Bowel Cancer Screening Program

Every couple of years I take a bowel cancer screening test.

I have just received a letter thanking me for taking part and saying my result showed that no further tests are needed at this time, I take this to mean that I do not have bowel cancer.

However the letter continues on to say that no screening test is 100% effective so my result does not guarantee that I do not have bowel cancer, or that it will not develop in the future.

Being aware of the symptoms of bowel cancer is still very important, these symptoms include.

- blood in your poo.

- an ongoing change in bowel habit such as looser poo, pooing more often and/or constipation.

- a pain or lump in your tummy.

- feeling more tired than usual for some time.

- losing weight for no obvious reason.

The letter finishes by saying that these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have bowel cancer but you should ask your GP.

I call this covering your back and is on a par with the every side effect known to man that they put on prescription medicines.