Jade Goody

[diddlepops]

I feel so so so sorry for this young lady. She has announced this morning that the chemotherapy has failed and tumours have been found in her liver, bowel and groin. My heart goes out to her and her young boys - the outlook would appear to be very grim.

If nothing else, this should definitely serve as a reminder to all young women that a smear test is a must - never thought I would say that given my "phobia" of smears - but this story has really brought it home to me how fragile life can be.

Just hoping that something can be done for her :kisshands:

[Ravenfire]

Oh no that's so sad - I really feel for her and her boys. I was under the impression in her case tests had been done but dismissed as something else? I agree though smears are so important.

[Patti odoors]

I just caught the end of the report on the news, poor woman and as you say a terrible situation for her and her little boys.

[kathyhinsh]

nothing I can add, except that we r so relieved that mine was caught so early
all i can say is that i hope she isnt in 2 much pain

[diddlepops]

My DD1 will most DEFINITELY have the cervical cancer jab in Yr 8 - absolutely no doubt in my mind at all

Its so so sad for her and her boys. She openly admits that she is putting her illness into the public eye to make money to ensure her children have a better future than she did. :kisshands:

[kathyhinsh]

my dd hasn't been offered it.....i dont know if it's available here atm....

[diddlepops]

They are starting giving it routinely in Yr 8 and are running a catch up scheme for older girls in this authority - worth asking your GP? I know I definitely want Emily to have it - no question in my mind at all :kisshands:

[kathyhinsh]

hmmmm....dd is yr10 now!

[Digzy]

OMG no :(
how awful and very sad......AND yes i have a fear of smears but please please PLEASE get it done....i have put mine of for 3 yrs but i made the call and i have mine tomorrow morning.
xxxxx

[diddlepops]

OMG no :(
how awful and very sad......AND yes i have a fear of smears but please please PLEASE get it done....i have put mine of for 3 yrs but i made the call and i have mine tomorrow morning.
xxxxx

I too have a phobia but conquered that and was so glad that I did! Will be with you in spirit tomorrow hunny - holding your hand! :kisshands:

[Digzy]

thx diddlepops :)
its just so damn awful for her, i actually have tears in my eyes for that poor poor girl :(

[Katiequiggle]

How very sad.

[victoria81]

I was actually reading about this yesterday but I thought that she was still awaiting the results. Poor girl and her kids and family! I must say, I don't blame her for wanting to make as much as she can for her kids (although I never thought I would say this); also she's helping raise awareness.

She is definitely in my thoughts. :kisshands: Jade!

[diddlepops]

Yep but sadly the general public don't always see the awareness raising - they only see her out to make money. I think her lasting legacy will be that she has raised the profile of the importance of having your smears at WHATEVER age - she's 27 for goodness sake - I think they should be compulsory for all women over the age of 25 who are "active".

Just to shock you - my mother has NEVER ever had a smear test - now that worries me!

[victoria81]

Well, I hope that the public is more compasionate towards her now. I have always hated people stories to the media about their love affairs or whatever but I can understand that she wants to compensate to her children in terms that if she cannot be there for them at least that they have what they need financially, although if I were her I wouldn't be greedy. I would ensure that they have enough to have a decent start in life, I don't know like for a decent education or to set up a business or something and then whatever else I made of this I would donate to cancer charities.

[kathyhinsh]

Yep but sadly the general public don't always see the awareness raising - they only see her out to make money. I think her lasting legacy will be that she has raised the profile of the importance of having your smears at WHATEVER age - she's 27 for goodness sake - I think they should be compulsory for all women over the age of 25 who are "active".

Just to shock you - my mother has NEVER ever had a smear test - now that worries me!

tbh I honestly believe that as soon as girls become sexually active, they should have regular smears

[victoria81]

tbh I honestly believe that as soon as girls become sexually active, they should have regular smears

To be honest, I know that the risks increase with sexual activity but can it not happen even to people who have never been, say? Not sure, that's why I'm asking.

[Rainbowwitch]

Im so sorry to hear about Jade Goody - I feel very sorry for her two young sons who look like they will lose their mum soon.

I had a fear of having a smear test, but two years ago I went to the nurse for an ear problem and she pinned me down then (not literally) to make an appointment to have one. A week later I was back there and had a test (all clear)

All the girls who are frighten - Go and have one done its not has bad as you think.

[victoria81]

Im so sorry to hear about Jade Goody - I feel very sorry for her two young sons who look like they will lose their mum soon.

I had a fear of having a smear test, but two years ago I went to the nurse for an ear problem and she pinned me down then (not literally) to make an appointment to have one. A week later I was back there and had a test (all clear)

All the girls who are frighten - Go and have one done its not has bad as you think.

I agree, it feels rather weird but it's not really painful as such. My fear is more in terms that I become all hypocondriac whilst waiting but look, if caught in time it may well all have been different for her.

[kathyhinsh]

To be honest, I know that the risks increase with sexual activity but can it not happen even to people who have never been, say? Not sure, that's why I'm asking.

Which is where doing smears from the age of 25 comes in...as far as i know

[Rainbowwitch]

Was reading about Jade and it said that she first had pre-cancerous cells removed at 16 and has since suffered a series of collapses and bouts of blood loss.

Surely they could have caught it a bit early and maybe shes could have been "cured" by now.

[shazgh]

poor woman, I think it should be open to all women over 20, age 25 in england has been shown recently to be missing the boat. HPV is contracted through sexual intercourse, so a virgin need not have one. I also think chlamydia testing should be offered at every smear, I always offer and 9 times out of 10 pt's get screened, bet not many of you have been offered at smears

[diddlepops]

She had abnormal cells at 16 which were treated and then 3 years ago she collapsed with bleeding and problems and feels that it may have all started then? Poor girl - the outcome is very bleak :kisshands:

[victoria81]

poor woman, I think it should be open to all women over 20, age 25 in england has been shown recently to be missing the boat. HPV is contracted through sexual intercourse, so a virgin need not have one. I also think chlamydia testing should be offered at every smear, I always offer and 9 times out of 10 pt's get screened, bet not many of you have been offered at smears

Oh, I didn't realised that all cervical cancer was due to HPV and yes, I agree that chlamydia screening should be offered also. You would have thought that with her past history of pre-cancerous cells etc they would have kept an eye on her.

[Bear]

This is awful - that poor, poor girl. And her little boys too, it's heartbreaking.

I have my smear booked for next Weds, my best friend is being operated on tomorrow for abnormal cells and I am already a year late in having my smear taken so am praying all will be ok.

For what it's worth - having my smear done is extremely uncomfortable for me as my cervix is in a really hard to access position (it couldn't even be found during my last labour!), going to ask if they will do it whilst lying on my side as I'm told this makes the cervix easier to find. The point I'm making is that if I can have it done, even though it hurts a lot, and I bleed profusely afterwards - anyone can. A few minutes of discomfort to potentially save your life has got to be worth it.

After all, most of us have given birth and it's never as bad as that!!

[victoria81]

This is awful - that poor, poor girl. And her little boys too, it's heartbreaking.

I have my smear booked for next Weds, my best friend is being operated on tomorrow for abnormal cells and I am already a year late in having my smear taken so am praying all will be ok.

For what it's worth - having my smear done is extremely uncomfortable for me as my cervix is in a really hard to access position (it couldn't even be found during my last labour!), going to ask if they will do it whilst lying on my side as I'm told this makes the cervix easier to find. The point I'm making is that if I can have it done, even though it hurts a lot, and I bleed profusely afterwards - anyone can. A few minutes of discomfort to potentially save your life has got to be worth it.

After all, most of us have given birth and it's never as bad as that!!

You're so right. I'm sorry that you have such a hard time with it but definitely worth it, as you said.

[Emsickle]

This is awful - that poor, poor girl. And her little boys too, it's heartbreaking.

I have my smear booked for next Weds, my best friend is being operated on tomorrow for abnormal cells and I am already a year late in having my smear taken so am praying all will be ok.

For what it's worth - having my smear done is extremely uncomfortable for me as my cervix is in a really hard to access position (it couldn't even be found during my last labour!), going to ask if they will do it whilst lying on my side as I'm told this makes the cervix easier to find. The point I'm making is that if I can have it done, even though it hurts a lot, and I bleed profusely afterwards - anyone can. A few minutes of discomfort to potentially save your life has got to be worth it.

After all, most of us have given birth and it's never as bad as that!!

Definitely try it on your side Bear first. I've had major problems with my cervix where the speculum was basically put straight up past mine, due to my prolapse and then they couldn't find it because of the way its tilted too. When I was m/c'ing it took them 15 mins to find it and every smear I've had done before my last one, its taken 20 mins, toing and froing and lots of, not sure we're going to be able to do this today kinds of situations. My last one, the nurse asked to lie on my side after I explained the situation, and it was over in minutes.

Doesn't happen on every occasion, but definitely worth the try

My heart goes out to Jade and her boys (and family) Such a sad situation to be in and I just hope those that doubted her reasons for coming clean about it all (and whether or not she truly had cancer) are now ashamed of themselves. Whether you like her or not - no one deserves this :no:

[bikemad]

I feel so sorry for poor Jade and her kiddies...its heartbreaking. I had my smear last week im on yearly ones as had to have treatment for abnormal cells....shit myself when that letter came n told me that.

[Daffs]

That's very sad cryingsmil Poor lady.

[Mary Poppins]

It is so terribly sad for her. I wasn't aware that you don't get a smear test until you are 25. I had them every 2 years from age of 18 but they were done privately and paid for by the company I worked for.

[ruthie]

It's so sad, she must be so frightened, and so worried about her children. I can't understand how it was missed because I though I had previously read that she had regular smears? I hope against all the odds that she can come through this but it doesn't look good.

[Purplecat]

my friend had cervical cancer at 24, so if it had been now it would have been missed, luckily it was 10yrs ago so it was caught, 25yrs is way too late.

I do feel bad for her, her family are so young.

[shazgh]

The unfortunate thing is on occassion smears can come back normal but still be cancerous? It is important that the person doing your smear also sees your cervix for this reason, if they suspect a tumour to be present then that should be documented on the sample so it is rushed through. In most cases of cervical cancer it takes 10 years to become cancerous as the cells go through changes first, which smears detect, thats why they are 3 yearly as cancer has not usually developed. I am always nervous when someone comes in and says they haven't had one for 10+ years as there is always a chance there could be a tumour there. I don't know the details about what happened with Jade though. Personally I wouldn't go a week over when it is due.
I have tried doing smears on women on their side but can't do it, I find asing lady to make fists and put under her buttocks to lift her pelvis usually works.

[Girlzmum]

Oh, I didn't realised that all cervical cancer was due to HPV

Not all cervical cancer is caused but the HPV virus - it can be a contributing factor as well as a family history, medical history, environmental factors etc. Thats why women should continue with cervical screening even if they've had the vaccine.

I read somewhere that she believes the cancer was missed 4 years ago when she was hospitalised due to gynae problems. By the time they found it the tumour was the size of a rugby ball.

[kathyhinsh]

omg!

[victoria81]

Not all cervical cancer is caused but the HPV virus - it can be a contributing factor as well as a family history, medical history, environmental factors etc. Thats why women should continue with cervical screening even if they've had the vaccine.

I read somewhere that she believes the cancer was missed 4 years ago when she was hospitalised due to gynae problems. By the time they found it the tumour was the size of a rugby ball.

Thanks, yes, that was what I thought that it greatly increases the chances but that it can happen for other reasons. Yes, I think they ought to have taken more care with her due to her past history. It's so sad, let's hope that the fact that she's so young may trigger pressure from the public to lower down the age at which smears are offered to women.

[shazgh]

From nhs website

What about women who are not sexually active?
The NHS Cervical Screening Programme invites all women between the ages of 25 and 64 for cervical screening. But if a woman has never been sexually active with a man, then the research evidence shows that her chance of developing cervical cancer is very low indeed. We do not say no risk, only very low risk. In these circumstances, a woman might choose to decline the invitation for cervical screening on this occasion. If a woman is not currently sexually active but has had male partners in the past, then we would recommend that she continues screening.

[victoria81]

Thanks for the article.

Ah, I have been reading a bit more on Jade and she is going to try a new drug but they are saying that this can only prolonge life but not save it. I guess because it only deals with cervical cancer but will no aid with the secondary tumours. Poor, poor thing!

[Bear]

I'm still deeply shocked by this news. That poor girl.

Sharon - just to touch on what you said about not being able to do smears with the patient on their side and prefering the 'fists under bum' method, when I had an internal scan at the hospital during my last pregnancy they actually had a booster-like thing which they slid under my bum to raise my hips and it was fab. If only my surgery had one it would make my smears so much more bearable. It the way they have to dig around with the speculum until they manage to find my cervix that makes me feel sick and it bloody hurts!

[victoria81]

I'm still deeply shocked by this news. That poor girl.

Sharon - just to touch on what you said about not being able to do smears with the patient on their side and prefering the 'fists under bum' method, when I had an internal scan at the hospital during my last pregnancy they actually had a booster-like thing which they slid under my bum to raise my hips and it was fab. If only my surgery had one it would make my smears so much more bearable. It the way they have to dig around with the speculum until they manage to find my cervix that makes me feel sick and it bloody hurts!

Could you suggest that they get this device for future use? There must be more people out there in the same boat as you and it would make it so much better.

[Digzy]

well i went and had me smear, well, she couldn't find the cervix :(
i have to re book again next month:alright::alright:

it was awful but not as bad as before.

[kathyhinsh]

awww. so sorry 2 hear that x

[Emsickle]

I have tried doing smears on women on their side but can't do it, I find asing lady to make fists and put under her buttocks to lift her pelvis usually works.

Fists under bum, under hip, sticking my butt in the air - nowt works! :cheesy:

When I m/c'd, my GP even phoned ahead to the hospital to warn them how hard it was to find my cervix and the Dr who examined me, took 20 mins to find it.