Denise Binding joined us for Walk Together to celebrate her ‘all clear’ from the disease
Tuesday 6 August 2019
Denise Binding was diagnosed with bowel cancer in October 2016 at 46 years old. She joined our Walk Together last year with her two sons to celebrate the all clear – a huge milestone in her treatment!
I decided to take part in the London Walk Together last year for Bowel Cancer UK with my sons Jack and Sam as a positive milestone after receiving the all clear.
It was a beautiful day and we followed a great route along the Thames.
We managed to raise over £700.
I am a single parent and the boys were aged just 9 and 12 when I was diagnosed in October 2016. I had been experiencing some blood in my poo for a few months and a subtle change in my bowel habits. I was also experiencing fatigue but working full time and looking after the boys that was par for the course.
I was young (ish), fit and healthy and went to the gym four times per week.
I had already decided via Dr Google that it was ulcerative colitis and was completely unprepared for the words "you have cancer", never mind the news that I would need to have a stoma and an ileostomy bag.
I suffered some complications after surgery but I was incredibly lucky that the tumour was caught at an early stage, something which I now know is rare with bowel cancer.
The trauma of the operations and the cancer triggered an autoimmune disease called Lupus which I now live with. It has no cure and so life is very different, however I am now clear of bowel cancer.
Fear and anxiety about a recurrence is very real and never far away but I try not to dwell on that. I never forget that many others are dealing with more advanced cancer and consider myself incredibly lucky.
Walk Together this June
Walk Together is a sponsored five mile walk to show our support for those undergoing treatment, to remember loved ones and help stop people dying of bowel cancer.
On Saturday 12 June 2021 we're asking you to join us and walk five miles in your own time, at your own pace, in your local area, with your household or within small socially distanced groups. By walking on this date we will be together, across the country, completing our five miles on the same day.
However, if you can't make this date then you can still walk anytime throughout June to suit you.
