Jade Fights For Her Life!

[Libby]

www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1133792/Miracle-drug-provides-ray-hope-Jades-desperate-fight-stay-alive.html

Cancer-stricken Jade Goody has been given a ray of hope in the form of a new 'miracle drug'.
The 27-year-old, who is fighting for her life after being told the disease had spread to her bowel, groin and liver, is to begin a two-month course of Topotecan.
Jade said last night: 'It has given me a glimmer of hope.'

And a family friend told the Sun: 'We hope it'll keep Jade with us a long time.'
Professor Martin Gore, medical director at the Royal Marsden Hospital, told Jade he wanted to start her on Topotecan, also called Hycamtin, after conventional chemotherapy failed.

The drug will probably be administered via a drip while the Big Brother star continues her chemotherapy.

Based on a substance found in a Chinese tree, Topotecan was given the green light in 2007 after successful trials.
It is normally given in only in advanced cases of cervical cancer and is seen as the last line of defence.
The drug works by blocking an enzyme that can strengthen cancer cells, and a scan will show if the tumours are responding.

Side-effects can include bruising, bleeding, tiredness and sickness.
The mother-of-two will undergo three weeks of chemo and Topotecan, before taking a week's rest and continuing with three more weeks of treatment.
Her publicist Max Clifford said of the drug: 'People in the same situation who have taken this drug have seen encouraging results.'

'The information that was given to her left her thinking there was no way forward.

The Big Brother star says she is 'frightened and angry'

'But this has given her a glimmer of hope. At the end of the day she is a young woman with two children and she is going to do everything in her power to prolong her life.'
After hearing news that the cancer had spread Jade sobbed 'I don't want to die'.
Earlier this week doctors said that the extent of her cancer was so bad that they are focusing on keeping her alive for as long as possible rather than pursuing a cure.
'I am devastated,' Miss Goody said yesterday. 'I am frightened and I am angry. I don't want to die because I have so much to live for.

'The reality is I have gone from a 40 per cent chance of a cure to seeing how long I can stay alive. The whole thing is so absolutely terrifying.'

It doesn't look at all good for Jade now. Her days seem numbered. Her two small sons are apparently going to be told how poorly their mum is. So very sad. If her cancer had been detected earlier, she may have been saved experts say. Certainly brings home to women the importance of regular smear tests. Poor girl.

[omnipleasant]

Is this the same sympathetic Sun that called her - what was it now - a pig? On the front page, if memory serves?

Anyway, the poor lass is toast, and so young. Sad.

[Libby]

I think all the press have called her every name under the sun and vilified her. She may not be the most eloquent or educated girl, she may have a mouth like the Mersey Tunnel, but at the end of the day i don't think she's a bad person deep down. She made some unfortunate errors of judgement. Jade had a terrible childhood, for her life to end so prematurely seems all the more tragic. She seems a brilliant mother to her two small boys, and this cancer is so very sad. She has so much living to do and so little time.

[sushimo]

27 years old - still a child herself really, very sad.

[radge]

this proves there is no god.

[Libby]

I agree with you radge and sushi! Her age makes it all the more tragic. Apparently the experts can't put a time frame on how long she has left, but they have said it is unlikely she will survive too long and no longer speak of her previous 40% chance of survival.

[radge]

Well its the same thing for Kylie. What isnt printed is the fact that a woman who gets breast cancer under a certain age are very unlikely to see their 60th. Big shame cause these people have such oppertunities, but life takes no prisoners.

[Libby]

It just goes to show that cancer holds no bounds. Whether poor or rich as in the case of Patrick Swayze, no money on Earth will cure terminal cancer.

[sushimo]

Feb 5, 2009 14:14:20 GMT Libby said:

It just goes to show that cancer holds no bounds. Whether poor or rich as in the case of Patrick Swayze, no money on Earth will cure terminal cancer.

Yep - and as soon as the cure is found there will be a new, unheard of disease to take it's place. Disease is mans main predator and always will be, as we have no other.

[Libby]

Quite right Sushi. The only consolation for the rest of us is that most cancers if caught in the initial stages are treatable and have a good chance of being cured. The nitty gritty is noticing any untoward symptoms, going to get checked out and taking the necessary treatment. Most cancers years ago were considered fatal, that thankfully isn't the case any more.

There is even an immunisation jab for young girls against cervical cancer nowadays.

[radge]

I know youre in the medical pfoession Libby but i think most cancers are treatable, but very few are curable. Very few. Even if you can postpone it thats all youre doing, postponing it for another 15 years before it comes back.

[policecar]

Feb 5, 2009 14:05:25 GMT radge said:

this proves there is no god.

you're taking the piss right?

[Libby]

Yes radge. With treatment most patients if caught at the early stages will go into remission. Some patients remain symptom free for many years and are considered cured. The length of time between their health checks becomes longer.
However there are some people with more aggresive cancers who do not repond to treatment, therefore are not curable.

[cheyenne]

Jade apparently delayed getting treatment at the beginning, she is paying for that error of judgment now. I always had the feeling, when I watched Jade on Big Brother and her antics on CBB, that she was a soul who had a lot to learn. It's a shame it appears she has so little time left in which to do her learning.

When all said and done, Jade is only 27 years old and the mother of 2 young children; I feel very sad for all concerned.

[Libby]

Quite right cheyenne. If we believe what we read, Jade suffered symptoms almost 4 years ago. She was suffering from severe abdominal pain and heavy bleeding. She is also understood to have had smear test results that called for urgent attention regarding surgery. It is reported that she by her own admission "brushed her anxiety under the carpet" until she started collapsing. She was eventually rushed to hospital and it was then discovered she had cervical cancer and that it was advanced. A time frame of 3 years has elapsed during this time when vital treatment could have been undertaken. The rest unfortunately is history and now Jade's life is ebbing away.

[radge]

PC...yes most definitely

[vania]

I'm trying to feel all sad and sympathetic but I jsut can't help thinking the way she feels the need to update the tabloids about her everyday movements and the twists and turns of her cancer saga are just really, really trashy.

Feel sorry for her kids though.

[sushimo]

Apparently, she is doing this to raise money for her kids, and also as a warning that you are never too young to look for the symptons on cancer, and what it does to you.

I do feel sorry for her, in that her every emotion is on public view, and do wonder if this was her choice or made for her by others?

[Muz]

I thought like that too Vania. Thinking there's no need for us to see the moment she started losing her hair or when her mum taught her how to put on an headscarf. If she's, as I now believ, just trying to raise money to ensure her kids have a decent life, fair fcuks to her. They're gonna be without their mum. Such a shame.

[cobblers]

Better people who've had a lot less luck than Jade get this disease. I'm buggered if I'm gonna comment further.