All persons over 50 years in the UK

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 15:41

In the UK in the next couple of weeks all persons over the age of 50yrs will be tested for bowel cancer.



They will be sent through the post a card which they have to attach a stool sample and then return in the envelope provided. My friend recieved her's this morning. She is not looking forward to it but will do it.



Be interesting to see how many do this.



And even more interesting to see how this is going to work because of the forthcoming postal strikes!!!

sporty


Joined: 06/12/2007
Posts: 685

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 15:45

at least nobody will run off with the post!

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 15:49

Wonder if they will send them out to the ex-pats here in NC and how many would get here and more importantly how many would get back!

boglefan



Joined: 07/06/2009
Posts: 511

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 15:50

As far as I know a pilot scheme in a few areas to start with. Lanarkshire Health Board is one.

wanderer


Joined: 05/02/2009
Posts: 1653

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 15:51

I did it last year no hassle clear result but the details are not fun

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 15:52

Had ours done 6 months ago, a good idea, my Brother died with bowel cancer so I jumped at the chance to be tested.

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 15:56

Nurseawful ..you did say in the UK,so I think ex-pats in TRNC will be excluded.I would also think there will be a terrific smell in some of the sorting offices if the samples get held up for any length of time..You can just see the expressions on their faces.." Charlie is that you ".. "No,its you" Love to be a fly on the wall...

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 15:59

Chris thanks for the info, what a wonderful idea, so not very pleasant but if it saves lives its well worth it.

I hope people are not stupid enough to ignore it

Sheila

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 16:08

Woodspeckie,

I am so sorry to hear about your brother. Bowel Cancer is awful and the terrible thing is that it can be cured if caught early enough. Too many people ignore the symptoms until it is too late.

It is good to hear that the NHS are bringing this to the public eye with what they are doing.

As Boglefan says it is just a pilot scheme with a few health boards at the moment hopefully all others will follow suit.

sloan



Joined: 24/02/2009
Posts: 808

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 16:09

Husband's arrived this morning ... but none for me!

Woodspeckie


Joined: 25/01/2009
Posts: 2263

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 16:15

Coachie. Or a fly on the sh..?

boglefan



Joined: 07/06/2009
Posts: 511

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 16:18

They are sent out after your next birthday, whether it is 50yrs or 58yrs etc.

harita


Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 1343

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 17:47

Don't worry about us coachie .. Can get any tests done here & a lot quicker than in the UK ..

ROBnJO


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 1289

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 17:59

nurseawful



Got mine a month ago, obviously priority for the over 60's!



What fun!



Basically it's 'grown-ups' Pooh Sticks!



Trouble is you run out of hands while bending over the loo!



One for the tissue,.. one for the 'Pooh-Stick', one for the Card,... Oh and a fourth clean one for the flush or basin!



Actually all went well. sent off my card and got the all clear within 5 days!





Next please!!

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 20:51

ROBnJO

Can you please for the people that do not know how simple this is give us a detailed example how to do it, obviously with minimal effort!

Glad you both got the all clear.

Chris

Snaefell



Joined: 07/06/2009
Posts: 266

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 20:55

Hope the samples don't get shelved in the postal strike if it goes ahead. I pity the person who has to open them!

exnavalperson


Joined: 22/07/2009
Posts: 224

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 21:02

This thread is the biggest load of sh+t I have ever seen

Turtle


Joined: 28/05/2007
Posts: 2669

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 21:09

Not more s**t in the post !!

ROBnJO


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 1289

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 21:14

Chris



Joking apart, I had a neighbour, a truly lovely man, who was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer about 8 years ago. He died within 6 months.



This was before these home tests were available.



They really are easy to use, follow the instructions and they really are not messy or invasive. My wife and I had a few laughs about them!





What cost the all clear?



Or if not all clear, it is a window that could make the difference between an early death or early indications for suitable and effective treatment.



My neighbours widow still wishes he could have had the availability of these tests years ago.



He might have been alive today.







Rob

ROBnJO


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 1289

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 21:18

snaefell, exnavalperson & Turtle



A short and very painful death may be a subject for humour for some,.....

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 21:36

I haven't received anything yet!

exnavalperson


Joined: 22/07/2009
Posts: 224

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 21:53

RobnJo



What makes you think my post was humerous?

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 22:52

In all fairness we all make a joke in cases like this, but sometimes it takes a joke to get over to people the seriousness of something like bowel cancer.

So I am sure that when someone comes up with a shi..ty joke they mean no offence and if it makes just one of us remember that a worrying change in bowel habits needs investigated. Good on them keep the jokes coming.

Chris

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 23:23

harita..then you have nothing to worry about do you!!!

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 23:29

I think its great that the ministry of health now regonize this awful disease and are taking these steps. I for one wish they could have been taken sooner after losing mother father mother and father in law and baby sister and younger brother. From our own basic natural fuction other than waiting for scans etc. We should be proud of this initative.

harita


Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 1343

Message Posted:
12/10/2009 23:47

Spot on coachie

Turtle


Joined: 28/05/2007
Posts: 2669

Message Posted:
13/10/2009 00:29

Rob, Msg20



I watched my best mate and brother in law die of cancer 3 years ago aged 48

I watched his wife (my sister) devastated and his 2 young sons absolutely destroyed by his suffering, this man was a diamond one of the best and is sadly missed and all the family think of him everyday.



I make no apology for my comments Rob, but I do hope you can understand my take on this terrible terrible desease.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
13/10/2009 00:50

My lovely Turt Im so very sorry for your loss My love to you all xxxxxxxx

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
13/10/2009 01:00

Turtle,

And anyone else that has lost someone to bowel cancer, my heart goes out to you and just sometimes I may offend by making jokes but the whole purpose of starting this thread was to raise awareness as to bowel cancer.

It is Curable if caught early enough so don't ignore any change in bowel habits, even if you feel foolish going to your GP and saying I have diarrhoea on a Monday and Thursday every week and am constipated all other days. Make him / her listen it could save a life. Your life.

Again I apologise to you all if my comments sound glib but it is for the purpose of making you all listen, not for my sake but for yours.

Chris

Jeannie


Joined: 04/08/2009
Posts: 3283

Message Posted:
13/10/2009 01:26

Chris - message 29.



I, for one, do not find your comments glib at all. As you may know, I work as a medical secretary for a GP practice and, to be honest, if we didn't laugh at things, we'd send ourselves mad. With regard to some patients, a little knowlege is a dangerous thing and the Internet has a lot to answer for! Having said that, I think this initiative for diagnosing bowel cancer is absolutely marvellous and, please God, in the future, they will bring in such simple tests for early diagnosis of other cancers. We've all seen the positive results that have come from mammograms and smear tests - the earlier the diagnosis, the better chance of survival.



To all who have the chance of partaking in this simple test - please DO IT.



j

ROBnJO


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 1289

Message Posted:
13/10/2009 11:07

Morning all!



Firstly my apologies for being grouchy about the humour yesterday.



I'm nursing a slipped disc and haven't been out of the house for 4 weeks and going stir crazy!

Yesterday I ran out of pain killers, but thankfully my wife came home with 2 nice bottles of Merlot!



PLEASE! PLEASE! Do use the test if you get it! It really is easy and the instructions are excellent.



It's a small card with 3 lift up sealable flaps, each with 2 small 'windows' for the small samples needed, just a smear of poo is needed, not large lumps.



There is a 'pop-out' card of 6 'poo sticks' You need to smear 2 samples in each window and re-seal them. the 3 flaps are for samples from 3 poo's, they don't have to be on consecutive days, can be over a 14 day period, it's up to you.



Pop the card back in the prepaid mailer.





Simples!



Rob





p.s. Now where's the 'Back Pain' topic??

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
13/10/2009 13:50

Dear RobnJo



>>I'm nursing a slipped disc and haven't been out of the house for 4 weeks and going stir crazy! <<



Ah.. I DID wonder .. you have my sympathies.. honest ;)

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
13/10/2009 13:54

I'd also urge every male over 50 to ask his GP for a PSA blood test to check for prostrate cancer.

eljay


Joined: 15/07/2009
Posts: 21

Message Posted:
13/10/2009 16:28

My wife and I both received our test last month here in Scotland. Quite easy intructions to follow and results posted back in less than two weeks. Great get it done.

.

Maz


Joined: 29/03/2009
Posts: 1924

Message Posted:
13/10/2009 16:45

At first I looked at my calendar to check it is not the 1st April! Seriously, surely one has a little jar or some such in which to place the substance to be tested!

I would swelcome the chance to be tested, as owuld many others with a historyof cancer in the family, but I rejoice in the fact that I am not a postal worker.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
13/10/2009 17:38

Sorry to come in late on this but are you sure the bowel screening is for the over 50's. I understood it to be over 60's? Apologies if I'm wrong.

ROBnJO


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 1289

Message Posted:
13/10/2009 18:22

Bill



I believe the current scheme is for over 60's but over 50's are to be included soon, if not already!



Don't worry! You'll get your game of 'Poo-sticks' soon!



If you haven't been sent info yet, try googling to find if your in the right age group.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
13/10/2009 18:56

I'm in the right group Rob, but they haven't written to

me yet.

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
13/10/2009 20:33

I expect the Queen has had her results and yep its official hers don't stink!

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
13/10/2009 20:40

I understand Philip took a swab of his mouth. )

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
13/10/2009 20:50

Message 36

Once again the post code lottery some trusts are piloting this for the over 50's some for the over 60's. Lanarkshire in Scotland is the over 50's