DEVOTED MUM VICTORIA WAS ‘INCREDIBLE’
TRIBUTES TO ‘SELFLESS’ 34-YEAR-OLD WHO LOST HER BATTLE WITH CANCER ON VALENTINE’S DAY
A “selfless and devoted” mum who was misdiagnosed by doctors when she first had breast cancer tragically lost her battle with the disease on Valentine’s Day, aged just 34.
Victoria Marshall, mum to Alfie, nine, and Ernie, six, was twice the face of Cancer UK as she made it her mission to raise awareness of the disease after doctors initially failed to diagnose cancer in 2016 due to her young age and lack of a lump.
By the time specialists took her seriously, Vicki had stage three breast cancer. Stage four is terminal.
The “feisty” antiques trader endured seven rounds of chemotherapy, followed by 15 rounds of radiotherapy, and beat the breast cancer, saying at the time “I’ve got two kids, I’ve not got time to be dying”.
She then achieved her dream of opening her own antiques shop, V Marshall & Sons in Grovehill Road, Beverley, and continued to lead a happy life, of which her sons and husband Lee were at the heart.
But after being in remission for two years, Vicki, who was originally from Tickton, developed a cough she could not shift, and despite feeling “perfectly healthy”, she was devastated to learn she had secondary cancer in her liver and spine.
Desperate to make every second with her family count, the devoted
She was feisty and had a heart of gold ... Her pride and joy were her husband and children, but antiques came a close second Liz Purnell, Vicki’s eldest sister
mum made as many memories with her family as possible, including a trip to Disneyland Paris.
She fought the disease courageously, but despite undergoing chemotherapy, Vicki lost her battle on Valentine’s Day, with her husband at her side.
Leading the tributes, her devastated husband described her as “incredible”.
He said: “She was the most chaotic and loving person I have ever come across.
“She was incredible, she put everyone before herself. She was a devoted mum and wife.
“She was very kind, she was generous, she just liked to help people.
“She is going to be missed by a lot of people, she’s been described as a legend.”
Mr Marshall also thanked the medical staff at Leven Surgery and at the Castle Hill Queens Centre, who worked extremely hard to provide what he described as “excellent care and treatment” for Vicki.
Vicki’s eldest sister, Liz Purnell, described her as being kind and generous, saying she will be missed by the entire village.
The 37-year-old said: “She was feisty and had a heart of gold.
“She was known by the whole community, even though she had only been here for four years, because she was a school governor and supported the church.
“Her pride and joy were her husband and children, but antiques came a close second.”
Mrs Purnell said her sister was beyond passionate about raising awareness of breast cancer, and would always urge anyone with any doubts at all to be “persistent” with doctors.
She added: “She is in the often misdiagnosed age range, she always said ‘if you have any concerns, you have to press hard at your GP’”.
Vicki’s family have asked for donations to be made in her memory to the Breast Cancer Now charity. You can donate at www. breastcancernow.org