Anyone got any thoughts on the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme?
I have been offered this service and not too sure if i should go? Has anyone been and if so what was it like? ... Part of me thinks yes, do it but another part thinks, leave well alone. :/
Hi stig,
Last year I had a full colonoscopy because I was seeing sick all the time. It turned out to be a severe reaction to iron tablets that the GP had put me on.
After I got the all clear the gastroenterologist said I had a beautiful bowel!! However he did say ..." Everyone over 50 years of age should have their bowel investigated".
I guess that means ........if it's being offered and it's free....do it.
Wow!.. I bet you were chuffed at that compliment...lol 
Stig5882, if that's the home test kit NHS sends, I'll be doing it. My friend's test was abnormal and further investigation determined bowel cancer. She was diagnosed with liver cancer at the same time. Two lots of surgery and several rounds of gruelling chemo but she's cancer free now.
Clutter that is great news about your friend.
The letter I received said I have to attend hospital for the test, where they will pump some gas into me and insert a camera into the lower bowel via the rectum. 
Also I have to administer an enema myself at home before the test.... I think I shall take the test but it seems that everyone else has taken a different kind of test to the one I will be having. :/
Stig5882, you've been offered a colonoscopy. The test I referred to involves sending a faecal sample for analysis. If the sample is abnormal a colonoscopy is the next stage investigation.
I think it is more likely to be a flexible sigmoidoscopy rather than a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is a much more serious and dangerous undertaking because there are a few corners to navigate.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmo...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmo...
According to this page :
nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-can...
A colonoscopy will be done if anything abnormal is found in the first screening.
It's not painful and eoesnt last long and the relax meds they inject you with r amazing I felt the effects for days after most pain free I ve been in ages. Plus if there's owt better you know n they sort it Hun xxxx
I thought it was offered at 60 now...
my brother was sent a collection kit - just sent a stool sample off for testing...
Dad went through the mill with tests for suspected bowel cancer, so this doesn't seem too bad...imho
yeah, free testing for a complaint that's best caught early ...what's not to like?
Absolutely, take them up on this. It's free. If it's the home test kit it isn't difficult to do (my husband gets these as he's over 60). And if it could save your life by catching bowel cancer early enough then it absolutely makes sense. I don't see why anyone would refuse this?
I would go for it.
There is one thing I want to comment on though. I think the test is usually a set of three samples smeared on a card, and it is called a faecal occult blood (FOB) test.
nhs.uk/conditions/cancer-of...
The FOB test is not very reliable. I was losing blood in my poo for several years, which is why I got so terribly iron-deficient. Most of the time, you could actually see it, there was so much of it, it wasn't microscopic amounts.
I was given an FOB test - just one, not three samples - and it came back negative. I then discovered months later that there were various things that could give a false negative or a false positive. A false negative can be caused by taking vitamin C supplements, or antacids, or by the sample drying up too much before testing.
There are some suggestions for how to prepare for the test on this page :
Hi Stig, if this is the one the NHS send out and the samples on sticks, then I've done it several times now. It can save lives. Of course it is your decision whether to take part as other free screenings offered.
Hi Mabsie, it is the NHS screen but the paperwork said that I will have an enema to perform at home on the morning of the screening and I will have to attend hospital where they will basically "blow me up" with gas and then pass a camera into the lower bowel to look for polyp's. It's this bit that I'm nervous about...
I do understand it is a great opportunity to ensure my health so I think I will take it.
Thank you for your response. x
Right, my husband has had this a couple of times and it was done because he'd seen some blood on toilet paper. He was more embarrassed at the thought of it than anything but was fine and relieved after polyps were found, removed and sent for testing and found to be benign. Stig, my husband got peace of mind and to be honest so did I. No one can force or push you into having a procedure . If you do have it I hope it goes well for you. 👍
Thank you Mabsie, I think I will have the test as I know it will be of great benefit (whatever the outcome)
I am so pleased your husband was given the all clear. x
Hi stig5882, this sounds like the test a number of my work colleagues have had. It was NHS screening. Maybe other parts of the country offer different tests. I asked one of the first about it. She said it was fine. But it may also be worthwhile giving the department where you will be attending a call as she said there was no sedative but if you asked in advance then you could have it. Have they sent you the emina what's it called.
I would if it was offered. I lost a parent and grandparent to this, both died young and not a nice way to go.
My mum is one of the bowel screening nurses and she says they detect a fair amount of cancer every week, lots early, so personally I would go for it. She is very anti screening for other things so I trust her on this one!
It doesn't involve any invasive procedure, just a few samples of what "you don't need", so I don't see a reason for not doing the test.
Done it several years,no big deal.Of course the aim is to do a simple test to see if you may have bowel cancer .If positive other procedures would follow. A negative result has a chance of being false though .
I have just been on the screening and I think it is a fantastic service. It was a little uncomfortable but very quick. I had to go back because they found polyps had them all removed and tested glad I had the screening done because it could of been cancerous. So please go
Thank you juliecressey I am so glad your outcome was good. I think I will take the test as I know it is better to be safe than sorry. xx
It's an opportunity - just do it!!!
Please take the test which is a "home test" usually and only followed up if there is a concern.I have had many colonoscopy investigations for other issues and whilst not wonderful it can safe your life,
I have two friends who received vital treatment for cancer through taking the test.We cannot "leave well alone"but must try to ensure we take any offer of help available
Good luck and it's nothing to fear!
Thank you for your reassurance and I think I will take the test as I do know it is for the best. xx
I think they do just the sigmoid colon, not all of it. In my area, you can't have a proper anaesthetic unless you have someone to collect you in a car and stay with you for 24 hours after the procedure. With just gas and air it is very, very painful and not quick (they had to ask me to tell them to stop before the end as I was hyperventilating and my heart rate was too high).
If you would be fine with agreeing any treatment necessary (eg polyp removal or bowel resection), go for it. But if you are the sort of person who would go for alternative treatments, I'd give it a miss.
There are some concerns about "nasties" being passed from person to person via the equipment. The prep is not as awful as people make out, but if you are gluten free or vegan, it can be a problem. I had to live on boiled white rice ONLY for about three days (you have to eat fat-free, fibre-free, white or transparent food).
I won't go again.
Hit 60 in November, suffer with IBS and underactive Thyroid, did bowel test convinced I was not normal - but I am normal, what a relief, do it!
Did you see BBC2 programme on health 'Believe me I'm a doctor' heart health, drink olive oil 20mls or two desert spoons a day, pour it on your food, my skin feels soft, my tummy is quieter(it can be very noise at night), I feel strange - normal in fact!!! Something to this Med diet!!!
Thanks for your response and sorry I did not see the programme but I will look into this and I am so pleased you are feeling 'normal'
nhs.uk/conditions/cancer-of...
It looks as if you are being offered this. Its not a full colonoscopy. I would have no hesitation. You wont need 3 days of prep for this just an enema on the morning.
Ive had 2 colonoscopies owing to my family history and they really arent so bad.
Foreversummer
Thanks Foreversummer Yes it is the second option and although I am somewhat apprehensive I am very thankful to you and everyone else who has replied and helped reassure me that it is not as bad as I fear. :/
I will attend the screening as I know I will only worry about not getting checked out and of course I know it just may save my life.
Best regards.... Loraine x
Celiac screening
Sickness & Constant Bowel Issues!
Thyroid cancer
Long covid
Bowel shutdown
