Woman Mistook a Deadly Illness for Perimenopause

Laura Dawson, a 44-year-old mother of two, spent months coping with persistent morning bloating and extreme fatigue—symptoms that ultimately led to a heartbreaking diagnosis that cut her life short.

Living in London, Dawson initially believed her symptoms were connected to perimenopause. In truth, she was unknowingly battling stage three bowel cancer.

It was not until one night, when she was suddenly overwhelmed by intense abdominal pain, that she sought emergency medical care at A&E. Doctors carried out urgent surgery to remove a bowel obstruction. While the procedure itself was deemed successful, further tests revealed the presence of cancer.

Her husband, Ben, later explained that Dawson went on to complete six months of chemotherapy, and early scan results gave the family a sense of hope.

“In August, we were told the scan was clear and everything looked positive,” Ben said. “But in September, we were informed the cancer had returned and spread. It was completely devastating.”

After the cancer resurfaced, Dawson explored alternative chemotherapy options. However, two months ago, she made the difficult decision to stop treatment, as it was causing her to become increasingly unwell. Instead, she chose to focus on spending meaningful time with those she loved most.

St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham, south-east London, provided care and support that allowed Dawson to remain at home for as long as possible, ensuring she was comfortable and treated with dignity.

Dawson passed away at St Christopher’s Hospice on Sunday, June 29, with her husband by her side.

“The care Laura received at home from the carers at St Christopher’s meant she was able to spend her final two weeks in comfort and with dignity,” Ben said. “During the nearly three weeks she spent at the hospice, she was shown extraordinary compassion. That care made her last days peaceful and meaningful. We will always be grateful that something so positive could come from such a painful situation.”

Before her passing, Dawson reflected on her experience and the final weeks of her life.

“Some of the happiest days of my life have been in these last few weeks,” she said. “As a society, we tend to avoid talking about dying.

“When we do that, we reinforce fear around death. People assume dying must always be painful or traumatic, but that isn’t necessarily true.

“Deep down, we all know our lives will end. Cancer forced me to face that reality. Since then, I’ve lived more fully than ever before—and that has been a gift.”

She passed away surrounded by love, fully aware that she was deeply cared for.