Jade Goody

[Lindylou]

What is the reason for Jade's incredibly late diagnosis? Didn't she have regular smear tests? I've read she's been experiencing problems for quite a while and I can't understand why it took so long for it to be realised that she was suffering from cervical cancer. Surely she has a good case for medical neglect...

[Velvetee]

It has been reported, that Jade did not have any smear tests regularly, so when she did eventually have one, it was discovered her cells were cancerous, but seems the cancer was in it's advanced stages.

The problem is, girls are sexually active earlier, but smear tests are not routinely offered to women under 25, so any problems are unlikely to be detected earlier.

Smear tests should probably be recommended by GPs within a year of a woman becoming sexually active. I guess it comes down to the NHS wanting to save money.

[foodluva]

I read that she had had an abnormal result from a smear and that she had chosen to ignore it and never went for any follow up. Jade was quoted as saying that her own ignorance had contributed to her situation. Apparently her cancer is a particularly aggressive one and not one of the more common ones (which are often slower to progress) often seen in cervical cancer. Over the last couple of years she has had a couple of collapses wich have resulted in hospitalisation. One interview she gave a couple of years ago said she was being investigated for bowel problems and she was terrified she had bowel cancer. She was however given the all clear. In another interview last year she stated that slimming pills had given her bowel problems. It would seem all along that she had a progressing cancer. As for negligence? Who knows. But she has said that she will not pursue a negligence case. I'm not her biggest fan but I feel really sorry for her! Terrible situation!

[~max~]

As so many women unfortunately do, she apparently ignored a suspicious test. She has been extremely unlucky in that this form of cancer is apparently uncommon in this age range.
I'm guilty of not going for smear tests when invited to by my GP. I will certainly rethink this now. I wish her all the best, and I'm thinking of her, poor girl.

[angel21]

Do they only offer you smear tests once you reach the age of 25 - if you ask to have them earlier can you? I think its wrong to not be allowed smear tests earlier especially after Jades news and she's only 27 or something.

[Ethel]

Any woman of any age can ask for a smear test - the problem with the test in under 25s is there are many 'false positives', which causes needless worry and anxiety.

But if you started sexual relations early and / or have been promiscuous, you should ask for a smear test from 20.

[angel21]

Oh right thanks Ethel. It's a job to know what to do then as I don't want all the worry for nothing. Why are there so many false positives I wonder?

[Ethel]

Because the cervix of young women is still changing and harmless lesions are common.

If you are worried, arrange for a smear test.

[beejaybee]

I went to my doctor with lower back pain & had nothing except pain tablets. This went on for over a year until I changed doctor. He examined me from head to toe, sent me for an xray( nothing showed up). I was then sent to the hospital for a gynae exam. Within a week I was in hospital having further tests. I had cervical cancer.During the op they found that ALL my "womens bits", except 1 overy was affected. I had a hysterectomy . If the second doctor had not been so thorough, I`d probably not have survived.This was 27 years ago when I was 29 with 3 kids under 7.

[4getmenot]

At least you got a happy ending and had 3 children already. had you gone for smear tests before any of the pains beejay?

[luxury]

Any woman can ask for a smear test under the age of 25.

Whether they give you it is another matter.......

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1081 167/Bride-told-THREE-times-young-smear-test-ma rries-sweetheart-given-just-years-live.html

[sqad617]

Lindylou

Of course, why didn�t I think about that��.the medical profession��.what do they know��.you are right�..sue the [email protected] is to blame��celeb, famous, young, there could be �4 or 5 million here.

1) Didn�t go for regular smears��Drs fault.
2) Aggressive form of cancer�.Dr.s fault
3) Quite often symptomless�Drs fault
4) Bowel investigation�.symptoms probably nothing to do with cervix..Drs fault.

You must show standard of care, below which one would expect of doctors treating her.

Taxpayers money would be used which in my opinion is criminal, but unfortunately so typical of litigation conscious U.K

Never cease to be amazed, although by now, I should be.








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[pippa1981]

Hi all :-)

Jade has a history of problems.
When she was 16 a smear showed she had pre-cancerous cells & then again when was 18, & again after having her second son. On all 3 occasions the pre-cancerous cells were burnt away & she was told she had nothing to worry about.
She then collapsed at home (before going to India to take part in Big brother) & was bleeding heavily. She was tested loads in hospital & they told her it was just a bad period. It was'nt untill they checked her results again, weeks later that they realized that she has cancer. She was told on TV in India (How bad is that!)

[Lindylou]

Sorry Quad617 - I still believe that Jade might have a case for medical negligence. There's a Dr in our family so I know the problems they face BUT and its a big BUT - they have a huge responsibility. They do, actually, bury their mistakes. There should be back up systems in place (and usually there are) so that it doesn't take weeks for the results to be checked, or if ambiguous, rechecked or re-tested.

[sqad617]

Lindylou and pippa

I assume pippa that from your reply, that you agree with lindylou, if I have mis-interpreted you reply then please forgive me.

The bottom line here is that we are not privy to Jade�s medical records so that we can only comment by �hearsay� which is not a good thing, however I have the following points to make.

�They do, actually, bury their mistakes.��that may well have been so some 30or 40yrs ago, but believe me, with the internet and medico-legal lawyers on the ball, it is no longer true.

�There should be back up systems in place (and usually there are) so that it doesn't take weeks for the results to be checked, or if ambiguous, rechecked or re-tested.��.yes mistakes are made and ALL doctors, being human, have made mistakes in the past, but a doctor�s mistake is not necessarily grounds for legal action.

�When she was 16 a smear showed she had pre-cancerous cells & then again when was 18, & again after having her second son. On all 3 occasions the pre-cancerous cells were burnt away & she was told she had nothing to worry about.���this is the recognized treatment that the majority of suitably qualified doctors would have taken.

Reassessing biopsy reports �weeks later� would not necessarily have improved survival rate in an aggressive tumour and remember, we do not know what type of tumour was involved.

1990�monies paid in medical negligence��84million pounds��unsettled claims to date��2.8 billion (NOT million!)�..monies paid by the tax payer which could be used for hospitals, operation, drugs etc.

Final thought��if there was a slight �chink� in the medical treatment suggesting malpractice, then Max Clifford would be in there straight away.

[Kenzie]

I top up my NHS smear tests with an annual one in the intervening years that I pay for privately. It only costs �20 which I think is money well spent and puts my mind at rest.