8:34am Thursday 9th September 2010
By Rachel Wearmouth
Bubbly 28-year-old Emma died weeks after diagnosis.
THE family of a young woman who died from a rare form of cancer have paid tribute to her bravery.
Emma Hall-Mawson, 28, was diagnosed with a rare and extremely aggressive form of ovarian cancer in June.
Her mother, Debbie Mawson, of Plantation View, Howden-le- Wear, County Durham, has spoken of the family’s devastation when doctors broke the news she had only weeks to live.
It came as a shock after Miss Hall-Mawson was cleared during tests in November.
She was regularly screened from the age of 23 when a cyst removed from her ovary was found to be borderline cancerous.
However, Mrs Mawson said there was no reason to believe her daughter was ill because she had shown few symptoms.
She said: “I just think she was so brave and we are all so proud of her. We miss her, our lives are never going to be the same.”
She described her as a bubbly, outgoing person who enjoyed having a good time.
Miss Hall-Mawson, a Newcastle United fan, studied for a degree in travel and tourism at Hull University, but later returned to live with her family and took a job at Wilkinson’s, in Bishop Auckland.
Mrs Mawson said: “She liked watching football and went to a few matches. She loved her nieces. She loved going out and was saving up for her first holiday abroad. She just loved her life.
She never complained.”
Miss Hall-Mawson leaves her parents Debbie and Alan, siblings Steven, Nicole and Michael and her mother’s partner, David Baker.
The family hopes more stringent detection, which could include screening women with a family history of breast and ovarian cancer, will stop others suffering the same fate.
Women often show no signs until the disease is in its later stages.
Mrs Mawson said: “I know now why they call ovarian cancer the silent killer.
“Her symptoms were being sick and abdominal pain, but you would not think ovarian cancer is the fifth most common disease.
“It has happened to others and it has happened to Emma.”
Her brother, Steven Mawson, said: “Emma was so strong. She did not shed a tear, she just took it. There needs to be a more thorough test.”
The family also paid tribute to Macmillan nurses who helped them provide care at home and staff at the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham City, who were also supportive.
Mrs Mawson said: “The Macmillan nurses have been fantastic.
“You do not realise how important these people are until you are involved with them.”
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