Some services in our NHS had to be put on hold when all the resources were being diverted to fighting the pandemic. But they are now coming back, slowly but surely. One of those is the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. Because of my age, I was invited to take part, and when I agreed, they sent me a home test kit.
It is not the most pleasant thing to have to do, even though it is painless, and non-invasive. Basically, you have to poo into a container that you provide yourself. (A disposable one of course) Then you take a small stick from the plastic vial you have been sent, and rub it around your ‘deposit’ until the marked area is covered. Then it is put back into the vial, secured in its transit envelope, and posted back (free of charge) to the testing centre.
As with any test, the wait can be worrying. If they discover something amiss, it will mean a procedure where a large tube is inserted into your bowel, via your bum of course! That initial test might be followed by scans, or other procedures deemed necessary.
My result came back in the post today, after a week. I was very happy to get the all-clear, and require no more testing at the moment. They will send me another test kit in two years from now.
Such screening programmes are worth participating in. They are catching potentially fatal diseases before they have had time to take a hold on your body, and reducing the need for subsequent surgery and other therapies. And they are free too.
Yet again, I have to say we are lucky to have the NHS.
This is an important screening as colon cancer is serious and often undiagnosed. It’s a good thing that this kit is provided.
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It is indeed. Even though it stops being sent routinely at age 75, we can still request one after that age.
Best wishes, Pet.
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That is a good thing! Best to you, Pete.
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I’ve been doing the poo test for quite a few years now. I think they start at age 50 here in Scotland. I’m probably due another before long. For some reason, when I put the envelope in the letterbox the thought of all these packets of poo circulating through the postal service makes me smile 🙂 Glad you had a negative result.
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Thanks, Mary. My ‘stick’ was in a small secure bottle of liquid, so well-protected from postal accidents. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yes, you are lucky to have the NHS. Warmest regards, Theo
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When people complain about it, it makes me angry. We are lucky indeed.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Such a relief to get the all-clear.
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Yes, the waiting is the worst part.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Congrats,Pete! Wonderful news! You can honour the NHS as loud as possible.Here in Germany we are on the different way, which after the pandemic will result in a massive increasing of our monthly payments. Best wishes, Michael
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Thanks, Michael. Despite a lot of criticism here, there is nothing to equal our NHS.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thats so true.I am sure they who critizise will realize this, after the pandemic. Michael
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wonderful news, Pete! 🙂
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Thanks, Wilma. One less thing to worry about.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Good news Pete 🙂
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I like it when something works.
Cheers, Pete.
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Pleased your result was all clear, great relief. Keep safe
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Cheers, Bobby. I have yet to reply to your email mate.
Best wishes, Pete.
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You are truly fortunate…..chuq
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Always nice to have some good news, chuq.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I completely agree. By coincidence I did my test the other week. Easy-peasy and very quick results.
As you say, it shows the NHS at it’s best.
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Thanks, Ian.
Best wishes, Pete.
(My love to Janice. I hope she is doing well. x)
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She is, thanks. She’ll be 60 in 10 days.
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Julie is 60 in January. Seems young to me now! Happy brthday to Janice. She’s a lovely lady. 🙂
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Glad your results were good, Pete.
I had the camera in the colon test. The nurse placed the monitor so I could see what the camera was seeing. I declined.
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Thanks, Don. I would have declined too. I have seen enough of other people’s insides, without ever wanting to know what my own look like. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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You are so lucky to have the NHS Pete. I have so many tests I’m overdue for, but I can’t afford them without insurance.
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We do pay into it while we are working of course, but it is fantastic value for the services we receive. I honestly cannot imagine not being able to have things done without insurance, though we do have to contribute extra for dentistry and spectacles.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Well, as you know because of my stomache problems, I have had numerous tests. I had to do this one four times now, and it’s nauseating every time😔 But…I also had to take the real test with the tube inside the bowel two times now, and that’s even worse. But yes, it’s always great to get the all clear, that’s for sure😀
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Sorry to hear you had to suffer the colonoscopy, Michel. That’s what I am hoping to avoid by keeping up with these tests.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Honestly Pete, the colonoscopy wasn’t pleasant. But the worst test I ever had to take was the tube going in from the other side through your mouth. That was absolutely horrid😢
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Endoscopy. Sounds awful. I watched one being done once, and they had to eventually sedate the poor lady to get the tube down.
Sometimes, the treatment is worse than the symptoms…
Best wishes, Pete.
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It really was Pete 😔I did it without sedation, because I was told that’s the best way to do it. I wished I hadn’t. It’s hands down the worst kind of medical examination that I ever had to take, and if I ever have to do it again, you can trust me that I will do it with sedation😅
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A bronchoscopy is the very worst! They stick the tube down into your lung – then they pour water into your lung and grab bits of tumour while you feel you are drowning. I told them afterwards that waterboarding is a form of torture considered illegal by the UN. Oh, how they laughed!
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Mary, that sounds like Hell on Earth. One of my worst nightmares.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I don’t want to poo on your parade, butt instead of carefully dancing around the details in euphemistic fashion, couldn’t you have simply used a good analogy?
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I think it needs to be told like it is, David. Do a poo, wipe a stick in it. 🙂 🙂
You did well though!
Best wishes, Pete.
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In Germany that used to be a routine test when – once a year – I saw my urologist. Here in the US it has never been offered to me. I might have to ask.
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I think it is always worth knowing these things, Pit.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I agree. This year I don’t think I need such a test, though, since I had a (full) colonoscopy.
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Then you definitely do not, Pit. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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I would have to do a search for it but I do remember reading or possible listening to a podcast, that the reason this is not routine in the US is that the referral commission that is paid by the specialists that do colonoscopies is quite substantial. The true cost of private healthcare?
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That could be, Eddy.
Cheers, Pete.
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Totally agree, I did one earlier this year
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I confess waiting for the result worried me a little, but I was glad to have done it.
Best wishes, Pete.
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It is a great initiative. A couple of years back, we lost a relative to the bowel cancer. She was around 55-60 and had fought for an year. The disease robbed the family of nearly all their money and one month later, her husband, with already failing health, died of a broken heart.
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That’s very sad, Shaily. It is good to try to catch such things early.
Best wishes, Pete.
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They offer the same service here in s[ain as well, but it stops after age 70! So now I take my chances!
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It stops being automatic here at age 75, but you can still ring and request it after that age.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Agreed!! We’ve also had to do this, not fun but good to get the all clear!
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It is a big relief not to have to have the ‘tube’!
Best wishes, Pete.
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Yep, Sam and I have done these tests too and were given the all-clear. It’s good to have some kind of screening for men, even though many of them won’t want to take up the offer.
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I got a test kit two years ago, and lost it around the house somewhere. So I made sure to do it immediately this time.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Sam had to be virtually dragged kicking and screaming to do his first test, but then the second time was no problem at all. It saves on unpleasant invasive surgery for sure.
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