Tragedy as mum dies of cancer doctors had thought was irritable bowel syndrome

Tragedy as mum dies of cancer doctors had thought was irritable bowel syndrome Amy Tomlinson has paid tribute to her mother-in-law, Debbie Tomlinson, who at 62, has passed away after her bowel cancer spread to her lymph nodes, liver, bowel and knee A “bubbly, strong and fearless” mum has died after a four-year battle with bowel cancer which doctors initially mistook for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Debbie Tomlinson, 62, passed away after the disease spread to her lymph nodes, liver, bowel and knee, despite undergoing surgery and extensive treatment. After enduring several rounds of chemotherapy, Debbie eventually made the heartbreaking decision to stop treatment so she could spend what time she had left making memories with her family. Her loved ones said their final goodbyes at her funeral on Friday October 23, with daughter-in-law Amy Tomlinson describing the service as “joyful rather than sad”. Amy said: "We gave her the send-off she would've wanted." The tragedy comes as awareness for bowel cancer is being raised following the death of Olympic athlete Ciara Mageean at the age of just 34. The family, though, are now facing a £3,000 shortfall in funeral costs. Debbie's son, Rhys, contributed £1,500 towards the arrangements, but he and his wife Amy are appealing for public support to help cover the remaining amount. Amy said Debbie had initially visited her GP with concerns about persistent symptoms, including bloating, stomach pain and difficulty going to the toilet. But for more than a year, her symptoms were attributed to IBS and general stomach problems, with no further investigations, Amy claimed. She said: "All they put it down to was IBS and tummy problems." Debbie was eventually diagnosed with bowel cancer after a routine screening kit returned an abnormal result. The hospital contacted her and arranged further tests, which confirmed the devastating news. Despite the delay, Amy said Debbie never allowed anger to consume her. “The way Debbie was, she was never angry. She just lived her life. She was just like, 'It is what it is',” the grieving daughter-in-law, from Reading, Berkshire, said. Following her diagnosis, Debbie underwent surgery in Reading to remove the cancer, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which she found extremely difficult. Although she missed her final chemotherapy session, Debbie was led to believe her treatment was over and everything was “done and dusted”, Amy, who has shared to reporters photos the family is happy the media use, explained. But in October 2024, a routine scan revealed the cancer had spread to her liver. Debbie was referred for specialist treatment in Basingstoke, where she underwent another operation to remove the cancer from her liver. Doctors subsequently told her there was no evidence of disease. However, the relief was short-lived. In January 2025, another routine scan revealed the cancer had returned to her bowel. Doctors proposed further surgery which would remove the cancer but also involve removing several vital organs. “It would've been a long recovery, but Deb was up for it,” Amy said. Between January and February, Amy accompanied her mother-in-law to appointments and scans at several hospitals as they waited for news about the proposed operation. Then, in February 2025, the family received a devastating phone call informing them the surgery could not go ahead and Debbie's cancer was terminal. She was offered chemotherapy, which she initially agreed to try again, but the side effects quickly became too much. Eventually, Debbie decided she would rather spend her remaining time with her family than continue treatment that was leaving her unable to enjoy life. Amy explained: “She decided she couldn't do it, because if she did the chemo, she had no life, but if she didn't do it, at least she had a life where she could go and do things." The chemotherapy left Debbie struggling to get out of bed and also caused hair loss, something which particularly upset her because of how much she loved her hair. Amy said: "It's quite rare to lose hair after one session. It's normally a build-up of several sessions, so that really affected Deb because she really loved her hair, and she was also so poorly. Despite knowing her illness was terminal, Debbie remained determined to make the most of the time she had left. She enjoyed days out and precious moments with her family, particularly her grandchildren, Logan and Thea, whom Amy said she “lived for”. Remembering the 62-year-old, Amy paid tribute to a woman whose personality and sense of humour left an unforgettable mark on those around her. “She had her own way of doing things, her own sense of humour and a personality that could never be replaced,” she said. And in a touching final tribute, Amy revealed the family could almost picture Debbie enjoying some of her favourite things wherever she is now. “We know that wherever she is now, she'll be having a WKD Blue, a fag and a Fab for us all – and probably wondering what on earth we're all making such a fuss about." To donate to the family's GoFundMe page, use this link.