A WOMAN told she has terminal cancer has undergone controversial treatment in Mexico.

Sandra Richardson, 52, returnedhome to celebrate Christmas with her family and said the treatment has already had a positive effect.

The mother-of-three and grandmother-of-one from Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, was first told she had breast cancer two years ago.

Since then she has developed secondary cancer in her bones and last year was told she only had two or three years to live.

Mrs Richardson was backed by fundraisers who helped pay for the month-long £20,000 treatment at the Oasis of Hope Hospital in Tijuana in Mexico.

She explained that the treatment involves giving the cancer sufferers strong fevers in an attempt to kill the cancer. Patients are also given special diets designed to starve the parasite and conventional medicine is used. The fevers can sometimes leave patients with temperatures of 105 but they are given recovery time between bouts.

Mrs Richardson, whose husband Colin joined her for part of her time in Mexico, said: "It definitely does work, some of my bones have regenerated and I feel stronger already - but it's no easy option. I thought nothing could be worse than chemotherapy. I was wrong. But I've a fantastic family and a lovely, three-year-old grandddaughter Claudia to live for and I have to go through with it."

Mrs Richardson, whose granddaughter was due to stay with her on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, explained she must return to Mexico when her supplies of three months of treatments run out.

She went on to criticise pharmaceutical companies and research organisations for not taking the treatment seriously. She said: "I don't see why they can't at least test this properly. The only thing I think of is they are scared if this works they will lose all the money they make from pills."

Before leaving for Mexico Mrs Richardson was told by doctors the illness was certainly terminal but she may be able to extend her life. However she now believes she may one day be free of the disease.