Cancer tests 'not as awful as I was expecting'

Phil told his GP about his symptoms and within weeks knew he did not have cancer

BBC Radio Berkshire’s Phil Mercer noticed he had a stomach problem in the summer.

He was spending longer than usual on the loo, usually about 90 minutes after eating.

The 49-year-old made an appointment with his GP, initially to talk about arthritis in his knees, and then slipped into the conversation that he had noticed a problem with his tummy.

He was given a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) to test for bowel cancer, did the necessary and then posted it back.

“I had a phone call from the GP. I don't know about you, but if you get a telephone call from the GP, you really start to think twice," he said.

“And, of course, when they call you, and they say: ‘I don't want you to worry,' a lot starts going through your mind at that particular moment.

“It turned out there was a bit of blood in my poo, which triggered some alarms for the GP.”

Within a fortnight, Phil, who has also worked for BBC Radio Oxford, was having a colonoscopy at hospital.

He said: “It happened so quickly. You are given some pre-preparations. You have those 24 hours before.

"It’s actually quite a nice-tasting solution that you make up in a drink. It’s like doing some kind of chemistry test; you have to mix two chemicals together.

“You drink that and then the world ends over the course of the next 24 hours and then you are as clean as a whistle when you end up in hospital the next day.

“There were a lot of very nervous people in the waiting room because they didn’t know what they were in for."

Bowel cancer can start in the colon (large bowel) or the rectum (back passage) and is also known as colorectal cancer

“They sit you down and have a conversation and said: ‘By the way, we are not going to be able to sedate you for this.'

“So I had the whole procedure on a bit of gas and air.

“It was not as awful as I was expecting. And it's mainly because of the nurses that are with you and the chap I had doing the exam.

"And there were a few jokes made, which was quite fun. At the same time you are in a most uncomfortable position.

“And then you get to see it all on camera, which is quite amazing. So the entirety of my lower intestine, I have now seen on video, which is mad.

“Anyway, the good news for me here, personally, is at the end of that, I was given the all clear and all was fine, except for the fact that I have to wait for a few results from some biopsies.”

The late Dame Deborah James raised millions of pounds and raised awareness of bowel cancer

About 44,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year.

It is the UK's second biggest cancer killer, taking more than 16,000 lives annually.

“Early diagnosis is the key to everything in any type of cancer, but particularly the colorectal cancers. They can be easily spotted if you have the tests," Helen Milroy, the head of operations at Newbury Cancer Care, told Phil.

Dame Deborah James, who died from bowel cancer at the age of 40 in 2022, told everyone to check their poo as part of her campaign to raise awareness of the disease.

The Bowelbabe Fund she created to improve knowledge of it has raised £16m.

Bowel Cancer UK recommends keeping a diary of symptoms before you visit your GP so you do not forget anything at your appointment.

Doctors are used to seeing lots of people with a variety of bowel problems, so tell them about any changes or bleeding so they can find out the cause.