LAST OCTOBER a Romsey woman lit up the streets of Southampton to help people beat cancer.
In a cruel twist of fate, two months later she was diagnosed with the disease which she was raising money to detect, prevent and cure.
Nicolette Bateman took part in Cancer Research UK’s Shine Night Walk, completing the city’s 10k route in memory of her mum who died six years ago of bowel cancer.
After she was admitted to hospital on Christmas Eve, Nicolette was told she too had developed the disease.
'My whole world had ended'
She said: “I felt so bloated and assumed it was due to what I’d eaten. By the end of the week, I had ballooned out completely and wasn’t passing anything at all.
“In the end my daughter Hannah, 22, urged me to go to A&E on Christmas Eve.
“I was blissfully unaware it could be cancer and assumed I was being treated for a twisted bowel.
“But on December 27 I had a scan at 2am and a few hours later the doctor said that they’d found a tumour blocking my colon and my bowel was close to perforating.
“They said I needed surgery otherwise I could die.
“I had to have a lot of my large bowel removed and now live with a stoma.
“For the first day I felt like my whole world had ended and I didn’t want to look at it.
“But I received amazing support from my nurse and my daughter Hannah and used a lot of toilet humour to soon get used to having it.”
READ MORE: Thousands join the fight against cancer at Race for Life - In pictures
'Fundraising is so important'
Nicolette is now encouraging people to join her in Southampton on September 3 for this year’s Shine Night Walk, which will mark the end of nine months of treatment to cure her of cancer.
She said: “Last year I took part because we’ve lost nine people in my family to the disease.
“I’d already decided to do Shine again but then had my own diagnosis and wasn’t sure if I’d be able to do it.
“I’m so pleased that I’m here today to take part and will complete it, even if my friends have to carry me through.
“I’m almost through the other side now and I know the difference research makes and why fundraising is so important.”
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To enter or volunteer visit shinewalk.org and anyone entering between now and August 21 using code SNWSOU30 can receive 30 per cent off the entry fee.
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