Do You Breathe In And Out? Do You Consume Food? Do You Blink? Do You Wear Clothes And Footwear?

[10ClarionSt]

Then you might have cancer. It might be nothing, but pop along to your doctor for a check up. He/she will be a-b-s-o-l-u-t-e-l-y d-e-l-i-g-h-t-e-d to see you, along with thousands of others who have been frightened by another scaremongering ad from the govt.

[B00]

lol, this in relation to the "have you coughed for 3 weeks or more?" TV advert?

[boxtops]

What scaremongering, Clarion? I've seen adverts for breast cancer (sensible), ovarian cancer (sensible), testicular cancer (sensible) - nothing scaremongering. Which particular advert are you talking about?

[boxtops]

If it's that one, B00, that campaign's been running for months, and quite right too.

[RATTER15]

So we should ignore such symptoms?

[RATTER15]

Maybe just hope its not cancer and see if it goes away shall we?

[boxtops]

... and since 1 in 4 of us WILL get cancer of some sort, it's only sensible to know what to look for and to check your body, since early diagnosis is vital to survival in many cancers.

That reminds me - I have a poo test to do and send back to the Screening people, I can do it in peace now that our workmen have departed. I wouldn't dream of not participating in screening programmes - would you?

[RATTER15]

But people don't know that, they aren't Doctors!

[boxtops]

Clarion, I suspect that's an exaggeration, but it illustrates well why we should all look at the NHS chart and know when to go to the chemist, when to go to the GP, when to go to A&E, etc. The worried well all add substantially to the GPs' already stretched workloads.

[twofeathers]

I thought that was the point of the Ad. Most people probably do ignore it and then its to late. So annoy me all you like advert. Perhaps i will go get that little niggle sorted out.

[boxtops]

...and that GP who told you that must have evidence of that - but you wouldn't know that you could have bought something in Boots unless you'd had it checked out first. I would hate anyone to die of lung cancer because they'd been self-dosing with cough mixture after having a cough for a month.

[RATTER15]

The run up to my Colonoscopy turned out to be quite entertaining for many on AB if I remember correctly.

I had a few warning signs, I was thoroughly checked over and now I can sleep easy. I dont see a problem with it.

[Sqad]

10Clarion....you do indeed have a point.

The question is, can the NHS cope with all the people that follow the adverts and the answer in my opinion is....NO.

The GP is in a "spot".....he really should refer all the above cases mentioned to the hospitals for investigation.

But......could the hospital service cope?.............NO!

From GP to start of cancer treatment may be as long as 3 months, which makes nonsense of the adverts.

But.......it makes good Politics.

[boxtops]

Since the RCGP was on the radio this morning, sqad, saying that the GP practice community is on the verge of meltdown, I can't help but agree with you. More worried well calling in at the surgery would further overload the system.

However - a friend of mine was diagnosed with Ca Breast four weeks ago, following routine screening, and has already been operated on. The 18-day target for referral can work!

[tiggerblue10]

There is nothing wrong with making people aware of things. They make you think twice and could eventually save someones life.

[tiggerblue10]

*Eventually* - should have said *potentially* there.

[askyourgran]

Quite a lot of people are afraid to face the truth, and put off going to see their GP, sometimes leaving it too late to cure. These timely warnings on TV are just to remind you that help is there and it's better to go to your GP than hope it will go away.