Jade Goody dies

The news about Jade stunned me and gave me a slap of reality. My cancer started out the same as hers and if I’d have done the same as her I’d be dead now.
Luckily I’m facing it head on (although tough some days) and although still fighting it I’m still alive :-)
Condolensces to all of jades family n friends x

I am 30 years old and after an incomplete Colposcopy and Leep Diathermy treatment, yesterday I underwent a cold knife biopsy and got home from hospital today.

It doesnt matter to me what anybody thinks about Jade and her publicity, if she manages to save 1 other life – who cares!
Cx

Hello,
just wanted to give my condolences to Jades Family who must be going through a tough time at the moment, Good luck and RIP

It’s nine long years since my sister died of cervical cancer and her anniversary was on 27th March. Living with the press attention of Jade’s battle has been difficult for our family as it seemed to follow a similar path. My sister was diagnosed in the August and this evil disease took 7 long months to weaken her body to death, almost identical to Jade’s situation. My sister was 42. It’s easy for people to criticise Jade but anyone that has lost someone to Cervical Cancer will know that what you saw in the press wasn’t showing much of the suffering that she must have gone through. Please, please let us see a sharp decline in this needless disease over the next generation. Peace be with you Brigid.
RIP Jade

My deepest sympathy to Jade’s family, because I know just what they must be going through after losing my eldest daughter,from Ovarian Cancer on 17th August 2001, leaving her husband, two daughters and one son.

Alas, I was and still am very bitter and saddened at not being allowed to participate in the 5K Race for Life, in 2002 and ever since, in memory of my daughter – with my wife, daughter, two granddaughters (who have lost their mum) togetherwith other granddaughers and female friends of the family…

When cancer affects all members of the family – male and female without discrimination, I think the 5K Race for Life should become a ‘family fun run’ What do people think?

Sadly, all male relatives of Jade; also Wendy Richards (of TV fame) and every female in the UK who have died, or will die, from The Big ‘C’ are not allowed to participate in Race for Life.

Please, let there be a more enlightened approach by Cancer Research UK – let’s have the 5K Race for Life made into a Family Fun Run, in 2010, throughout the UK – in the venues where this year’s 240 events are being held…

My deepest sympathy to everyone affected by the cancer. Let’s work together and beat The Big C together – males and females…

John Taylor

Both my daughters and I have had treatment for abnormal cells after smear tests. The eldest had smear tests from the age of 20 but was only 23 when hers was discovered. If testing had started at 25 as it does now, she would be another Jade or another statistic. Last year my youngest daughter at 28, had her treatment, only one year after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, which I have also had twice. Cancer has hit my family so many times that I really sympathised with Jade but alos felt for her mother. It is devastating to learn that your daughter has cancer. I was fortunate as my daughter is now fully recovered. My thoughts go out to her little boys who will never get over their loss.

I did not particularly like Jade Goody or the publicity that she promoted,but she has certainly made new generations aware of cervical cancer! My mother,my father, my sister,my mother in law,myself and many friends have been diagnosed with different forms of cancer, I am one of the few to survive! Jade has brought this unspoken word to the forefront of our lives and for that I say ….Thank You Jade.

Although I had no time for Jade as a person, I was touched by the tough and very public battle she fought for her own survival and the financial security of her sons.

It’s not for us to judge her decision – she did what she believed was best for her, and her legacy will be boys who have financial support and many public declarations of their mother’s love to add to the private ones, and if even one young woman lives because she went to have a smear because of the publicity, that’s an amazing legacy. I can’t say I’ve saved someone’s life, but Jade’s sons will be able to say that about their mother and it may give them some comfort in the years to come.

My Mother, Sister and Nan had experience with cancer; only my Sister survived abnormal cells; my Mother died from Cervical Cancer and my Nan died from Lung Cancer.
I was saddened by Jade Goodys death, like many other mums that are afflicted with this terrible disease but i feel i must share how I feel about Jade feeding off her disease. I can understand to a degree why she did it because of her two young sons, but there are so many mothers, young and old, out there who are not in the same position and have to fight it with no financial support – its these women we should focus on. I felt that Jades very public display of dying has encouraged young girls to take note and have the test, however, she should have spent the time and effort with her boys. Its us as parents that need to encourage our Daughters, its our duty as a Mum.
With this all in mind, i should like to give my sincere condolences to Jades family, and many other families who have been stricken, and I hope that her boys are taken care of in the way she wanted.

My daughter had her first smear at 18. She only had it because we moved to a new area and she was offered one when she attended the docs for the first time. She says if the doc hadnt said ‘lets do it while you’re here’ she wouldnt have gone back. She had only been in one relationship and hadnt had sex until a few months before. Her first result was positive for abnormal cells and everyone, including her GP and another GP who was a family friend assured us it would be due to hormones and nothing to worry about. It was in fact Sin3 and she finally had the ll clear this year AGED 32! Fourteen years of colposcopys and other treatment yet still it returned. If she hadnt had that initial smear and if she hadnt then followed through with all the treatment and regular return visits for tests, I am sure she may well have been dead by now, like poor Jade Goody and lots of other young women. We need to educate young people that it CAN and DOES happen to young people and its IMPERATIVE that they be screened and that equally importantly, they go back for further tests if necessary. Ignoring it wont make it go away. I have cried at the thought that I might have lost my wonderful daughter and I will be forever thankful that I moved house and therefore needed to register wih a new doctor, for that surely saved her life.

i feel sorry 4 jade bt i wish she didnt mek such a big fing out of it cz wt bwt every1 wid the same sort of cancer and thy dnt get the money and support wt she gt

Hi Jacki

We think a lot of people in Jade’s position would have done the same if they had the chance, although to be honest many people who suffer from Cancer do not interest the media/public and would not be able to sell things such as photos of their weddings for vast sums.

We have launched the jade green ribbon as an attempt to generate donations off the back of the publicity/awareness that has been generated.

We hope that everyone who has posted on this messageboard feels in a position to help us promote this ribbon as a way of generating funds for the great work that Cancer Research UK do.

The ribbons are available from http://www.justgiving.com/j4j.

It is tragic for anyone so young to die but it has meant that many young women have now had the smear tests their mothers and doctors have been telling them to have for years. It is a great shame that the vast sums of money she put aside for her boys eduction could not have gone towards cancer research.

Since Jade was diagnosed my local doctors surgery has been booked up a month ahead by women getting smear tests – some of whom may not have done so previously. We are all sent reminders but not everyone follows up so I’m sure her public suffering has made women realise the tests are very important. The doctors receptionists were very helpful and told me exactly when I last had a test and how long it was before I was due for another – I suspect they had had many such calls in the last few weeks. I think Jade was very brave and I was saddened to hear of her death – especially sad for the two little boys who have lost their mum.

I was diagnosed with cervical cancer at age 37 after complaining of heavy bleeding. The cervix and uterus were removed and I was given treatment at age 42. I am now 83 and have not had any further cancer diagnosed, apart from some small skin cancers which have been dealt with. I would urge every woman to go for regular screening. If caught in time cancer can be treated.

Sorry but I can’t join in with all the praise for Jade. I accept that she increased awareness with many re her publicity seeking but I just saw a prejudiced biggoted woman. Do we really need this to make people aware that cnacer kills?

I am totally touched by the Jade story, as I am a mum of 3 children and at 32 am not much older than she was. I had, 2 years ago, had an unusual smear and needed laser treatement to remove pre cancer cells, so know of the importance of the smear testing. I am now checked yearly. I have also now become a volunteer for cancer research and I am organising a big breakfast event and in summer a grand family ‘its a knockout tournament. My dad has lung cancer and responded VERY well to his treatment and is in remission with NO detectable cancer cells. Cancer research is VERY close to my heart. I am lookign forward to attedning the Cambridge research labs next month, to see what amazing work is boing done by the scientists. I would love to do even more to help. I want to help fundraise so my children and even Jades children dont ever have to worry about this illness for the future

It is also good to remember that smears that are clear don’t mean you definately don’t have cervical cancer. Especially after the age of 50.
I and several friends have been diagnosed with cervical cancer despite clear smear tests. If we hadn’t taken action when spotting and abnormal bleeding occured the cancer would have progressed further. Always check any abnormal bleeding with your GP even if smear tests are clear!You may have too insist!!!

I wrote and recorded a song on March 20th 2009, as a tribute to Jade. It’s entitled “Dear Jade” and at the moment can only be found on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zQnqcGz9mg

I hope everyone and anyone who has suffered a loss due to cancer can draw strength and encouragement from the lyrics.

i was shocked to find out jade goody had cancer, let alone pass away on mothers day :(
my thoughts go out to her xx

i was so sad to here that jade goody died on mothers day
all my familys thoughts are with here

I was very sad to hear about Jade Goodie’s death at such a tragic early age,

It has made me think about going to the doctors or hospital to get things seen to now,

hi that is well sad

Joe and Beth,

Firstly thank you very much for your support for Cancer Research UK.

Jade has done a huge amount to raise awareness of the importance of cervical screening. I am sure there will also be many people who will have been motivated by her experience to donate to Cancer Research UK and other charities, and your idea provides an engaging way for people to do this.

Our work to beat cancer is almost entirely funded by donations from the public and now more than ever we need people’s support. If Jade’s experience encourages people to contribute to our research, we hope more lives could be saved in the future.

We would be very pleased to hear how your campaign is progressing and to have the opportunity to discuss the possibility of us working together further.

Harpal

judging by the medical aftershock of Goody’s passing, it sounds like she might have inadvertently made a long-term difference for cancer prevention in the U.K.

Dear Harpal

We have set up a justgiving page at http://www.justgiving.com/j4j. We have also ordered several thousand jade green awareness ribbons. People who donate to CRUK via this page can request these ribbons free of charge. We are not recouping any costs or charging postage.

We hope that if these ribbons prove popular that CRUK may look into ordering and distributing further batches as our own funds are very limited. We believe that if a national newspaper backed this then there is potential for hundreds of thousands of pounds to be raised.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Best wishes

Joe and Beth