Ireland international Jon Walters has shared a personal and amusing account of his colonoscopy to raise awareness of bowel cancer.
Walters' mother, Helen, passed away 23 years ago, at the age of 40, from the disease.
The Burnley striker requires regular check-ups for abnormalities of his bowel due to his family history.
Walters revealed he was most worried about "the 12000ft tube" they were going to going to "stick up my backside", before having to face down "one of the worst inventions known to man or woman": MoviPrep.
MoviPrep is a laxative which Walters says "tastes like orange flavour cat urine mixed with toilet cleaner" and "can only be described as a nuclear bomb going off in your stomach".
Having emptied his bowels and avoided emptying them any further on the 45-minute journey to the hospital, he prepared for the tube and "film crew" in a ward.
He received some anesthetic before "I witnessed a 20 minute journey through my bowels on a TV screen".
"I then asked Dr M the most serious question of all... Did he find my head up there as I’ve been told on many occasions that’s where it’s at?," wrote Walters, before adding, "Thankfully it was the easiest of procedures and my bowels are completely clear of any polyps and I have no worries whatsoever.
"The next step for me is to get some genetic tests to see whether my Mum’s bowel cancer could have been passed on genetically. I’m just glad this doesn’t involve MoviPrep!...
"I’ve shared this with you for a reason! Colonoscopies aren’t a joke and neither is bowel cancer. It’s vile disease that can be prevented with some education and awareness on early signs of the disease. There’s no shame in doing what I’ve done."
He recommends visiting the health service website and talking to your GP.
"It was 23 years ago that my Mum passed away. With the advances in medicine since then, I would like to envisage that taking my advice could help save your life."
Read his full account of the procedure below...
Yesterday I went for a colonoscopy. My Mum, Helen passed away aged 40 of bowel cancer and because of her age I need to be checked regularly for any abnormalities of my bowel. To raise awareness of this monstrous disease I’m going to share my experience...
— Jonathan Walters (@JonWalters19) January 22, 2019
...I left the hospital with a powdered solution called ‘MoviPrep’ In itself this sounds quite innocuous but trust me when I say it’s one of the worst inventions known to man or woman. I left his office knowing I had a month or so before the procedure...
— Jonathan Walters (@JonWalters19) January 22, 2019
...The next morning I made my first solution of MoviPrep. I mixed 2 sachets of powder with 1 litre of water and this took 1hr30 to drink. The reason it takes so long and what no-one tells you is that it tastes like orange flavour cat urine mixed with toilet cleaner...
— Jonathan Walters (@JonWalters19) January 22, 2019
...This human waterfall goes on for an hour or so until your bowels are completely and utterly emptied. You’re so relieved when it’s all over UNTIL you then realise you’ve got to make up another solution of MoviPrep and do it all over again...
— Jonathan Walters (@JonWalters19) January 22, 2019
...The father in law volunteered to drive me. I didn’t explain the morning that I’ve had to him and that I contemplated buying some sort of adult nappy or bringing a waterproof coat for him incase another explosion went off...
— Jonathan Walters (@JonWalters19) January 22, 2019
...Now in the room I was having a nervous look around for the 12000ft tube and decided they must bring it in after the anaesthesiologist works his magic. I then witnessed a 20 minute journey through my bowels on a TV screen and asked Dr M the most serious question of all..
— Jonathan Walters (@JonWalters19) January 22, 2019
...The next step for me is to get some genetic tests to see whether my Mum’s bowel cancer could have been passed on genetically. I’m just glad this doesn’t involve MoviPrep!...
— Jonathan Walters (@JonWalters19) January 22, 2019
...Go on our amazing @nhs website to get any information required and please speak to your GP. It was 23 years ago that my Mum passed away. With the advances in medicine since then, I would like to envisage that taking my advice could help save your life.
— Jonathan Walters (@JonWalters19) January 22, 2019