Caboolture mother’s terminal cancer first brushed off as menopause

A South East Queensland mother has told how a doctor initially dismissed her symptoms as menopause, but they turned out to be something far more serious. Now, she’s trying to spend what time she has left with her little girl.

Ms Nurse's initial symptoms were brushed off by medical staff and herself as menopause.

A South East Queensland mother is spending what time she has left with her little girl after her sinister cancer diagnosis was brushed off as menopause symptoms.

Mother of three Kristi Nurse, 46, is coming to the end of an aggressive cancer battle after discovering her initial tumours just over one year ago.

Family friend Dennise Higham said the Caboolture aged care nurse began feeling strange symptoms in January 2024 that were “brushed off” as menopause, by herself and medical professionals.

“Her symptoms were what she thought were typical female problems around that age but turns out she wasn’t even in menopause,” Mrs Higham said.

Ms Nurse and her seven-year-old daughter Lily.

“When she started having trouble urinating, she went to see the doctor who ordered an ultrasound that showed nothing, however the pap smear was abnormal,” she said.

Shortly after, Ms Nurse’s fears were confirmed when doctors found a large stage three tumour below her uterus one month later.

“Not long after that the pain began and Kristi was barely able to pass urine, stents were placed in her uterus, the tumour had been pushing down and causing her symptoms,” Mrs Higham said.

After attempts at an immunotherapy drug that seemed to be working for some time and multiple rounds of rigorous chemotherapy, Ms Nurse was hospitalised and her pain worsened.

“Two months ago her pain started to escalate to unbearable levels and she was having to take very strong painkillers to get any kind of relief,” Mrs Higham said.

In December a PET scan showed that treatment was no longer working and the cancer had spread through to Ms Nurse’s lymph nodes and liver.

The family received the tragic news that their mother was terminal.

Her daughter, Courtney Larner said her mum is the centre of their family and the diagnosis was heartbreaking.

“She had me at 17 and was a single mum, she has worked so hard to be the best mother for my brother and little sister,” Ms Larner said.

“She is very worried about leaving behind seven-year-old Lily as they don’t own the house and my stepdad Pete hasn’t worked for a year to care for her.

“She’s the most caring woman who has dedicated her life to family and career as a nurse.

“She loves life and is a natural nurturer.”

Ms Larner said the most devastating part is her mother’s young age.

Kristy Nurse with her partner Steve and three children.

“We haven’t had any major illnesses in our family and it’s hitting us all in very different ways,” Ms Larner said.

“Lily is so young so we keep the conversations positive in the house so she doesn’t overhear anything but she knows mummy is very sick.

“We’re all trying to protect Lily and each other the best we can.”

With the estimated couple of months Ms Nurse has left, her family say they intend to spend as much quality time together as possible.

“She’s originally from Bribie so as a family we love going to the beach, fishing, having fish and chips and laughing together,” Ms Larner said.

Ms Nurse’s son Dylan Larner said he felt useless at this stage and had been guiding himself and the family through the emotional toll.

“We’re all unsure of how we can help and it’s been hard, mum hasn’t been given a specific timeline so we don’t know a lot,” Mr Larner said.

“I’ll miss getting advice from her and having rants about life,” he said.

The family have started a GoFundMe to enhance Ms Nurse’s remaining time with the people closest to her.

Mrs Higham pleaded with the community to help the family during the hardest part of their lives.

Originally published as Caboolture mother’s terminal cancer first brushed off as menopause