A WOMAN whose cancer has crippled her body claims she was misdiagnosed by doctors at Southend Hospital.

Vivienne Marcsik, 52, claims she’s been let down by the hospital and the treatments she has received for the advanced breast cancer in her spine.

She said she was first diagnosed eight years ago, but claims the hospital later told her she simply needed to see a physiotherapist about back problems. The Echo asked the hospital about these specific claims, but didn’t get a specific response.

Miss Marcsik said she was officially diagnosed in March, and has since been through radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Southend Hospital bosses say they have been in touch repeatedly with Miss Marcsik about her fears and have advised how she can take her complaints further.

Miss Marcsik said: “The radiotherapy happened soon after my diagnosis. When I came out of it, my back was on fire, and I was told I’d been given a full dose, which is something applied normally over the course of a few days, and I wouldn’t need anymore.

“It has meant my stomach and intestines have been pretty much ripped apart, so they can’t digest things properly, so I need to be given nutrition through a tube.”

She also claimed: “There have been times where I’ve been neglected on the ward, so much so that I thought I was going to die, so I discharged myself as I wanted to die in my own home.”

Miss Marcsik, who lives near Elm Road, in Shoebury, was given an urgent referral from her GP last week to have a tube fitted as she couldn’t eat anything, but she says the hospital would not fit the tube unless she agreed to be admitted.

But she believes hospital food will not help her, as she is following a Ketogenic diet to rebuild her immune system.

She added: “My GP is supporting me on this diet, and the hospital know that I need to have specific foods that I can process, but they just don’t seem to care.

“I live on my own, but my partner lives next door and comes in to help me after he finishes work.”

“It’s been horrible getting through this alone, and I want to be there for other people who may go through the same thing. I don’t want anyone to be alone in their fight.”

Denise Townsend, Director of Nursing at Southend Hospital, said: “We have had regular contact with Vivienne Marcsik – most recently at the end of May this year – regarding her complaints.

“We appreciate this has been a worrying time for Mrs Marcsik and sent her a comprehensive report of our investigations into her concerns for clarification and reassurance.

“We also advised that should she not be happy with our response, and wish to take this matter further, she should contact the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.”