You can buy testing kits in boots , not that expensive i think i noticed them the other day 

Hello and thank you for your post.

I am afraid that it is not recommended to buy and use a bowel cancer testing kit. 

If you have symptoms, do go to see your GP, who may give you an NHS bowel screening kit. If you have no symptoms, then wait for the NHS kit to be posted to you.

Take care,

Caroline

I understand that but this persons doctor refuses to let them have a test so i see this as a makeshift until their surgery allows them to 

I actually have bowel cancer which has been removed and i have a stoma fitted, yet i have been sent a bowel testing kit there seems to be a lack of communication somewhere 

Hello and thanks for your post,

I am sorry to hear about this situation. If your friend continues to have symptoms then do go back to the GP or another GP in the practice.

As my colleague Nurse Caroline said we can't recommend bowel screening kits that you buy yourself as we can't say whether they will be reliable or not.

This is what Bowel Cancer UK say about at-home self-tests

'Private screening tests are at-home self-tests sold by private companies that test for blood in your poo and return a positive, negative, or invalid result. Also called commercial screening tests, they can be bought in pharmacies, online, and in some shops and supermarkets. These tests are not approved for NHS screening and unlike NHS test companies they don't have to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).'

I hope this helps.

All the best,

Catherine

Depends on your age, and why should you believe that because you have already had bowel cancer this somehow excludes you from it from henceforth. l post this as one that has gone through stage four bowel cancer with stoma reversal

They sent me a bowel testing kit but I still have a stoma on top of that i  have issues with my join  When they removed the cancer

I have just finished my 5 weeks(25 rounds) of radiotherapy and waiting on surgery and I also just received a bowel screening kit...I was like too late  

Pleasr may I ask you, is the reversal as hard going as the op.  I'm waiting on op and been told ill be out of action for about 6 weeks. And will then have the reversal if all heals OK. Tanks x

Not sure i am not allowed to have one because i have a build of water which they are investigating, i am either going to be stuck with a stoma for life or it will heal and i might be able to have one , i think the first couple of weeks are rough from what i have read about but then it starts to get better 

hello kj25,

                 before l go any please let me qualify my response by stating each and every one of us will have a different response and outcome, so that should be borne in mind.

In my case my wound around my stoma would not heal, l react badly to things on my body that are present for a few months initially, and thereafter in a matter of days, so no metal,plastics,rubber ect, hence no watches,neck chains,wristbands. So for 14 months l persevered with trying to put new bags onto a bleeding raw site, no way was that staying.

 That my reversal was challenging would be an under statement, the first six months were liquid explosions up to 40 times a day resulting in inflamed bowel lining and bleeding. Over the following four years it slowly came back to civility veering between peaks and troughs. l am now 7 years on with full control ,with occasional flare ups. 

The reversal op is a piece of cake, what follows would be the issue.

l would stress that l would be at the worst extreme, many people over the years l have been on this site have had a far easier transition, and despite all my challenges l have never regretted my decision concerning the reversal. You have to be prepared to work hard sometimes to progress to a good outcome, and l would do it all again without hesitation. l feel my outcome was compromised by the longer time between operation and reversal which was dictated by my business being seasonal hospitality based, so l needed to work until the winter came.

l named my bowel vesuviarse and like all good volcano's it goes back into slumber mode after epic eruptions. It has to live with me, l do no live with it so its questionable who has had the harder time, your mental outlook can make a big difference to these things you encounter in life.

l hope like me you continue on the path to recovery, and like me you will achieve so much more meaningful achievements with your second chance,

David

Hi KJ25 and thank you for your post.

 I'm sorry to read about your situation. It sounds like you are going through a lot.

The closure of a stoma  is not as complex as the surgery to create the stoma, but it is still considered a significant operation. The operation involves making a cut around the stoma to detach it from the abdominal wall, then stitching the bowel back together to restore continuity of the bowel.  The joined bowel is then placed back inside the abdominal cavity, followed by stitching the abdominal wall muscles and skin. It is still considered a significant operation.

Your colorectal specialist nurse will be able to provide you with more information regarding the procedure, including the preparation needed and the expected recovery time.

I have provided here some information on stoma reversals which you may or may not have seen already, and some supportive communities dedicated to those with stomas.

https://www.bladderandbowel.org/bowel/stoma/stoma-reversal/ 

https://www.colostomyuk.org/information/stoma-reversal/ 

I hope you find this information helpful.

Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

I hope all goes well with your treatment and surgery.

Take care,

Tina

Hi KJ25 and thank you for your post.

 I'm sorry to read about your situation. It sounds like you are going through a lot.

The closure of a stoma  is not as complex as the surgery to create the stoma, but it is still considered a significant operation. The operation involves making a cut around the stoma to detach it from the abdominal wall, then stitching the bowel back together to restore continuity of the bowel.  The joined bowel is then placed back inside the abdominal cavity, followed by stitching the abdominal wall muscles and skin. It is still considered a significant operation.

Your colorectal specialist nurse will be able to provide you with more information regarding the procedure, including the preparation needed and the expected recovery time.

I have provided here some information on stoma reversals which you may or may not have seen already, and some supportive communities dedicated to those with stomas.

https://www.bladderandbowel.org/bowel/stoma/stoma-reversal/ 

https://www.colostomyuk.org/information/stoma-reversal/ 

I hope you find this information helpful.

Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

I hope all goes well with your treatment and surgery.

Take care,

Tina

Thank you so much for your response.  I will definitely read up about it