Nick E - no actually I wouldn't question your judgement in posting on this topic. My sister developed cancer of the colon in her late forties...and after querying the situation re possible family traits with my GP I was referred to a local scheme (GUTS) which was one of the first in the country (UK) to operate a screening policy for people at higher risk. After a counselling session I was told that I was at an increased risk of developing the disease myself, and was offered the choice of whether to join their screening programme or not. Given the circs I decided it was wisest to join - it had been explained to me that it takes four years on average for a polyp to develop into a cancerous growth, and that they could be removed during the process of the colonoscopy. Moreover, if something should be discovered - hey, better to find it earlier than later as cancer of the colon is one of those where there is a high recovery rate if it is uncovered early enough.

The happy (?) result is that I underwent one of these procedures and found that I was "all clear" about five years ago. The "unhappy" part of it all was the Piccolax - explosive stuff, or what??? - and the fact that on the first occasion I took it, I had the first powder, underwent the stirrings it caused, and was about to take the second powder at the prescribed time - only to receive a phone call from the hospital to tell me that the procedure the next morning had had to be cancelled... bad enough that I had already had one powder, but, as I now know, I just missed the joys of the effect that taking the second one has..... to be indelicate, as one delightful person took joy in telling me beforehand, on taking the second one, its not so much a case of "the bottom fell out of my world" as..... (well rearrange the words for yourself... sorry!)

I had been severely worried about the procedure as I had heard from some that it was painful - but others said not. In the event for the first one, I remember being on the table with all the equipment around me, but came to not remembering a thing about it - the effect apparently of the sedative I was given.

Two years ago, however, after twenty four hours of bleeding, intensely worrying, I was admitted to hospital, and after four days given another colonoscopy (whoopee!!). On this occasion, I certainly DO remember the rather painful first few moments of the procedure... not enough sedative... but again, apart from finding that I had colitis (which has since reared its ugly head again once) I was pronounced all clear of polyps/cancer. I look forward (eh?) to another check up in about a year's time.

I would strongly urge anybody who is offered a colonoscopy as a choice, not to turn it down. It can be worrying beforehand, but far better to undergo it than to develop something which is far more worrying in the long term.