General Chat

Bowel cancer.- In the paper it appears that a high percentage of those who die from bowel cancer are over 65. I have recently done the bowel cancer test, which thank goodness was all clear. But that will be the last one they send me as they don't do it if you are 70 or over and there is a two year gap between tests.

I've sent one off this week, so sweating on the results !

The US Colon Society recommended some years ago that the fecal sample be done every year for all over 60s


..... and Canada is following suit.

Mine is due soon.


What bothers me is not taking the stool samples, but the change in diet for 3 to 6 days before you can take the samples, and for the 3 days it takes.


As one of these tests in 2005 did suggest that OH had a problem, and a colonoscopy confirmed it, leading to the removal of 18" of his colon and resection ...... I am so for all and any tests!!


He was 67, and was lucky enough not to need any further treatment, so no radiation or chemo ..... and last year the doc told him not to return for 3 years (unless there was a problem).



Mind you .... I can't wait for the end of the smear test, which should be next year! They do it every 2 years upto the age of 70 here ........ but I've been having the test since 1969, and for the first 10 years or so it was every year. No problems, that was just the way it was back then. I've been called back once in all that time, and the repeat test turned out to be fine.


Now ............... the squish test is something else. It was a squish that found my cancer in 1995, led to a mastectomy (no other treatment, fortunately) ...... and apparently they will never let me go! Every year they will want to see me to squish the remaining one ................. at least until I can't get there any longer!! I don't think they have any small mobile units to go into bedrooms ...................... yet!



sylvia

A lot of these age limits are arbitary. Yuo are not supposed to need breast checks after 70, but the surgeon I had insists that I still 7yrs later, see him once a year and have my remaining breast mammographed and I am nearly 75.

Jean

One of the technicians told me 2 years ago that they are still seeing women in their mid-80s!

I had my breast checked just befor my 70th this year and although I was told you dont get called after your 70th birthday you can ring in two years time 2012 and ask to have one done in fact you can ring every two years up to your 80th....Jean.

I believe you can ask for both mammogram and bowel cancer test but so many over 70s wont bother.

Sylvia, what do you mean change of diet? No change of diet requested here.

The report gets sent to my doctor's with the notation that I must return in 12 months time.

If I don't go ................ the clinic sends a letter to the doc who then forwards a copy to me to say that I have missed an appointment!

In fact, I must phone soon to make the appointment at the special clinic for next June (I can no longer go to the screening clinic) ........ it can take up to 6 months for people like me to get the appointment at the right "anniversary" time.


Then I will go to the doc's next April/May and get the requisition from him!


Fortunately .... women being sent on from the screening clinic or because of suspicious lumps can get in within a week or less.

Ann

We have to be off red meat and certain veggies and some supplements before taking the stool samples, as they can cause wrong results.

We can eat pork (that doesn't count as red meat!), chicken or fish.

Most of them we have to be off for 3 days before taking the samples and while taking the samples (we have to do 3 samples).

But last year there was a new addition, something that I had to be off for 6 days before starting the tests. I can't for the life of me remember what it was now, but it was a supplement of some sort.

How strange. Ours comes in the post and is returned via the post with no special requests at all, just 3 samples, and this is every 2 years. This year was the second one I have done.

We're given a requisition by our doctor, have to take it to a clinic (the same one we go to for blood tests, etc), and they give us the little card file etc.

We have to fill in the samples, then take it back to the clinic, and they send it to their central laboratory (just as they do with the blood samples etc) .... the results are then sent to our doctor.

I believe that samples are not alllowed to go by post over here.

Ours are in special envelopes that it says have been passed as safe by the post office.

The routine testing for bowel cancer seems to be a new thing, and not before time.

Mammograms and smear tests for ladies have been done for years .

But why is prostate cancer tests for men the poor relation? It's only a simple blood test and could easily be done every few years for anyone over 50.

Brian

OH has had that PSA test for prostate cancer done for around 20 years ....... but it was because we had a doctor who really and truly believed in preventive medicine, so he used to fill out the forms saying the various tests were needed "for cause"!!

OH has also been in a double blind prostate study test for around 6 years ................. looking at the effectiveness of taking a couple of supplements in preventing prostate cancer.

The study was supposed to last 10 years, with participants from all over Canada and the US (ie many thousands of men) Unfortunately preliminary results issued earlier this year from the pevious 6 years showed that there was no effect, and in fact one of the supplements being tested might even be causing a slight increase .................... so it was stopped. BUT as part of the test he got both the PSA test and the finger test every year.

The two supplements being tested were selenium and Vitamin E


Unfortunately, one of the prolems with the PSA test is that it is not completely accurate ................. I think more than 50% of the results can be wrong (either false positive or false negative), and this of course causes much worry.



sylvia

I had a higher than recommended PSA reading a few weeks ago, so it's off to see the consultant tomorrow.

Had some checks a few years ago after some symptoms, including an ultrasound scan which had to be done in the ante-natal department because the urology one was out of action, but the results at that time were normal.

Oh well, we'll see what tomorrow brings!

Good luck Brian
xxx


I'll keep my fingers crossed that it is a wrong PSA result

Good luck, Brian. I bet you find the suspense a bit wearing.

Well I saw the consultant and have elected for a biopsy on the 14th, so as to find out if anything is going on.
It probably means I'll miss the office party for the second (and last) time as I was off last year with a chest infection.

Brian

Thanks for letting us know.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

I honestly think you are doing the best thing ..... at least then you will know.

xxxxx

sylvia

Well, I got the all clear letter for the bowel cancer test yesterday, so that's one down, one to go.