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Bowel screening tests missing cancer

11 replies

Kaylasmum49 · 07/12/2016 17:07

Hi, I suffer from horrendous health anxiety and have just turned 50 so am expecting my bowel screening kit very soon. I've been reading on forums about the test and have read so many posts of people that had negative fobt's but have gone on to be diagnosed with bowel cancer. This is terrifying the life out of me, to think that I could dutifully hand in my test every 2 years and still end up with bowel cancer, which is one of my biggest fears and obsessions.

Can anyone help me rationalise please, my anxiety is so high at the moment.

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OohhThatsMe · 07/12/2016 17:11

Are we supposed to be sent these tests?

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Kaylasmum49 · 07/12/2016 17:13

Every two years when you turn 50 in Scotland, it's 60 in England for some reason. How old are you?

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EngTech · 07/12/2016 17:15

Over 50, one comes through the post automatically

My approach is if I still had concerns, would chat to my doctor but would also read up of symptoms etc.

Knowledge is key, if in doubt, ask the doctor

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Maverickismywingman · 07/12/2016 17:16

about-cancer.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bowel-cancer/symptoms

Link about symptoms above.

Keep an eye in between screens, that would be the best thing I could say, because of the time in between. The screening is for early detection, but early detection is also knowing what's normal for you and what differences to watch for.

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Kaylasmum49 · 07/12/2016 17:46

The thing is though these people obviously weren't having any symptoms at first so all the time they were having negative results they had cancer growing. Maybe routine colonoscopies are the answer, they do that in America from 50 year old.

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NanTheWiser · 07/12/2016 18:25

Well, I'm sure our collapsing NHS could find the money to offer colonoscopies to all over-50s... Not.

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Maverickismywingman · 07/12/2016 21:38

But how do you know they didn't have symptoms? They maybe said "I had no symptoms" but
Part of the omission of symptoms is 1) people don't know what the symptoms are
2) they don't know what is "normal" for them.

Having said that - I'm sure you can get almost any test privately. But remember the test is only really valid at the time it's taken, not any time after that.

But I DO think that maybe you should seek treatment for your health anxiety. Just my two cents.

No one here is going to say 100% what you want them to say. Sorry

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Footle · 07/12/2016 22:24

We call the tests Poo-sticks in our house.

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Follyfoot · 07/12/2016 22:27

Well, I'm sure our collapsing NHS could find the money to offer colonoscopies to all over-50s... Not.

The NHS is rolling out a bowel scope screening programme to all 55 year olds.

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WantToRunAgain · 07/12/2016 22:28

My FIL has recently had successful treatment for bowel cancer picked up through screening - he had literally no symptoms at all.

Definitely worth doing it but being observant of any symptoms too.

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Kaylasmum49 · 07/12/2016 22:44

Maverick, I don't understand your last comment, I just want people's opinions on the subject.

WantToRunAgain, was it through the fobt that your fil's cancer picked up? How old is he?