Bowel screening letter

I think the reason that they send a letter is to provide a warning shot. Maybe for some people, opening a box for a bowel screening test might be a bit alarming. The uptake is so poor now; they do all they can to warn, prepare and encourage people beforehand.
There will always be some people who sadly have false negative results, but still a test well worth having.

I've always done them, several people I know had cancer picked up by the test and my husband was found to have polyps. It's so quick and easy to do, why would anybody not bother?

And I bet you'd complain if the test just arrived, unannounced, without a previous invitation and opportunity to refuse!

I had the first and they found many polyps, one being so large and need three visits back 🙄 I have nothing but good to say and am so grateful, all from taking this test. You have nothing to lose..

Athrawes

I had a letter quite a while ago now and duly did the deed when I received the pack - again a long time ago - and sent it off and haven't had a word since! I've forgotten all about it. Hopefully all is well

Do chase the results and don't leave it. I once relied on a test results coming back only if something was definitely wrong. Unfortunately, my results were sent to another professional for definite follow up as there was something seriously wrong. That professional went off sick and I carried on thinking I was fine. When I finally rang up to ensure the test was negative, there was a panic to get me seen as soon as possible. I nearly died in the process and was put at risk because of the late results. I would not trust the system again.

My sister always said she went for and did every test…..
No she didn’t and she lied.
Then died with six months of late diagnosis'.

No one likes having tests or doing tests and many don’t tell the truth.
Personally I would take every test offered.

Just do it , maybe save your life and be grateful this facility is available.

I had one a couple of years ago and they told me they were going to request another one after three years. Not sure if I will do it as I am over 80 but if I do I will make sure to ask for pain relief - last time it was extremely uncomfortable. I was all clear last time although they removed a polyp and sent it off for a biopsy. It may not be perfect but it does save lives.

My sister also did the tests regularly but died of bowel cancer. There will always be some cases that the test doesn’t pick up. I had my last one as I’m now 75. However I contacted the number on the letter to request further tests in view of the family history so will hopefully still get them in two years time.

All of these screening tests are carefully assessed and monitored all the time. So there will have been research about whether the letter improves uptake. It gives people an opportunity to refuse outright, and to ask questions.

Although it is getting better all the time, no screening test is perfectly accurate. All the research feeds back into improving the uptake and the accuracy.

BlueBelle

My sons mother and father in law, both kept refusing to do the test, then a couple of years ago they did one I don’t know what changed their mind
They both had cancer one was colon and one was rectum They have both had operations and are so far doing well

They don’t send them after a certain age maybe 75? do they I haven’t had one sent for a few years

"If you're 75 or over, you can ask for a kit every 2 years by phoning the free bowel cancer screening helpline on 0800 707 60 60."
Bowel cancer screening service

My sons mother and father in law, both kept refusing to do the test, then a couple of years ago they did one I don’t know what changed their mind
They both had cancer one was colon and one was rectum They have both had operations and are so far doing well

They don’t send them after a certain age maybe 75? do they I haven’t had one sent for a few years

Its a screening test ....it won't detect all cancers but has likely saved many lives....they offer earlier where I am...so I got my first one age 58 last year .

I always do any test that I am eligible for. It's not as if they are hard to have done. And testing saves lifes .

Puzzlelove

Not sure whether to post this here or under health but here goes.

Can anyone enlighten me as to why a letter is sent out to tell us that we are being invited for bowel screening and that the kit will be sent out shortly? Seems like another waste of NHS money. Surely the letter could be sent out with the kit.

Is the advance letter giving the opportunity to refuse the screening ??
Re bowel screening in general a routine screening elevated to a colonoscopy saved my life 12 years ago. NHS cut a non-bleeding colorectal tumour the size of a small ruler from my colon/rectum. Parts of it were pre-cancerous.
Thank you , thank you NHS.
Please take the screening , there are bound to be failures in any screening system.
FYI the Gold Standard screening test for bowel cancer is the Colonoscopy, so push for one of those if you have worrying symptoms.

I always take the test. It's not perfect but it saves lives.

Sandgrownun

That's a very good point. It is a waste of paper and postage. I've read (in other places) about similar administrative issues with the NHS. The worst one appears to be receiving letters for appointments after the date of the appointment.
The waste of paper issue isn't limited to the NHS. My bank regular sends me letters asking me to go paperless which state they haven't been able to contact me by email. I've already gone paperless and they email me all the time. After a few letters I called them and (after a very long wait) I was told there's nothing they can do about it and just to ignore the letters!

If, as l suspect, the letter improves the percentage uptake then it is money very well spent.

DH did one and was called for a scan. That found that he had bowel cancer although he had felt completely normal. He lost a huge amount of bowel but thankfully they managed to join it back up although at the time they warned him he could end up with a colostomy.
That was ten years ago this year and he’s still here thanks to the NHS.
Everyone should do the test if they receive one!

That's a very good point. It is a waste of paper and postage. I've read (in other places) about similar administrative issues with the NHS. The worst one appears to be receiving letters for appointments after the date of the appointment.
The waste of paper issue isn't limited to the NHS. My bank regular sends me letters asking me to go paperless which state they haven't been able to contact me by email. I've already gone paperless and they email me all the time. After a few letters I called them and (after a very long wait) I was told there's nothing they can do about it and just to ignore the letters!

Primrose53

HattieTopper

Puzzlelove

Not sure whether to post this here or under health but here goes.

Can anyone enlighten me as to why a letter is sent out to tell us that we are being invited for bowel screening and that the kit will be sent out shortly? Seems like another waste of NHS money. Surely the letter could be sent out with the kit.

My brother in law did the test every single year from the tests being started and he was always given the all clear. Two weeks after receiving the all clear once again, he was rushed into hospital with terminal bowel cancer and died.

I would not touch these tests with a barge pole.

That’s very sad HattieTopper.

The other side of the coin is a neighbour of ours nearly didn’t do the test as he felt fine and had no issues at all. Turned out she did have bowel cancer. Straight in for major surgery and a long recovery.

He was one of the unlucky ones. I have never received any of these tests and neither did my late husband.

Marydoll

A neihbour!

I give up! A friend and also a neighbour had no idea.

We’ve had this service for many years. It has saved many lives.

The test only picks up if there is blood in the sample. Some cancers don't always bleed that is why they ask you to look out for other symptoms even if you do regular tests.

A neihbour!

A friend and also did the test. They had no symptoms, but both had bowel cancer.
It saved their lives.