• Clip
• Cancer >> Bowel screening >> Diagnosed with polyps >> Interview 18 >> Having a colonoscopy was easier than having a tooth out.

Invited for screening in 2006, when aged 69. The Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test was abnormal. This led to a colonoscopy, a biopsy, and then another colonoscopy and the removal of benign polyps.

• Cancer >> Bowel screening >> FOBt with normal result >> Interview 25 >> She delayed doing the test, partly because she was scared of what the doctors might find.

She was invited to be screened for bowel cancer in 2006, when aged 62. At first she was reluctant to take part, but then decided to do the Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test, which was normal.

• Cancer >> Bowel screening >> Diagnosed with cancer >> Interview 45 >> Her initial attitude was, “If you don't know, you don't worry”.

When screened for bowel cancer in 2005, the Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test was abnormal, so she had a colonoscopy. Two polyps were removed. One was found to be malignant (cancerous). Now she is well.

• Cancer >> Bowel screening >> Diagnosed with polyps >> Interview 22 >> The letter of invitation shocked him because he was not used to preventive health care.

Invited for screening in 2006, aged 64. The result of the Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test was unclear so he repeated the test, which was abnormal. He had a colonoscopy, and a non-malignant polyp was removed.

• Cancer >> Bowel screening >> Declined FOBt >> Interview 11 >> He found colonoscopy embarrassing, undignified and depressing. This was one reason why he did not want to take part in screening.

He was invited to be screened for bowel cancer in 2005, when aged 67, but for various reasons he decided not to take part.

• Cancer >> Bowel screening >> Diagnosed with polyps >> Interview 24 >> His abnormal test result made him so agitated that he went to his GP, who was reassuring.

Screened in 2001 and 2003. Results were normal. In 2005 he did another Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test. The result was unclear. Another test was abnormal, so he had a colonoscopy, during which two polyps were removed. These were not malignant.

• Cancer >> Bowel screening >> Colonoscopy, all normal >> Interview 38 >> She was given antibiotics just before the colonoscopy because she had a leaking mitral valve in her heart.

Invited to be screened for bowel cancer 3 times, between 2002 and 2006. The last Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test result was abnormal so she had a colonoscopy, but nothing abnormal was found in the bowel.

• Cancer >> Bowel screening >> Diagnosed with cancer >> Interview 35 >> Before she went home the doctor told her that she had a suspicious looking polyp and that she would need to see a surgeon.

Screened in 2003, with a normal result. In 2005 another Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test was abnormal. She had a colonoscopy, during which a small polyp was removed. This was followed by surgery to remove a larger cancerous polyp.

• Cancer >> Bowel screening >> Diagnosed with polyps >> Interview 40 >> He felt a great sense of relief when the nurse told him that he had only benign polyps and that the biopsy was 'clear'.

She was invited to be screened for bowel cancer. A Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test in 2003 was abnormal so she repeated the test. This was also abnormal. She had a colonoscopy, during which polyps were removed.

• Cancer >> Bowel screening >> Diagnosed with cancer >> Interview 34 >> He was shocked when the nurse told him he had cancer. His wife phoned the nurse after she got home for information and reassurance.

Invited to be screened for bowel cancer in 2006, when aged 61. The result of the Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test was abnormal, so he had a colonoscopy. One polyp was removed, which was found to be cancerous.

• Cancer >> Bowel screening >> Diagnosed with polyps >> Interview 30 >> The nurse was very concerned and told him in a very tactful, positive way that a polyp was 'potentially malignant'.

Screened for bowel cancer in 2006. The result was abnormal, so he had a colonoscopy. Six polyps were removed. They were all benign except one, which was "potentially malignant". He will have another colonoscopy in 2007.

• Cancer >> Bowel screening >> Diagnosed with cancer >> Interview 46 >> When she was telephoned to make an appointment with the surgeon she realised something was wrong, even though she had not had her results yet. She was

Invited to be screened for bowel cancer in 2006. The result of the Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test was abnormal, so she had a colonoscopy, when five polyps were removed. One polyp was cancerous, so she had a left hemi-colectomy.