If you go to the GP with IBS symptoms ...

[lifesized]

... which have worsened, and ask for bowel cancer screening, do they do a physical examination (NHS website suggests they would)? If so, is it just feeling tummy or more invasive?

They just felt my tummy.

I had a referral and had a testing kit sent.

Felt abdomen, PR exam, lots of tests done. All of which were normal.

What is PR Exam please?

It's usually just feeling your abdomen. They would probably order a blood test and possibly a stool sample in the first instance before anything more invasive.

@lifesized digital rectal exam

I always describe it as a diagnosis of last resort - i.e. you call it IBS when all other potential causes of the symptoms have been excluded. These include, in no particular order; coeliac disease, lactose intolerance, IBDs, diverticular disease, bowel cancer, and GI infections.

Run a mile from a GP who simply tells you to follow the low FODMAPs diet - because you need to be referred to a dietitian who has specifically been trained to support FODMAPs. It is not simply an exclusion diet; it has three phases, and it is difficult to understand if you have not been specifically trained in it.

GPs should follow the Rome IV criteria and exclude all red flag symptoms before diagnosing IBS. In my experience, very few know about the diagnostic pathway, let alone follow it.