Heads up people

[Bonzeau]

Hi all. Right now Chris and I should be in Turkey enjoying the lovely weather, people, food and warm sea. However, the best laid plans of mice and men....
In August Chris got round to sending back her Bowel cancer screening poo test kit, and pdq got a reply to report to the N&NU Hospital for a colonoscopy. This revealed a grade 2 tumour right down by her Appendix. She had no symptoms, so this was totally unexpected. within a week a PET scan revealed no apparent spread to organs or Lymph nodes. Just over a week later she had a 5 hour operation to remove her ascending colon and part of her transverse colon and surrounding Lymph nodes. It was a keyhole entry, but once inside it was a major procedure. She was in hospital for 7 days and has been home for 3 weeks now. Her recovery is on track and she is doing well, but will take many more weeks until she can get back to full fitness. My message is don't throw away or forget to do your poo tests. If you haven't got a kit, pester your surgery for one, or contact Bowel Screening, even if you have no symptoms. Knowledge is power.
Best wishes and good health to you all,
Bonzo.

 

[Duncodin]

Sorry to hear about the diagnosis. But good to hear that she's recovering.

I second what you say about the poo test. Don't avoid doing it.

Best wishes to you both from SWales

 

[Z Victor 1]

Hope all goes well now. And good advice. Best wishes.

 

[motco]

I'm sorry too, to hear about your Good Lady's test result and treatment. The old FOB test was not so easy to do and could return false positives, but the newer FIT test is very simple and should be more accurate. This shows that it is, thankfully. I light heartedly call it a 'Pooh Stix' test after the eponymous animal, and I second all the recommendations to never miss it. My last one came back clear only last week.

 

[Synclare]

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[Mazza]

Good advice … and hope for speedy recovery.

 

[PHILIP BAXTER]

That really is sound advice. Let’s hope for a speedy recovery

 

[t-tony]

Hi Allan, hope Chris recovers well and good on you for getting the message out.

Tony.

 

[Jack Ratt]

Best wishes mate

 

[Bonzeau]

Thanks to you all!

 

[brilie]

Sorry to hear about Chris but glad she is now on the road to recovery.
Poo tests are very important and should never be ignored but they only tell you what is already there.You must listen to your own body and never ignore the signs!
I had to phone for a poo test after blood in poo and had a colonoscopy which revealed the worst fears for myself !
In August last year I too had a major operation, 5 days in hospital then home.
Unfortunately later test meant chemo was the next step .
Months of chemo followed which was not nice to say the least !
However (after not the best year of my life shall we say) a further colonoscopy
( the laxative for that is viscous) and a CT scan gave me a nothing to worry about result.
I was lucky in the fact that my cancer was at an early stage because I did not ignore the signs.
Please be aware. !!!!

 

[Synclare]

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[Jack Ratt]

Had a letter today from NHS and I thought/hoped it was an appointment for my bad knees but no, it's a notification that my 3rd 2 yearly bowel cancer check is due in the coming weeks and that my kit is on it's way to me

 

[brilie]

It’s surprising when cancer is in your vocabulary how many people have been affected.
Looks like you’ve been clear for a number of years now, good luck with the colonoscopy and that the results are clear.

 

[Duncodin]

Thanks to you all!

If this thread gets just one person to do the poop test instead of ignoring it then it'll have been worth it.

On a slightly different topic, if I may. This forum is full of gents of a certain age. As well your poop test can I persuade you gents, of a certain age, to think about prostate. If you can't pee 3 feet and write your name in the snow as you could in your youth then get yourselves an appointment for a prostate test.

In my case I'd lost the ability to p 3ft and write my name in the snow but 3 seperate GPs, over as many years, prodding about back there, said my prostate was fine. By which time I decided they were all wrong and asked for a PSA test (result 16 (high but not crazy high)) and a referal to a specialist. Specialist had a rummage and declared there was a lump and that many GPs wouldn't know a lump if it bit their finger off.

Anyway. To cut a long story short. MRI, biopsy and a robotic Radical prostatectomy in Jan 2020 but too late it had gotten into lymph nodes. I'm ok though responding well to meds so nowhere near terminal.

So. Anyway. Chaps. Don't fcuk about. Any symptoms. It won't go away. Don't put your head in the sand. Go to your GP and if you still think there's something not quite right then ask for a referal.

 

[Synclare]

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[brilie]

Hope the results are good Adrian, I know the waiting is hard.
I too found hospital and doctors were excellent having never been in all my life.
Made up for it last year though.

 

[Shelly]

Take care both of you

 

[Trevor /chedder]

Thanks all. Appreciate the advice. And take care.

 

[Zed Carer]

Did my test last week and just got the letter saying that I need to have a colonoscopy, first appointment for assessment next week. I was 74 earler this year so this was the last test I was sent automatically.

Brian good to hear that you survived the treatment and are back fit and well.