Warning: This article discusses cancer, which some readers may find distressing.
A woman initially diagnosed with a urinary tract infection (UTI) later discovered she was suffering from stage four cancer.
Laura Nixon, a 59-year-old from the UK, had been experiencing severe abdominal pain. Initially, this pain was misdiagnosed as a UTI after she presented to her doctor, but further investigation revealed a shocking truth.
Having been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in April 2024, Laura’s pain persisted despite being on antibiotics, leading her to seek further medical advice.
In January 2025, she consulted an out of hours doctor, who also suspected a UTI. However, when the pain didn’t subside after treatment, Laura returned to her doctor for further assistance.
Once again, she received a UTI diagnosis and was prescribed another round of antibiotics, yet her symptoms remained unchanged.
Laura assumed cancer markers had been checked due to a prior gallbladder removal but had no immediate concern until a visit to A&E in April. There, the intense nature of her pain necessitated a wait for a CT scan, prompting Laura to take proactive measures.
She reconsulted her GP and underwent further health checks, leading to an urgent call from her doctor. It was imperative she have an immediate colon scan.
By later that afternoon, Laura received the heart-wrenching news of her stage four pancreatic cancer, with an estimated five years left to live.
Laura, from Berkshire, shared: “I don’t think I have ever processed it. I go to bed at night and think if I wake up in the morning, it’s a bonus. See people every day, catch up with people. I can’t allow myself to be sad.”
She continued, “There’s no point in being angry with people as you can’t go back, but I worry about people going through the same thing.”
Currently, Laura is in Germany seeking alternative private transarterial chemoembolization treatment, having opted out of conventional chemotherapy through the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).
This treatment is designed to deliver medication directly to the tumor, often using a catheter.
Initially skeptical of her prognosis after reading online about her tumor size indicating a shorter lifespan, Laura sought further options.
Faced with an uncertain future, she launched a Go Fund Me campaign to help cover the £65,000 ($88,000) expenses for her treatment in Germany.
Her mother also contributed her life savings to support Laura’s pursuit of the treatment not available through the NHS due to its unproven efficacy.
Laura explained: “I did more research, and I looked into a clinic in Germany, and I’ve paid £60,000 ($81,000) for private treatment which will aim to starve the tumour which should relieve some of the pain.”
On September 3, she underwent a procedure to draw blood to “produce hormones from it and then they block oxygen to my pancreas and suffocate it to stop it getting any bigger.”
Next, she plans to travel to Munich for additional treatments targeting her lungs and liver.
She stated: “They are going to do intensive injections on the tumours as they’ve spread around my body.”
“It’ll be two-and-a-half weeks in Frankfurt and then two weeks in Munich.”
The treatments aim to offer her a ’40 percent to 60 percent chance of living two years.’
Though now receiving palliative care, Laura says her concern lies not in her own mortality but in those she will leave behind.
Despite the initial misdiagnosis, Laura bears no ill will towards her doctor.
“I don’t blame my GP at all – he’s been so good and pressing for answers for a long time,” she said. “He’s amazing – I feel so sad for him as he’s completely devastated. I just have to accept it and hope for the best.”
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.