Vita brevis

Like Samsaranda I am on routine colonoscopy, 2 years ago the yield was 15 polyps over 2 sessions, last year it was 2 but 1 was bad (first ever), successfully removed.

I await this years procedure at the age of 86.

I read that - front page headline! It's a good example of why the Daily Mail can't be taken seriously. It's a political opinion piece, not journalism.

Who says £1M was blown? - the Daily Mail!

Who says the money was spent on 'Woke Groups'? - the Daily Mail.

Even if true, it's an odd choice of front page story for a national newspaper given what else was going on at the time. The Mail could have gone with the energy crisis, balance of trade, inflation, low economic growth, poor productivity, Northern Ireland border problems, Scottish Independence, enormous public sector borrowing, war in Ukraine, climate change, strikes, or what the Prime Ministerial candidates were saying. Instead of focusing on the NHS's staff shortage and huge post-COVID waiting list, and the fact the NHS costs £63billion a year to run and rising, instead the Daily Mail runs a story on Woke. Why?

As the NHS have about 110,000 vacancies, the alleged 'Woke Groups' are probably intended to avoid sacking foolish racists, sexists, bullies, and anyone else guilty of behaviours damaging in the workplace and to patients. Their skills are worth retaining provided they can be persuaded to keep inappropriate opinions to themselves at work.

Curious thing about anti-Woke is that people who like to call a spade a spade and think of themselves as robust are deeply offended by being asked to be polite, tactful and considerate of others!

I find it all very confusing because I'm against censorship.

Dave

When I had my second or third colonoscopy, It was decided to put me fully under, rather than partially, as before. This was because previously the surgeon had removed a piece "the size of a golf ball" & caused me considerable pain. My heart had also stopped. Well it would wouldn't it

Whilst waiting for the anasthetic to work the surgeon instructed his 2 rather pretty young nurses to assemble the camera & probe & monitor. He had his back to us. As I was on my side I was looking straight at the screen & as they focused it in, the nurse with the probe stuck it up the skirt of the other nurse. A real case of successful " Upskirting" in my view. As I went under I had this monitor view of - Well you can imagine- & I heard the surgeon saying " Oiy! stop that now. If I ever catch you doing that again, you will both be out of here for good"-- Spoil sport.

If my heart had gone for good this time, I later reflected that, in some ways, it would have been a nice memory to take with me.

Whilst bowl cancer is a concern may I remind members not to forget having their prostate tested !

H

On 30 August last ( my 77th birthday as it happens ) I saw a urologist at the local hospital after weeks of feeling unwell and losing a lot of weight. I was told that I had developed advanced prostate cancer and that there is no cure for this; they can only slow the spread of the cancer by hormone injections. So that's that. Oh, and by the way, the urologist wished me a very happy birthday.

The point I would like to make here is that within a couple of weeks I was put on palliative care, and it's wonderful . Nothing is too much trouble for the team, every little ache, pain and problem is attended to at once, and I feel like a king!

I know that we can all point the finger at the N.H.S. for various shortcomings and seemingly strange decisions, but my treatment so far has been absolutely first class.

HTH.

Harry has offered Sound Advice ! The prostate test(PSA) is a simple blood test and if caught early can be treated. Left undiagnosed it will spread and then your in real trouble that could prove fatal. Noel.

I have just passed the bowel cancer test, which simply tests for blood in the stools. I am 73 and the cut off date is 75. I will be over 75 when the next test is offered, but can opt in for further tests if I want to.

I had slightly high, but not excessive figures for the PSA test back when I was 55 and had the tissue biopsy tests of about 12 samples from the prostate which had negative results. Since then, I have not heard any more about further tests. When I had the tests, I asked the doctor whether he had been tested and he replied "not bloody likely" which made me laugh.

Edited By old mart on 15/09/2022 18:47:22

no! you prove the opposite. There are plenty of statistics and records, it is just that most only look at the facts that suit their argument.

As has already been stated, you only need to ask and the testing kits will continue to be sent to you.

I do not see what the problem is!

Howi, I'm not sure whether you're agreeing or disagreeing with me. I don't think my post was as clear as it should have been, however.

The bottom (!) line is that Colon cancer is one that's worth screening for, and, fortunately, UK still seems willing to offer screening, although you may need to ask...

Edited By Kiwi Bloke on 16/09/2022 09:54:26

Got rid of mine years ago!

Our surgery won't give you the test unless you have symptoms. It could be a bit late by then, but the surgery regularly comes out worst in the area.

I have never had bowel cancer screening invitations from my surgery, but direct from some other NHS source. Probably originating from the Southern Bowl Cancer Screening Hub at Guildford Surrey.

PSA test that is

I recommend asking for one. When I was 57 my GP ordered a barrage of blood tests to find out why I was feeling so ill, which the tests failed to do. (Another story.) Anyway, the PSA test was positive and so I was whisked away for a biopsy, which also came back scary positive. Although I had no symptoms, the cancer was racing away, and I went straight under the knife.

I often wonder what would have happened if I'd not had the test and nothing had been done until the symptoms appeared. Specially worrying as I usually ignore illness for ages because it usually goes away on it's own. I think the cancer would have metastasised and bumped me off before I was ready.

Dave

.I asked for a PSA test ten years ago, doctor told me it was 2.2, very low and after the grope around my bum he declared me perfectly ok but I had some blood in a urine sample so he put me on the list to be seen at the local urology department. 3 months later I go to urologist and am told they want to check prostate, I ask why, doctor has recently checked it and pronounced me fine, anyhow they have a feel and find three little bits the size of a glass pin head. Given the choice of having the prostate removed or brachytherapy, I chose the brachytherapy and was sent to the Royal Surrey Hospital at Guildford who were absolutely fantastic, procedure done in an oven afternoon and let out next morning, three years on and they check PSA every six months, it is below point one. I had absolutely no symptoms, only reason I asked about test was because of some celebrities doing a full monty on telly for prostate cancer. Get yourself checked before it’s too late.

I'm with Dave. Like him I had a test as part of a panel of tests to investigate a different problem. I was asymptomatic for prostate problems, but the test came back at 62! Cue panic at the doctors - them not me - and an appointment with oncology for five days later. For a diagnosis of T3. Five years down the road, After 4 years of hormone therapy wrapped around 35 trips on the radiotherapy machine my PSA is 0.09, I still have a prostate & no symptoms.

typo

Edited By Peter Cook 6 on 16/09/2022 21:04:07

I've asked, I told you they were pretty bad, consistently either bottom or next to bottom in the town. I'm thinking of going private.