Menopause misdiagnosis leaves woman unable to walk

A Cornwall woman misdiagnosed with menopause later learns she had spinal cancer, highlighting gaps in recognizing women's symptoms.

Menopause misdiagnosis leaves woman unable to walk

Karen Davey, 54, of Cornwall, began experiencing hot flushes, fatigue and loss of appetite in early 2024, which she assumed were menopause signs. By March 2024 she developed kidney pain and visited a GP, who attributed the back pain to gardening after a brief, 20-minute session. Over the following weeks her condition worsened; she stopped eating, lost weight and developed a fever, and she later lost sensation in her legs and in bladder and bowel function. After a two-week hospital stay, she received the diagnosis of stage four non-Hodgkin lymphoma around the kidneys, with a tumor wrapping around her spinal cord. She underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy and is now in remission but unable to walk and relying on a wheelchair. Her husband has left work to become a full-time carer.

Spinal Injuries Association says Karen was dismissed by her GP and calls for better awareness and earlier diagnosis, particularly for women. The case shows how gendered assumptions can delay serious medical evaluation and how disability compounds life changes and financial strain.

This case shows how doctors can anchor on familiar female health narratives, mistaking serious neurological symptoms for menopause and minor injuries. Delays in diagnosis allowed a spinal tumor to progress, with lasting consequences for mobility and independence. The emotional and financial toll is heavy, with a husband becoming a caregiver and reduced work capacity.

Advocates urge systemic changes, including more training on women's health signals and faster access to imaging and specialty care. The story also raises questions about equity in healthcare and how to ensure voices of patients with disabilities are heard in clinical decisions.

Highlights

Health systems must listen before the damage is done.