Goody raises profile of cervical cancer

Jade Goody has been diagnosed with cervical cancer

Abi Gill discusses the impact of Jade Goody’s cancer diagnosis

CERVICAL cancer usually occurs in women aged over 35, yet Goody is a relatively young victim at just 27. With this in mind, I wondered whether this story had increased anxiety in female students. Alison Rowbotham, 21, explained, ‘since I heard that Jade Goody was going to die it hit me how serious it is, so now I do worry.’ While it affects over 2,800 women every year, killing around a thousand, it is often overshadowed by Breast cancer. Second year student Amy Chatwood confessed, ‘I don’t know specific details about cervical cancer, just that it’s another form of cancer which affects women.’ 

Many cases are attributed to exposure to the Human Papilloma Virus, usually transmitted during unprotected sexual contact. Though around three quarters of us will come into contact with this virus during our lifetime, some strains of the virus are of higher risk and may lead to cancer. As of last summer, year 8 pupils were vaccinated against strains of the virus as it is thought inoculating prior to being sexually active will reduce the likelihood of contracting the cancer. Women of university age have not received this and must instead wait for their routine smear test, which, according to the NHS cancer-screening programme, are offered to women aged 25, depending on local primary care trusts. Student Mary Oswald expressed her view; ‘I think 20-21 would be a better age. I know in Wales you have it at that age for free but here you have to pay until you are 25. I see no harm in making it earlier.’ According to the NHS, it can take many years for cancer to develop prior to contact with the papilloma virus which is why the test is not offered to younger women. Goody famously received her diagnosis whilst taking part in the Indian Big Brother show last year, though it had apparently been misdiagnosed for three years prior to this. Doctors initially believed they had caught the cancer ‘just in the nick of time’, though later revealed that it had spread beyond her womb into her muscle tissue. February saw the revelation that Ms Goody’s cancer had spread even further, to her liver, bowel and groin and would prove incurable. She told the Sun newspaper ‘I am devastated, frightened and angry. I don’t want to die, I have so much to live for.’

Though the awareness raised can only be a positive consequence, contracting the illness at this young age is incredibly rare, whilst death due to it is even rarer. The Independent reported a 20 per cent increase in smear test attendance during the weeks that followed Goody’s initial diagnosis. Yet the bizarre media spectacle of Goody’s final months has been condemned by some as a money making scheme. However, sociology student Melissa Bradford sums up the views of many as she explains, ‘the reason why she is making her death so public is to earn money for her two sons. At the end of the day if thats her best way of financially securing her sons lives after she has passed away I support her.’