Terminally ill reality TV star Jade Goody has been confronted in hospital by a woman leaning over her holding a hammer, according to her spokesman.
Max Clifford said Ms Goody's husband had left her for a few minutes when the intruder entered her room at the Royal Marsden Hospital in west London.
The star was not hurt but had been left "very shaken up", he added.
A 41-year-old woman was arrested for possession of an offensive weapon, but was later released, police said.
Ms Goody has only weeks to live after her cervical cancer spread to her liver, groin and bowel.
Mr Clifford told BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat that Ms Goody's husband, Jack Tweed, had only just left her room at 1500 GMT to get a cup of tea from the hospital canteen when the woman entered.
Ms Goody woke to find the intruder leaning over her muttering or praying, he added.
The star shouted to nurses who came into her room.
"She [Goody] obviously freaked out," Mr Clifford said.
"It's very distressing, particularly when you are so weak and so vulnerable.
"It has made her even keener to try and get home as soon as possible."
He added that security had been stepped up around Ms Goody following the incident.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police confirmed that a woman had been taken into custody in west London after she was found to be in possession of a hammer.
She was later released from custody and no further action will be taken.
A Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust spokesman declined to comment.
Ms Goody had been resting after a christening ceremony at the hospital the previous day.
Her sons Bobby, five, and Freddy, four, were also christened during what Mr Clifford called a "very short and emotional service".
Max Clifford said Ms Goody's husband had left her for a few minutes when the intruder entered her room at the Royal Marsden Hospital in west London.
The star was not hurt but had been left "very shaken up", he added.
A 41-year-old woman was arrested for possession of an offensive weapon, but was later released, police said.
Ms Goody has only weeks to live after her cervical cancer spread to her liver, groin and bowel.
Mr Clifford told BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat that Ms Goody's husband, Jack Tweed, had only just left her room at 1500 GMT to get a cup of tea from the hospital canteen when the woman entered.
Ms Goody woke to find the intruder leaning over her muttering or praying, he added.
The star shouted to nurses who came into her room.
"She [Goody] obviously freaked out," Mr Clifford said.
"It's very distressing, particularly when you are so weak and so vulnerable.
"It has made her even keener to try and get home as soon as possible."
He added that security had been stepped up around Ms Goody following the incident.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police confirmed that a woman had been taken into custody in west London after she was found to be in possession of a hammer.
She was later released from custody and no further action will be taken.
A Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust spokesman declined to comment.
Ms Goody had been resting after a christening ceremony at the hospital the previous day.
Her sons Bobby, five, and Freddy, four, were also christened during what Mr Clifford called a "very short and emotional service".
