Bowel Screening
Talking to specialist practitioners about results
A person who gets an abnormal Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test result is offered an appointment with a specialist screening practitioner, usually a nurse. On the screening programme the nurses and doctors work together as a team. The nurse will explain the results of the FOB test, ask questions about the person's medical history, and offer further investigations, such as a colonoscopy. There is a useful booklet on GOV.UK for people on 'Colonoscopy'.
Specialist screening practitioner Andrea Giles explains what may happen after an abnormal FOB...
Specialist screening practitioner Andrea Giles explains what may happen after an abnormal FOB...
The specialist screening practitioner will usually explain the results of your FOB kit to you. We will normally at this time offer you a further investigation, called a colonoscopy, which is an examination of the large bowel. The specialist screening practitioner will ask you questions about your past medical history, any current health problems you may have, and would also like to see any medications that you currently take.
Some of the people we talked to explained what happened when they saw a nurse at the local hospital to discuss their results. The nurse explained that an abnormal FOB test result might be due to a benign (non-cancerous) polyp or other things. One man had been very glad that the nurse explained that an abnormal test result did not necessarily mean he had cancer.
He felt reassured when he was given the odds of having a serious problem and told that an...
He felt reassured when he was given the odds of having a serious problem and told that an...
Another man said that the nurse made him feel 'at ease', 'like one of the family'. She described the function of the bowel and explained that polyps could be removed.
The nurse explained that bleeding may be due to polyps, which may be benign, and that they can be...
The nurse explained that bleeding may be due to polyps, which may be benign, and that they can be...
When I went to meet the nurse at the hospital she took me into the interview room and was explaining to me the different parts of my body, my bowel, my large bowel, my small bowel and what happens, the function of all this area and that there are things everybody has got, well most people have got polyps in their intestinal system you know and that sometimes these do go cancerous but more often than not, nine times out of ten they're not, they're benign. And she really made me feel at ease, I mean she was terrific, she really was you know like one of the family.
Did she tell you about the colonoscopy at that stage?
Yes she did, she told me what the procedure would be, that I would go in there and they would sedate me if I wanted to and they would put me on my left hand side and they would go in with a camera and investigate, have a look at my large bowel and my small one and all my intestines and if there was any problem there with polyps, they would take them off while they were inside. And they assured me there would be no pain, because you don't feel pain when they're doing things inside you, if they have to cut anything you, it's only outside of the body that you feel any pain. And I can just honestly say I didn't, I never even felt a camera go into my backside. I never had any sensation of anything being inside me at all.
Many people said that the nurse spent between 30 minutes and an hour explaining what might happen during a colonoscopy. This man felt a bit alarmed when he was offered a colonoscopy the following week but then decided he wanted it done as soon as possible.
The nurse was very helpful, went through everything and told him he could have a colonoscopy the...
The nurse was very helpful, went through everything and told him he could have a colonoscopy the...
Yeah, I saw one of the nurses and she explained to me what had happened with the samples I'd sent off and that there was some, they'd found were positive. I did ask how much blood there was and she said it was very, very minimal but I had; far safer to be tested than, or to have a colonoscopy which I hadn't heard of. I had known about it because my father's had one but I didn't know the name of it. And she went through everything, we were there about 3/4s of an hour, I think we overran. She was very, very helpful, she explained that well she, she told me that I could have the test the following week and that once again worried me a little bit because it's all so quick. But with hindsight it's better to be quick and get it over with than hang around for weeks and things get worse.
Did she explain that there was always a tiny risk with any procedure like that?
Yes, yes she explained to me that it's possible that by having the colonoscopy it could aggravate certain things. I didn't really understand it but I knew what she meant.
And it was worth the risk.
You felt you had a choice though whether you took part or not?
Oh yes, yes, yes, yes.
A woman had felt much calmer after meeting the nurse at the hospital. The nurse spent over an hour answering her questions about a colonoscopy, and explained that she would be able to have a sedative so that she would not remember much about the procedure.
Most people were glad that the nurse went through all the advantages and disadvantages of having a colonoscopy. Some thought that the advantages were emphasised rather than the disadvantages, but they recalled that the risks were mentioned too. Indeed, one man said that he felt he was told too much about risks.
The nurse emphasised the advantages of having a colonoscopy, but he felt he had a choice and...
The nurse emphasised the advantages of having a colonoscopy, but he felt he had a choice and...
Yes the nurses.
Can you just go over what happened when you went to talk to the nurses?
Yes, when I went to talk to the nurses they explained again why the screening had to be done, it was all explained to me again why it was being done and then they explained to me that if I wanted to I could now have the colon, I can't pronounce the word, colonoscopy, I could have a colonoscopy, the scoping or I could even, I could leave it at that, I needn't go any further forward. They explained you know that they could; if I did have cancer it would be good to stop it. They gave me the advantages of having it done, they didn't give me very many disadvantages to me frankly. I was intrigued by the system, how it was done and I suppose being enquiring I felt that you know let's have it done.
So you did feel that you were given the option of not having a colonoscopy?
Oh yes I could have easily copped out then and said no I don't want it.
The nurse gave him an information booklet which explained that the colonoscope could perforate...
The nurse gave him an information booklet which explained that the colonoscope could perforate...
No.
An appointment straight away to go down to the hospital?
I had an appointment straight away to go to the local hospital.
Did you go on your own for that appointment?
I did because my wife was at work and there was no reason for anybody else to accompany me, so I went along and I was given instructions about what would happen, what the procedure was about, what the likely outcomes would be and how the procedure would be undertaken.
Did the nurse explain that there's always a very small risk with a colonoscopy, did she give you the pros and the cons?
She did indeed, yes, and the leaflet gave some useful information about the risk factors percentages, where the wall of the colon could be penetrated and broken and the fact that was about 1 in 1,500 I think, which is an extraordinarily low percentage, so the risk factor was very, very low and didn't really play a part in my decision to have it done.
The nurse gave him detailed information and appeared to show genuine concern. He didn't want to...
The nurse gave him detailed information and appeared to show genuine concern. He didn't want to...
You decided then to go ahead.
I would, I would've, no, I would've preferred not to know the risks, but.
Would you?
But, yeah I think I would yes. I personally would, because I just, you know its not my, what happens inside, in the course of that investigation, what happens, I don't see it as my business. It's the, you know, it's the business of the, of the surgeon that is performing the operation. And I personally am able to disassociate myself from it like that.
But presumably you could have decided at that point you didn't want to have a colonoscopy?
I was told very clearly that the whole procedure was my choice. Yeah, I could choose to have it, or I could choose not to have it.
So wasn't it important to know the risks? At that stage?
It was, it was, it was realistic. But you know, I'm just explaining my own state of mind. Which, I'm a pretty sort of casual person I'm afraid. You know, for better or for worse, I've always been a bit casual about things like that.
So are you telling me you prefer to trust the doctors' decision?
At the end of the day, at the end of the day, if I am advised on medical procedures then I would take the advice. I'm not putting myself in the position where I would second guess what medical people are telling me.
Some of those offered a colonoscopy in the last round of the pilot programme decided not to have the procedure. The people we talked to said that they were given time to think about whether or not to have one. For example, a woman was told that she could go home and think about it and then ring the nurse when she had made up her mind. However, she made up her mind on the spot and decided to go ahead with it.
She was given plenty of time think about having a colonoscopy but she decided immediately because...
She was given plenty of time think about having a colonoscopy but she decided immediately because...
Then you heard the first two results were fine, and the next time was abnormal and you had to go to talk to the nurse. Can you remember in more detail what happened when you went to the hospital to talk to the nurse about it, that first time?
I think she sort of, she really sort of said in the first place, it, you don't have to worry, because it just, it might not be anything serious, and she did ask whether or not I wanted to go and have the...
Colonoscopy?
'if I wanted to go and do that. And she did say that I did not need to decide there and then.
Because I could come home and think about it, and then ring her up when I'd made my mind up, and like I said to the nurse at the time, 'Well if I'm not going to do anything about it, it's a waste of time me sitting here.' Because, I thought if I'd gone this far, I'd either have to have ignored it right from the very beginning, not even done the second test, which was abnormal as well, or if I was going to do it, and there is something wrong, I've got to do it.
Did she tell you about the possible tiny risks that go with having a colonoscopy?
Yes, yes, yes, I think you could bleed or something.
Well there is a very slight risk.
Very slight, but she said whatever risks were very slight.
Presumably you knew about the colonoscopy before you went to the hospital, because there was a bit in the information leaflet wasn't there?
Yeah, but you're not going to be one of them that has that [a perforation] done are you? You know what I mean. You know what. Yes, so it did say that you know some risk.
Anyway you made up you mind to have it.
Yeah, I made my mind up there and then because I knew that, first of all I was wasting their time if I didn't, and secondly I thought, if I go home, I might not. Do you know what I mean?
I could come home and think, 'No I'm not going to do it.'
So I thought, no, I've got to do it, now.
You made up your mind.
I made my mind up there and then. Yeah I did.
Many people recalled that the nurse gave them a phone number that they could call at any time if they had further questions. Several were impressed by the information they received, although one woman said that the nurse put the 'fear of God' into her with the detail about what could happen.
The nurse explained everything in detail and told her that she could ring her at any time if she...
The nurse explained everything in detail and told her that she could ring her at any time if she...
Yes I did.
Can you explain in detail what happened when you saw the nurses?
When I saw the nurse she explained the situation of the unit and the fact that the nurse and the surgeon seemed to work together as a team. A very small unit in the hospital, and she gave me the book that you showed me.
That's an information booklet?
Information booklet yes. She was very good, she was very, she explained everything in great detail and as I say she gave me the, her telephone number so that if I thought of anything when I got home I could ring her without any problem at all.
Did she go through the pros and cons and any risk of having a colonoscopy?
Oh yes she did and she put the fear of God into me. She, yes she the fact that the bowel could be perforated, it all, yes she did go into all detail of what could, what could happen.
Did you have any doubts about going ahead afterwards?
Yes I did but I thought well now I've got this far you know you're in the system and you know, go through with it.
A man told us that he found it comforting to get all the verbal and written information. He said that after the appointment with the specialist nurse he felt more in control. He was glad to hear that the same nurse would meet him at the hospital and stay with him during the colonoscopy, thus providing continuity of care.
He was given all the relevant information, and understood that a colonoscopy is considered to be...
He was given all the relevant information, and understood that a colonoscopy is considered to be...
And did you get any written information about the colonoscopy at that stage?
Yes, they'll give you leaflets that give you the information that you need to know really, yes.
Were you aware from reading the information that there might be some side effects or possible dangers in having a colonoscopy?
It's described as a very safe actually but there is, obviously there's also, there's always the possibility of perforation, but that's the main possible danger. But apparently it's a procedure that is considered very safe.
So were you convinced it was the right thing to do to go ahead and have the colonoscopy?
Yes, I was really, because if there was problem there, or a potential problem and I think really you need to know and it needs to be investigated because if there is a problem it's not going to go away by itself and it's no good ignoring it you know.
Did you feel you had a choice though, was it presented as a choice?
Oh of course, absolutely yes. Whether you want to proceed any further, yes it's your own individual choice, you have to make up your mind. They can give you the information, they can tell you the dangers, or if there is any problem. Also the benefits and they explain exactly what will be done. So yes, you're in possession of all the relevant information, yes.
Some people had other medical problems which had to be taken into account. For example, one woman had only one kidney and had diabetes, so she needed special blood tests before the colonoscopy. She said that the nurse went through all the advantages and disadvantages of having a colonoscopy and explained that if the bowel were perforated during the procedure (a rare event) a small operation would be needed.
She needed special blood tests before her colonoscopy because she had only one kidney and diabetes.
She needed special blood tests before her colonoscopy because she had only one kidney and diabetes.
Er no because I knew I was going up to the clinic.
Okay.
And they was going to explain. I'd only waited, I think I waited about a week before me appointment come through for the clinic and they explained.
How were you feeling, how were you feeling when you were waiting?
Worried, I was worried. And I thought, 'Well the only thing to do is get it all sorted out and get it done'. And when I went up to the clinic the nurses explained everything and they went through everything in detail. You'd got to give all your medical and everything so that they knew exactly what you'd, what they could do for you. And of course with me only having one kidney and having diabetes I had to have blood tests and I had to have a, test me kidney and test me diabetes. So that was alright. And then that come back and as soon as that come back alright they turned round and says, 'Right you can', and within a week I was having the colonoscopy done.
Did they explain in detail the advantages and disadvantages and any possible risk of having a colonoscopy?
Yes, they turned round and said well the advantage was that if you go at least you know whether they can treat you if you've got it, if you've got cancer they can treat you. If you haven't, at least you know, you'll know what it is, whether it's a fibroid or a...
Polyp.
...Polyp or anything you know they can get rid of them, they'll scrape them out and it's up to, you've got the decision whether you want to take it or not.
Did they explain any disadvantages or risks?
Well they said the disadvantage was that while they were scraping at the, scraping the polyp off there could be a tear or while the camera was going up if you was, if it was if the camera caught you could have a tear and they'd have to repair it and everything.
You'd probably have to have a slight operation, have to repair it. But thinking that way you'd sooner have that done and know that you were safe than not have it done at all.
Yes.
So you put your, I mean you put it in perspective, you can either turn round and say, 'Right, well with that risk I'm not going to have it done', or, 'With that risk I'm not going to have it done or I'm going to have it done and if it, if you come again, up against a risk that's just the snag of it.'
So you decided to have the colonoscopy?
Yeah.
Last reviewed May 2016.
Last updated May 2016.
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