A brave mum has opened up about how a shock cancer diagnosis changed her life.
Denise Graham was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer last Easter. Previously, GPs and NHS staff mistakenly told her "nothing was seriously wrong", and on one occasion she was sent home from hospital and told she was just a "bit constipated".
The 45-year-old, who was diagnosed the same illness as podcaster and campaigner Deborah James, has shared her story to raise the profile of bowel cancer and encourage people to get themselves screened. And she has also told of how cancer has changed her perspective on life.
Denise, from Winlaton, said: "I remember the Oncologist saying, it's stage four cancer Denise, there's no stage five. I was like, wow, top of the ladder already, yay. And I just remember saying to him, like, I know you've got your statistics and I know you're telling us that there's what, a 7% chance of survival in the next five years?
"But, I've got two little girls who need me and I'm not going anywhere. Regardless of what happens, I'm fighting this 100% and I'm not just gonna roll over and be a cancer patient. And I didn't."
Despite receiving the difficult news, Denise, who is a financial adviser and advocate for women in the business world, said she has found a "nice side" to cancer, which has highlighted the importance of seizing the moment.
She added: "There's a nice side to cancer, I know that sounds really weird but there is a nice side to cancer. It definitely changes you.
"There might be things where you think, I might do that, and then you think I'll wait until a rainy day. And then after a cancer diagnosis, you think, why am I waiting for a rainy day? I just need to do it now."
Her get up and go led her to complete the five-mile Derwent Walk trail in Gateshead on Saturday June 11 to raise awareness for Bowel Cancer UK. Denise a group of over 30 supporters, fellow cancer survivors, friends and family set off to walk.
Denise said: "When you've got cancer and you have cancer fatigue, it's not like just having a rest will fix it. No amount of caffeine is going to give you energy.
"It's just you feel exhausted and then what happens is you're not exercising, you're not eating and you get into a vicious circle because if you're not eating and drinking you've got no energy anyway. And I think that's how people struggle through cancer treatments.
"So for me it was about making sure I got up every day, shower and paint my face on."
Friends of Denise had only positive things to say about what she is doing to raise awareness for Bowel Cancer UK, alongside how she has dealt with her own diagnosis and treatment.
"I think Denise has turned a real negative into a positive situation and it's good to see her coming out of the other side and doing such a wonderful thing for other people," said Sarah Wharrier.
Layla Irvin added, "She's become a bit of an inspiration for everybody who's going through it. She made people laugh with it like when she put her wig in the sink and said I can't go out tonight, I'm washing my hair. She took it on board and she is just a complete warrior."
"She's gone through really tough times, but she hasn't let those take away from being the funny woman she is, and an inspirational woman," said Christine Carruthers, who assisted in organising the charity walk.
Denise and her team have excelled in their fundraiser, and it is still ongoing until the end of June. To donate to the Betty's Warriors team fundraiser for Bowel Cancer UK, visit here.
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