Bowel Screening

[jennyjoan]

do you believe they can test properly with a little poo on the card

[Ken4155]

If they couldn't, they wouldn't go to the expense, jj.

[woofgang]

yes, what they test for, I believe is occult (digested) blood

[SparklyKid]

yes , 3 little bits of poo actually.

[Barsel]

No JJ. I was told they are looking for what looks like blood, so if you have been eating beetroot, you could still get a callback. The only way they can test properly is if you go for a colonoscopy.

[fiction-factory]

When they do a blood test they only take a little blob, so I don't see why a tiny bit shouldn't be enough here. I'm surprised the post office though aren't concerned about touching the envelopes in case people didn't wash their hands

[SparklyKid]

I had to do a second test last time, all okay thankfully.

[bhg481]

SparklyKid - only one now. My wife had one about a month ago.

[NellieMay]

It detects blood in poo, which can be a sign of cancer. If it comes back as negative, it doesn't mean that you haven't got bowel cancer. If it comes back positive it doesn't mean you have cancer, but need further tests. There are other bowel problems where blood can be in poo.

[SparklyKid]

They look for traces of blood. Not beetroot or black puddings or any red food,doh.

[jennyjoan]

I pity the post office too - yuck - and those who have to have medically examine them.

I think the colonoscopy is the only way to get a true reading and I have had one of those thank you very much.

[jennyjoan]

I near took a heart attack some time ago - I started drinking beetroot juice - jeepers "blood" came from both ends. I wasn't long in throwing the juice out. My nerves is bad enough.

[SparklyKid]

I love beetroot, bit alarming weeing red !

[Barsel]

You do the test and if they think they see something they ask you to do it again. If it still comes back as abnormal you get an appointment to see someone at the hospital who goes through the options with you. This is how I found out that they don't know if it's actually blood they can detect, and so they ask you to have a colonoscopy as this is the only way they can know for sure.

[NellieMay]

Veggie crisps with beetroot have the same effect, jj!

[Bazile]

//..I'm surprised the post office though aren't concerned about touching the envelopes in case people didn't wash their hands..//

It wouldn't make any difference if you washed your hands or not would it ?
You go and do the business and handle the envelope to put the sticks in and seal the envelope .

You then wash your hands .
But you still have to handle the envelope to go and post it - so what ever is on the envelope before you washed your hands is still there - if you see what i mean

[jennyjoan]

I do see what you mean!!!

[retrocop]

3 poo tests missed my cancer.(sigmoid colon).
Colonoscopy found it.
I wont dismiss the test because, apparently, it has helped many.
I do get ruddy angry when doctors at my GP centre keep asking me to take part in the screening programme. I politely inform them it let me down and I am still attending the RMH.

[jennyjoan]

sorry to hear that retro

[Barsel]

SparklyKid Can you apologise to me please for insinuating I'm stupid? I am passing on information that was given to me personally by the bowel cancer specialist nurse. If that info is wrong I will apologise but no need for 'Doh'

[Sqad]

No.......they can't.
Occult blood in the stool ( Test for colon cancer) if positve is a sign of polyps or cancer, HOWEVER...a negative test does not exclude the diagnosis.
Why? because the test only tests for disease in the rectum and descending colon, the ascending and transverse colon harbouring a tumour will not be detected.

Have you test, but if your result is negative on faecal testing and you still have abdominal bloating or pain, then you may still have colonic growths...polyps or cancer.

So JJ in answer to your question...NO...they cannot test PROPERLY with a little poo on the card.