NHS Bowel Cancer Screening

Thanks, David. I will certainly use your link when we are back home after our next trip.

I took part in BC screening as soon as I qualified and received the "allclear" from all  samples.However I still got BC,so do not  be  lulled into a false sense of security by a negative result.After surgery and chemo I am OK but if you exhibit any of the symptoms do not ignore them or put off a trip to the GP.I was very fortunate,some are not.

I will not pretend that it was other than a horrible experience but I am still here and,so far, recovering well.

Do not let embarrassment kill you!

Wise words and glad to hear you got through it.

Also, if you get symptoms but test negative, there’s a good chance the medics will say you’ve got piles and send you on your way. However, particularly if you’ve been overseas, ask them to check for ‘Giardia’’, it’s a parasitic bowel infection that will get worse if left untreated. I contracted it in Spain from contaminated water or food. It’s not very common in the UK so GPs don’t routinely check for it. However, once diagnosed it can be cleared with antibiotics.