JO PEARSON had no reason to think she might die. The 61-year-old enjoyed good health and diet. She had her husband, family and friends, and a comfortable life in Darlington's West End. Her religious faith was strong.

"I never thought I was going to die. I've got far too much going on here," she remarked.

But last winter, after a few months of dieting, she became increasingly concerned over dramatic weight loss and back pain. These worries increased after she read a D&S Times article in November on bowel cancer.

"I recognised one of the symptoms - a lower back ache - and hung on to the article. I kept reading it.

"I didn't think it could be cancer or anything really bad. However, I had to face the fact that I had a symptom. The article seemed to be pointing at me. I was numb."

She asked her husband, Ken, to book an appointment with her doctor. Christmas was approaching but uncertainty surrounded her health. She was unsure what to tell those closest to her.

Mr and Mrs Pearson moved to Darlington five years ago. They bought a comfortable apartment in Carmel Road North and enjoyed life to the full.

They had spent 15 years at Richmond, bringing up their family and taking part in community life there. Mrs Pearson was active in amateur drama and keen on music, particularly classical and opera by Puccini, Verdi and Tchaikovsky. Once in Darlington, she joined the choir at Holy Family Church in Cockerton.

She was also in a yoga class and enjoyed walking, cycling, reading crime novels, and tackling Daily Telegraph crosswords. Her husband, a retired bank manager, shared similar interests.

After reading the D&S Times article, Mrs Pearson initially hung back from seeking advice.

"I suppose it was very cowardly, but I eventually asked Ken to book me an appointment."

She saw Dr Robin Wade at the Moorlands Surgery.

"My weight-loss was becoming more noticeable. I was melting away. I'd shrunk from size 16 to size ten. Nothing fitted me and my face was gaunt."

At the same time, friends became worried and asked each other about her health. One of them, Pat Robins, said people were remarking on her thinness.

"I said I'd seen my doctor and was having tests," she recalled.

Emotions had prevented her from seeking immediate advice. She did not like making a fuss and, having suffered constipation all her life, she thought her concerns might be ungrounded.

"I had a mixture of fear and embarrassment. Nobody likes being examined and I thought the tests would be horrible."

Her husband added: "Most of us are reluctant to go to the doctor. We're conscious of their pressures. But imagine what could have happened, if Jo had delayed for another month?"

She continued: "My doctor was marvellous and very receptive. He took some samples and blood tests. After a few days, I received a letter saying my stools contained blood. This could indicate a number of things and I wasn't to worry."

She was referred to consultant Keith Gunning at Darlington Memorial Hospital for a colonoscopy and tests.

An ultrasonic stomach scan showed a cancerous tumour. It needed removal but thankfully had not spread to other organs.

"I was quite shocked about the prospect of an operation," Mrs Pearson said.

But rather than becoming inactive, the couple proceeded with a new year visit to Bruges with friends, as her consultant recommended. An operation date was fixed for their return.

She was concerned about upsetting those close to her.

"We tailored the information to what we thought family and friends could cope with. Because it's not easy talking on the telephone, the situation was probably hardest for our daughter at Winchester. It was only just before I went into hospital that I and Ken admitted we were frightened."

She was treated at Stockton's Nuffield Hospital through her private health cover but stressed her decision was no reflection on local hospitals.

"The treatment was excellent and quick. Very fortunately, I didn't require a stomach bag outside of my stomach or chemotherapy. This was all down to early diagnosis."

She recalled the moment she heard her operation had been successful: "That was the first time I shed any tears - it was complete relief. And the nurses received the good news as gladly as me.

"I told them about the D&S Times report and tried to telephone the newspaper from hospital. But I think you had difficulty reaching me. I could hear a telephone ringing in another room.

"That report affected me far more than anything I'd ever read. It had full details on all the possible symptoms. I was aware of breast cancer but never knew bowel cancer was so common."

She now has occasional check-ups and an annual colonoscopy.

"I feel fantastic," she added.

She thanked her family and friends, including the congregations and clergy at St Francis Xavier Church at Richmond and Holy Family.

"But I must add," she said, "it would not be an exaggeration to say that your report saved my life.