A BRAVE stepmother who has battled with anal cancer will mark one year since her diagnosis with a charity pub walk.

Lesley Rollinson was diagnosed with the disease last year and and had to have gruelling treatment.

The 48-year-old, of Great Harwood, had bowel surgery and was fitted with a colostomy bag the day before her birthday, and was put on intense courses of chemotherapy and radiation.

The Accrol Papers sales office manager had been diagnosed with piles for almost two years before learning the truth.

However Lesley, originally of Nelson, was told by doctors her tumour had shrunk at a check-up in April.

Lesley said: “I was bleeding from my back passage for months.

“I saw my doctor and I was treated for piles for over a year.

“I used the medication they gave me and it just kept getting worse and worse.

“I was later referred to a consultant and I was referred to the hospital for a haemorrhoid procedure under general anaesthetic.

“On the day of the procedure the doctors told me that they found some ulcers and sent me for further scans.

“These scans revealed I had anal cancer.

“My first questions was ‘is there a treatment and have I got a chance of a cure?’ If there was a chance of a cure I told them to hit me with everything.”

According to NHS figures, around 1,200 people are diagnosed with cancer of the anus each year in the UK.

Some people with anal cancer don’t have any symptoms.

The Ribble Valley pub walk will span 12 miles and Lesley, along with her husband, Shane, will complete the walk in aid of East Lancashire Hospice.

Lesley said: “I haven’t felt this good in a long time, I have tried to be really positive all the way through.

“My husband has been my rock and my two stepchildren have been fantastic, I’m lucky that I have a support team behind me.

“Work has been fantastic. It’s ironic that I work at a toilet roll factory.

“I can see how people can give up, but I believe in having a positive mind.”

The walk will start at 11am at Whalley Abbey and is being organised by the Rotary Club of Ribblesdale.

Lesley said: “A few of my friends did the pub walk last year and they loved it.

“This year me and my husband Shane are going to do it with my friends Julie Dean and Denise McKenzie.

“I know a lot of people over the years who have had family cared for at East Lancashire Hospice.

“All the people I know have nothing but praise for the staff and the care that they give.

“The hospice is so important, it’s not just the person going through the illness that suffers, it’s the whole family.”