Newbury mum dies from bowel cancer after 'IBS symptoms'

Debbie Tomlinson, from Newbury, died following a battle with bowel cancer on September 25, which doctors originally thought was irritable bowel syndrome.

Her daughter-in-law, Amy Tomlinson, said Debbie endured years of treatment and operations after first experiencing symptoms including bloating, stomach pain and feeling full quickly.

Debbie died after the disease spread to her lymph nodes, liver, bowel and knee, despite undergoing extensive surgery and treatment.

Amy said: "[Debbie] had lots of symptoms of different things with her stomach.

"She kept going to the doctors about it and they kept telling her it was IBS and that it was nothing to worry about.

"She did her best and after everything, but had a downwards spiral at the end of August while we were on holiday and she survived for four weeks after that before she sadly passed."

Debbie Tomlinson died aged 62 following a cancer battle (Image: Supplied)

After receiving a diagnosis for bowel cancer, Debbie underwent an operation to remove the cancer in Reading, before she went through radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments, which she struggled with.

Despite missing her last chemotherapy session, Debbie was led to believe that she was in the 'all clear', said Amy.

But in October 2024, she returned to the hospital for a general routine scan which showed that there was now cancer in her liver, which Debbie 'had no idea about'.

Debbie, who previously worked at Newbury Snooker Club, was then referred to Basingstoke to see a specialist and had an operation on her liver to remove the cancer. She was told that the disease had gone.

Debbie Tomlinson died aged 62 following a cancer battle (Image: Supplied)

But in January 2025, Debbie returned for another routine scan, and doctors told her that the cancer had returned to her bowel.

Her doctors then proposed a surgery which would remove the cancer, but also many vital organs.

Amy said: "They were going to do an operation where they took out her bowel and her bladder but before they could do that, she would have to undergo a load more scans."

In the two months after, Amy took Debbie to multiple scans across multiple hospitals.

In February 2025, the family were then told over the phone that the surgery could not go ahead and that the cancer was terminal.

"It was near her spleen," said Amy.

"It was back in her liver and lungs so they told her at that point that she was terminal and that was just over a telephone call."

Debbie was given the option of chemotherapy, which she started temporarily but found too difficult. She chose instead, to live the last months of her life without the treatment, so could still go out with her family and do things.

Amy said: "She decided that she wasn't going to do the chemo after one session because she could live her life as well as she could without it and at least not be stuck in bed.

"She wanted to have time with her son and her grandchildren."

Debbie is survived by her son, Rhys, and three grandchildren Liam, 20, and twins Thea and Logan, eight.

Debbie Tomlinson died aged 62 following a cancer battle (Image: Supplied)

Amy and her husband Rhys are now appealing to fund the remaining £3,000 of Debbie's funeral bill, due to financial struggles.

She said: "Debbie was going to start her own funeral arrangements but when we were supposed to start, she got too poorly and it was too late. There was nothing we could do.

"Me and my husband owe this money on the funeral cost so the rest of the money raised will go towards paying this off."

Amy described Debbie as a 'fun' and 'bubbly' mum and grandmother, who loved spending time with her family.

"She loved spending time with her grandchildren and even towards the end, she still made sure she got out in the garden," Amy said.

"She showed incredible strength and courage throughout everything she went through, and although our hearts are completely broken, we couldn’t be prouder of her."

To make a donation to the fundraiser, visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-give-debbie-the-farewell-she-deserves-cqjd3