On Good Friday, 19th April 2019 I am running a Half Day Yoga Retreat at Ribby Hall in support of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month to raise awareness of bowel cancer symptoms and support my husband Jonathan.

In 2016 Jonathan had begun to lose blood whilst going to the toilet, combined with a little pain, so he went to see his GP and was diagnosed with haemorrhoids. Time passed and his symptoms didn’t improve, Jonathan went back to see his GP and was again given an ointment. Jonathan’s symptoms were still no better and I was increasingly getting concerned, my instinct was that this was not haemorrhoids. 

In the Summer of 2017 Jonathan went back to the doctors, by this time admitting that he actually was feeling very tired and a little unwell. No concerns were raised at the GP’s but he was given a referral to see a consultant, but told that because he was under 50 years old, had no history of cancer in his family and was not in any real pain, he was not eligible to be fast tracked. October arrived and Jonathan went to his appointment and was immediately told that this was not haemorrhoids, a colonoscopy discovered a large rectal tumour and swollen lymph-nodes. We were sent to see another consultant who told us that Jonathan may need to have his lower bowel removed and have a stoma and that he needed to come to surgery so that a closer look could be made. The tumour was on a small stalk, and the wonderful consultant was able to remove it and send it away for testing. It was Tuesday 5th December 2017

On the 18th December we went for Jonathan’s results. His consultant confirmed that he had removed a Stage 2 tumour and that it was because there had been a small stalk he was able to remove it. It was a tumour that had turned into cancer over a long period of time. No cancer was present in the stalk, so three monthly MRI, CT scans and colonoscopies would monitor the lymph-nodes and other organs. In January 2019 two more polyps were discovered and removed, they were found not to contain cancer which was such a relief. We are very aware that it is essential that you respond to any symptoms that may relate to bowel cancer.

 One of the reasons Jonathan accepted his GP’s diagnosis was because of the pressures of work, business, family life, daughter’s wedding, son going to university, normal day to day pressures etc… he didn’t feel he had time. Now Jonathan does find time and feels very lucky to have received such a positive outcome so far, others he has met have not been so lucky. Taking care of yourself, being aware of your body and acting before there are fewer options is the message we would like to share.

All proceeds of this Half Day Yoga Retreat are for Bowel Cancer UK. Ribby Hall have very kindly allowed me to use their Fabulous Studio 4 for this event which is being held on Friday 19th April, 12noon till 3pm. Beginners to Advanced welcome. Yoga is for everyone and if you are new to Yoga it is great to share a class with those who are further along in their practice. We will work with Yoga Asana (posture), Pranayama (breath work) Meditation (Yoga Nidra and visualization).

Cost for Yoga Retreat is £25. If you cannot attend but would still like to donate then any amount gratefully accepted. You can book by emailing me: joeastham@btinternet.com

Thank you for all of your support, it means everything.

 Joanne, Jonathan, Alice and Isaac Eastham.

We’re the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity.We fund targeted research, provide expert information and support to patients and their families, educate the public and professionals about the disease and campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care.We’re here to stop people dying of bowel cancer.