I’m so glad I chose to take Bowelscreen test.. and my cancer was found early
Symptomless Mary’s disease detected after she used postal poo screening kit
PEOPLE aged between 59 and 69 are being urged to avail of the bowel cancer screening test after it emerged it is one of the most common forms of the disease.
To mark Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, the HSE is highlighting its free national screening programme.
It is known screening can prevent cancer from developing and help find the disease before symptoms start.
According to the HSE, bowel is the second most common of all cancers in men in Ireland and the third in women.
Every year around 3,000 people are referred on through bowel screening to have pre-cancerous growths, known as polyps, removed.
Those wishing to take part in the programme can register online and a kit will be sent to their home. Once someone receives the kit the public takes a sample of their poo and sends it in the container to the address given. The results will be received within four weeks.
If there is anything found Bowelscreen will invite the sender for a follow-up test, called a colonoscopy.
This is where a camera on the end of a small tube is used to look for any changes inside your bowel.
Mary Kennedy, from Castleknock in Dublin, said she is glad she took her first test aged 61.
She had no symptoms of bowel cancer and was shocked when cancer was found. She added: “I want to shout about Bowelscreen from the rooftops. I had no symptoms, I was walking, swimming and enjoying my retirement.
“I wasn’t losing weight or fatigued and I didn’t see blood when I went to the loo.
“I had keyhole surgery to remove the cancer and, thankfully, I didn’t need further treatment. I got the allclear three-and-a-half months after my first Bowelscreen test. “Even though I had cancer I feel so lucky. I’m so glad I chose to take the Bowelscreen test and my cancer was discovered early. I had a good experience with the whole programme. I’m so grateful for the screening.”
Programme manager Hilary Coffey appealed to all those in the 59 to 69 age bracket to take the test.
She added: “This month we are keen for people aged 59 to 69 who have, for whatever reason, not taken up their screening invitation, to hear Mary’s story and reconsider.
“We know that 90% of people who take one Bowelscreen test go on to complete future tests when they’re invited, reducing their overall chance of developing bowel cancer.
“Anyone unsure of how to get a test or who wants information or guidance can contact us to find out more.”
To take part go to www.hse.ie/ bowelscreen, email info@bowelscreen. ie or freephone 1800 45 45 55.
I wasn’t losing weight or fatigued and I didn’t see blood when I went to the loo MARY KENNEDY PRAISES THE BOWELSCREEN TEST INITIATIVE