Bowel cancer test
Having reached 'a certain age' I have been sent a bowel cancer testing kit by the NHS. Apparantly this is standard practice.
Not wishing to be too graphic, it is necessary to provide two small poo samples (using a small scraper to put the samples onto a card each day) from each of three separate days. The sample cannot be allowed to go in the toilet water, so the 'sampling material'
has to be caught mid drop.
I'm not looking forward to this at all.......
Comments
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The test will get to the bottom of things!
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There are tips and tricks on how to make the sampling easy and straightforward, but this is not the forum for them. Let Mr Google lead you to them.
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Wimp
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Its all very straight forward. Empty and clean 900ml ice cream container (or similar) lined with tissue placed in the toilet bowl with do the trick. Enjoy!!!
David
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Having made a post in CLs last night, the first time I've been on CT since last August, I took the opportunity to check the other threads when I saw this.
What people need to know is this test isn't foolproof as my wife found out after having a letter back saying she was clear. Two weeks later she was diagnosed with bowel cancer. This was more than likely because her tumour hadn't haemorrhaged but the test
will pick up those that had. Only a fool would ignore having the test.There are signs/symptoms which can highlight that all isn't right and in my wifes case she went to the doctors, after much nagging from me, because I thought her hair was thinning. From then on it wasn't long before she had her ops and chemo and was on the
road to recovery despite still being in remission.My wifes sister has recently had to do three poo tests and because each showed positive she is having a colonoscopy on Monday.
Thankfully if caught in time bowel cancer isn't the killer that it used to be and anything unusual in ones bowel habits, weight loss etc. get it checked out.
From the time my wife was diagnosed I was with her all the time and thankfully helped her to stay positive and during the bowel and liver ops plus chemo it worked.
Again, anyone having unusual bowel habits or weight and hair loss stay positive and get it checked out and don't ignore the 'poo on a stick' test. It could be your life saver.
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Windy,first of all let me wish your OH and her Sis all the good luck in the world and they are cured of this horrible disease,I lost my eldest Sis to it last year.
Secondly it is great to have you back on the forum.......too quiet without you. 
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Having reached 'a certain age' I have been sent a bowel cancer testing kit by the NHS. Apparantly this is standard practice.
Not wishing to be too graphic, it is necessary to provide two small poo samples (using a small scraper to put the samples onto a card each day) from each of three separate days. The sample cannot be allowed to go in the toilet water, so the 'sampling material'
has to be caught mid drop.I'm not looking forward to this at all.......
Nothing to it Ian, I am glad I did it as the result neccessitated me going for a Colonoscopy where two polyps were four found and snared, they were cancerous but at the "good" end of the polyp. I have been every two years for a Colonoscopy and touch wood
everything has been clearAdmiral
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Its all very straight forward. Empty and clean 900ml ice cream container (or similar) lined with tissue placed in the toilet bowl with do the trick. Enjoy!!!
David
Write your comments here...I am grateful that I can take part, I feel it is worth while.
Similar to David, I find that collection of the required sample is easy using one of the plastic tubs similar to the ones you get with a takeaway meal, Carefully washed first and lined with paper, simple.
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Despite my light-hearted response to David Klyne last night, it is a serious move by N H S to help us Oldies ! They send out the paperwork on an age basis but have no knowledge of you and your general health just your age. I got my first one on my return from Manchester Royal Infirmary, rang the given number and having told them my circumstances , was still given the chance to take up the offer. They sent me a form again this year so you can be sure you will get a request to "Join the Club" again in a few years time !
GO FOR IT -- as Lord BW says --= It may just save your life.
Brian
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I don't like having to provide those samples, either and the two yearly interval seems to fly by these days. That said, the importance of these tests was brought home to me last year when our neighbour sent his samples in and within something like two weeks
was being operated on for bowel cancer. He's had the chemo and, fingers crosssed seems to be fine. As said above, if caught early, the chances of a full recovery from this form of cancer are now very high. The screening process is saving
lives and that little bit of 'unpleasantness' every couple of years is more than worth it.0 -
Cling film loosely placed over the toilet bowl, but not in the water, works for me. Contents tipped into the bowl afterwards and the cling film rolled up and easily disposed of.
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I cannot believe this thread ---
What's so bad about supplying a Faeces sample. It's ony poo and what's more, it's your very own.
Do none of you have dogs - Do you not pick up after them. It's just the same principle with one advantage -- on a cold frosty day, the sealed bag of warm dog poo makes a great hand warmer for at least 5 minutes.
K
And Yes, Bowel cancer can be a killer so it's to everybody's advantage to post your poo to the test centre when requested. Ignore it and you might not live to regret your inaction.
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I'm literally a few days off 60 and so waiting for the test but will certainly do it as I had a major shock a month ago just around the corner from the bowel!
Saw blood in my urine and so saw the doc, sent me to a urologist at the hospital, one endoscopy later I was told I had a cancerous tumour in the bladder. One week later I was in hospital having it removed and it was sent to Sheffield for investigation. Thankfully
it turned out to be a low grade, non aggressive variety of cancer with only a small chance of recurrance but I will be regularly checked.Was I embarrassed being prodded, poked and pulled (!) around - initially definitely but you sort of get used to it and when I got the telephone call and a letter it was a massive relief. Do the tests folks!
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We always do this test ( not nice but we do it )
also I was so pleased ( Lordy ) breakywindy posted often wondered over the mths is everything still o k with her ladyship so that was good news
Roobz
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I think it is supposed to be every two years but they seem to send the kit about every six months or perhaps it's just me. Even a week seems to be about a couple of days now.
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Introduced by Christopher Robin, IIRC.
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