatsits views are on the lines - hey we have more killer-wallpaper here boys ! ......

And of course no screening prog is perfect - not even yearly colonoscopies which I am NOT advocating. Far more are gonna be false positives ( dues to piles and so on ) than what beset Retro

[Peter Pedant]

Oh eek - retro your wife as a colonosopist will be aware of the review of regular colonoscopy in the New England Journal and the low pick up rate, which lead to a conclusion that it doesnt work.

I am not followed up on the agreed grounds that it doesnt work

[retrocop]

PP
Not so terrible. I have still got a pulse and can enjoy my daily walk to the pub and carry on pretty much as normal. The NHS in every aspect have been very caring and attentive and I have every faith in a complete recovery. Halfway through my 6 month chemo course next week. I will have a colonoscopy check done for the next 5 years.
I am approaching my three score years and ten so It does not come as a terrible blow to have cancer confirmed. I feel sorry for the little children I see in the wards with it. They haven't even seen life yet wheras I have had a very fulfilling and fortunate life so far. You just keep being positive and never let it get to you. There are far worse things I would hate to have than cancer.

[Baldric]

St Georges (Tooting?) I spent a week as a guest of theirs about 6 months ago, not cancer related though.