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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think these people are being reckless with their health?

102 replies

Kaylasmum49 · 12/12/2017 09:43

After a conversation at work about bowel screening i'm shocked at the amount of people who don't participate in this. Also there are some that don't have any of the screening tests that are offered.

Aibu to think that they are being reckless and even quite selfish, especially if there are children to consider?

OP posts:

SD1978 · 12/12/2017 09:45

Lots of things about health could be seen as irresponsible, eating junk food, smoking, drinking too much, not exercising- I don’t think this is more irresponsible than other health risks people take

curryforbreakfast · 12/12/2017 09:46

Not everyone needs screening tests. And how exactly do the children come into it?

stickytoffeevodka · 12/12/2017 09:50

I think people have the right to take whatever risks they want with their health, but I think it's risky not to get screened (if/when applicable) when there are children involved.

I recently had tests for cervical/ovarian cancer. Luckily all was fine but it was really terrifying - I understand people not wanting to go, or living in denial, BUT if you have children you should do all you can to stay healthy for them. They don't deserve to lose their parents at a young age if it can be avoided.

notangelinajolie · 12/12/2017 09:51

Well I'm very reckless then because I didn't even know bowel screening was a thing? Is it private or does the NHS send everyone a letter? Sorry genuinely not heard of this?

GrockleBocs · 12/12/2017 09:52

Bowel screening? I've never heard of it. Who is it targetted at?

MillennialFalcon · 12/12/2017 09:55

I thought bowel screening was only over a certain age?

welshweasel · 12/12/2017 09:56

It’s for the over 60s. It involves scraping a bit of poo on to a card and sending it back in the post to look for blood in the poo. There is also a new type of screwing being trialled in some areas that involves having a camera test of the large bowel at the age of 55. Both are very effective ways to detect bowel cancer at an earlier, more treatable stage. Not only couldn’t save your life, it also saves the nhs money as treating cancer at an earlier stage is cheaper as may not need chemo etc.

Original poster

Kaylasmum49 · 12/12/2017 09:57

Bowel screening starts at age 50 in Scotland and 60 in england. You have a sample of your faeces tested for blood, if it shows up positive you would be referred for a colonoscopy.

I just feel that you should participate in all the screening offered.

OP posts:

RavingRoo · 12/12/2017 09:59

Bowel screening is a huge faff. Who has the time to collect their stool and send it off by post for screening? They need to make it quicker and part of an overall hospital based assessment (like mammograms etc) for people to take it seriously.

Porgs · 12/12/2017 09:59

Bowel screening is for over 50s (60s in England). You'll get a letter in the post. No need to worry until you do.

Agree it's reckless not to do it- yes it's your own health but we all pay towards the NHS (which you'll be costing a lot of money if you present with late stage bowel cancer which is easily preventable with screening). Not to mention the people who love you and will be put through a lot of pain because you couldn't be bothered/were too embarrassed/squeamish to take a simple test.

I guess this is similar to something like smoking - except that smokers pay for their own NHS care many times over in the taxes they pay. Plus smoking is a complex addiction which takes determination and willpower to stop.

stickytoffeevodka · 12/12/2017 09:59

The Bowel screenings are for 60+ at the moment, so not so applicable for people with small children. But bowel cancer is not a nice way to go and I think you should take the screenings you're eligible for - it can save your life. Bowel cancer can be treated if caught early enough. My granddad had bowel cancer in his sixties - he survived another 25 years because it was caught early.

But there are loads of threads on here from people who don't go for smear tests or their cervical screenings because they think they're too young or don't see the point. Cancer doesn't always have symptoms and often by the time the symptoms DO appear, it can be too late, or a sign that the disease has progressed.

MyBrilliantDisguise · 12/12/2017 10:00

If you haven't the time for that, you wouldn't have the time to have cancer, RavingPoo. Think how much more time that would take up.

stickytoffeevodka · 12/12/2017 10:00

Who has the time to collect their stool and send it off by post for screening?

Anyone sensible who doesn't want to die of bowel cancer? What an odd attitude. It doesn't take long. I would happily give up half an hour of my life to be screened for a cancer that would kill me if left undetected.

Porgs · 12/12/2017 10:01

Really RavingRoo?! Sending off a bit of poo in the post is more of a faff than attending a hospital appointment?!

sashh · 12/12/2017 10:01

Who has the time to collect their stool and send it off by post for screening?
It's not an entire stool, you basically wipe your bum, put that on the card and send.

Blackteadrinker77 · 12/12/2017 10:05

I think they are being reckless but it is their choice to make.

ragged · 12/12/2017 10:05

YABU.
People make their own choices -- it's called patient autonomy.
A lot of harm can be caused by false 'positives', too.
A huge body of research about those harms caused by all screening programmes.

RavingRoo · 12/12/2017 10:06

Of course it’s a faff to send samples by post (I wonder how many need to be resampled because of errors etc) and that’s why there is such a low turn out and why the NHS is changing the way it manages this. On top of all of that you then have to find a post box. Not everyone has the time to waste doing this. It’s far easier just to take a couple of hours and go to private hospital / surgery to do it properly and where if needed they can also perform additional tests - that’s how the wealthy people do it and probably why wealthy people are more likely to survive it.

notangelinajolie · 12/12/2017 10:06

Age 60? I've a way to go then. Surely there aren't many 60+ year olds with children to consider though? Grown up ones maybe but I'd hardly call a 60 year reckless or selfish for not having the screening. Especially when half of them like me probably have never heard bowel screening.

stickytoffeevodka · 12/12/2017 10:07

People make their own choices -- it's called patient autonomy.

Of course. But when you have children, you have a responsibility to stay healthy for them. Better a false positive than the cancer being missed until it's too late.

I imagine if you grew up to find your parent had died because she couldn't be bothered to get a smear test, or go for a screening that would have saved their life, it could potentially destroy you.

stickytoffeevodka · 12/12/2017 10:08

Not everyone has the time to waste doing this.

Oh come on. It takes five minutes to wipe yourself after a poo, and then all you need to do is pop it in an envelope and send it off. It barely takes up any time at all.

PersianCatLady · 12/12/2017 10:09

How is a two hour hospital appointment quicker than finding a post box?

Otterseatpuffinsdontthey · 12/12/2017 10:11

We're very fortunate in this country with our N.H.S. - even in its current state. I consider it a privilege to be offered regular bowel, breast and cervical screening. I have a G.P., dentist and dental hygienist. I hope to keep myself as physically and mentally healthy as possible, so that I can spend as much quality time with my Granddaughter (and any other Grandchildren of the future) as I can.
I don't enjoy having the tests done - couple of them are a bit uncomfortable - they don't last long! At the end of the day, it comes down to adult choices.

curryforbreakfast · 12/12/2017 10:11

Bowel screening starts at age 50 in Scotland and 60 in england

How many 6o plus year olds do you have in your office who are "being reckless" and how many of them have children (who are under 30!) to consider?

Also, how could this possibly be any of your business?

PortiaCastis · 12/12/2017 10:16

None of your business is it

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