Morning ranting

Today I am beginning my morning completely, absolutely, totally furious.  What kind of country do I live in?  Have the UK National Health authorities taken leave of their senses?  How can any of their cost-cutting initiatives be justified?  I am literally incandescent with rage.

The story so far - I am 61 years old and have a family history of cancer.  I had breast cancer when I was 42, my mother died of colon cancer.  As a result of this a few years ago I insisted that I have a colonoscopy.  For those who haven't had this delight, this is a test where a camera is shoved up inside you and the internal lining of the colon is examined for any irregularities.  The test is not pleasant and the prep for the test is even less pleasant, but hey, this is not something you actively want to happen, but needs to happen.  So far I have had two of these delightful procedures done once every 30months of so.

In the US this test is done every year on people over 50.  In the UK, where health is a hit or miss affair, it has previously been done on people over 50 every three years unless there is a family history of cancer.  I have, obviously,  qualified for this procedure to be done slightly more frequently.  I was just telephoned by my GP who informed me that the protocol has changed and the National Health Service recommendation is now once every five (!!!!) years!

Five years between examinations is an incredibly long time.  In five years any developing cancer can decimate the body. Maybe this is the motivation behind the arbitrary nature of the NHS decision, to wipe out the elderly by not diagnosing illnesses at an early stage. I expressed this to my doctor, who listened without comment.

I guess I will have to becomea medical tourist.  The colon procedure costs about £800- £1,000 to have done privately in the UK. In India it costs £132.  I could actually have a holiday, bask in Indian sunshine, see friends and relax and have this test done, not to mention the mammography they only think is necessary  for UK women every five years too.

So, enough anger over things I cannot change.  I will, as always find a way round this and take care of my health in my own way.  I am healthy and in pretty good  shape for a woman of a certain age.  I have every intention of staying that way even if I have to become more creative as to how. 

I am still angry, but willing to let it go right now because all it does is frustrate me.