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Doreen Cant: a survivor's story
A new bowel cancer screening programme has just arrived in Peterborough. Joanna Borrett talked to a local survivor:
A new bowel cancer screening programme has just arrived in Peterborough. Joanna Borrett talked to a local survivor: "ONE of the worst aspects of being diagnosed with cancer is shock," says Doreen Cant, who works at Peterborough District Hospital.
"I was 57 when this happened to me and I'd enjoyed 10 years of excellent health after a liver transplant and didn't feel ill in any way. Then out of the blue I had some rectal bleeding.
"I knew I had to see the doctor right away. Bowel cancer can run in families and my uncle and great aunt had both had the disease.
"I was sent for a colonoscopy and luckily the cancer was caught at a very early stage. I had surgery and was home after four days and experienced very little discomfort.
"But I felt very distressed after the initial diagnosis and the time between diagnosis and surgery was upsetting and frightening. Once I'd had the operation though I felt a bit better, and when I knew the results of the biopsy, better still.
"The staff at the hospital were brilliant. They're very experienced and are expert at making people feel at ease. I was given plenty of information about what would be involved at every stage and this helped me feel more in control. Nowadays I have scans and colonoscopies regularly, but apart from that I lead a completely normal life.
"I'd like people to know that even if your symptoms are rectal bleeding it can still mean the cancer is at an early stage. And I'd advise everyone to take part in the screening programme. It's very easy to do, you get the results back quickly and if you are one of the tiny few who need further treatment the outcome is likely to be excellent."
Related feature: The screening test that could save your life
For most of us they are thought of with either neutrality or anxiety. But the new bowel cancer screening programme being provided by the NHS in Peterborough doesn't involve seeing your GP or going to a hospital; and although it's only been running since the summer it's already proved successful in saving people's lives.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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