Jon Walters has shared an eye-opening account of undergoing a colonoscopy with the aim of raising awareness of bowel cancer, which killed his mother when she was aged just 40.
The Burnley and Republic of Ireland striker underwent the procedure, in which a camera is sent into the colon to check for abnormalities, as a precaution in case he has a genetic link that could mean he is susceptible to the disease.
Walters, most famous for his spell at Stoke, then shared details of the experience on Twitter - including some rather gory details.
They include: a '12000ft' tube going up his backside, a laxative so strong that it is like a nuclear bomb going off in Walters' stomach, a 'human waterfall' and a poor, unsuspecting father-in-law, who had to drive him to the hospital.
Walters, 35, describes his experience with great humour and humility, especially one moment where he asks the doctor if he had found his head up his... you know.
Burnley and Ireland striker Jon Walters has shared his experience of having a colonoscopy; he revealed all to raise awareness of bowel cancer, which killed his mother when she was just 40
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ShareThis is how his thread of tweets read:
'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...
'Firstly, I spoke with the club doctor and arranged to meet Dr M, a specialist in this procedure. He explained the process which went in one ear and out the other, mainly because all I heard was how he was going to stick a tube, 12000ft up my backside....
'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...
'The day before the colonoscopy I followed the instructions explaining what I should and shouldn't eat, but all I could think about was the 12000ft tube that was looming the next day. I stopped eating at 9pm and mentally prepared for what was coming...
'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...
WHAT IS A COLONOSCOPY?
A colonoscopy is an examination of your entire large bowel using a device called a colonoscope, which is a long, thin, flexible tube attached to a very small camera and light.
Your bowel needs to be empty when a colonoscopy is performed, so you'll be advised to eat a special diet for a few days beforehand and take a medication to help empty your bowel (laxative) on the morning of the examination.
You'll be given a sedative to help you relax during the test. The doctor will then insert the colonoscope into your rectum and move it along the length of your large bowel. This isn't usually painful, but can feel uncomfortable.
The camera relays images to a monitor, which allows the doctor to check for any abnormal areas within the rectum or bowel that could be the result of cancer. A biopsy may also be performed during the test.
A colonoscopy usually takes about an hour to complete, and most people can go home once they've recovered from the effects of the sedative.
(Source: NHS)
<!- - ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/sport/football/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 - ->Advertisement'MoviPrep is a laxative so you are advised to 'stay near a toilet' To be more accurate it should tell you to stay on the toilet as you will experience what can only be described as a nuclear bomb going off in your stomach...
'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...
'Now that I was 10kg lighter, I had the small issue of a 45 minute drive to the hospital in Manchester. Normally that wouldn't be a problem but I've now had 2 litres of nuclear laxative and I'm struggling to walk 12 yards to the toilet...
'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..
'We managed to complete the journey without any incidents and went through to the ward to prepare for the tube and film crew who were going to have a look up my backside. Once the hospital gown was on I was ready to go...
'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..
'Did he find my head up there as I've been told on many occasions that's where it's at? 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...
'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.'
Walters is best known from his time at Stoke, where he was a regular goalscorer
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