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A Very Important Message

| Filed under: Jade Goody

We got this email from a Perezcious reader, and we thought it was crucial to share with you all.

"On this unfortunate day, I think it would be appropriate to warn women about how important it is to receive regular pap smears which can detect most forms of cervical cancer. The same type of cancer that has just claimed the life of young, Jade Goody. It is so important that all women who are sexually active do this. Many women, especially very young women who have just become sexually active don't get the screening done for fear of embarassment or fear that their doctor will tell their parents. Legally, doctors cannot discuss client information with anyone but the client unless they have received consent and women should know this! It is so important to promote this life saving test."

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86 comments to “A Very Important Message”



  1. 1

    next



  2. 2

    That is so sad! May she RIP!



  3. 3

    Also noteworthy is the new vaccine, Gardasil! It prevents 4 different strains of HPV which have been linked to cervical cancer.



  4. 4

    so true



  5. 5

    My mother died of cervical cancer at age 57…you are never too old to get it checked out. This story hit very close to home for me. With the tests and screenings that are available today, nobody should ever have to lose a loved one to this awful disease. Knowing yourself is also being aware, get yourself checked.



  6. 6

    Not just young women all women my mom passed away from the horrible disease.



  7. 7

    May this be a lesson to all young women how important it is to get screened!!



  8. 8

    ppppppppppp



  9. 9

    pap smears are soo fucking important.
    as is the gardasil vaccine. if anyone has a young daughter, or is under the age of 30, get it yourself. hpv can lead to cervical cancer.



  10. 10

    yes it is very important that not just wound women but all women get check up's
    and men to



  11. 11

    Re: **LondonHockeyGurL** – Thats sad …..



  12. 12

    Very true and very well put…



  13. 13

    It's also important for girls to ask guys if they have HPV. HPV infection can lead to this type of cancer. There are many different strains of the virus. Even if you detect it through a pap smear you may have something that CAN'T BE TREATED. If guys were to tell you they have it before having sex with girls then they would be able to make an informed choice. And if a girl has it she should tell a guy before exposing him. People think this is a small risk, not worth the headache. But it's not. HPV leads to cancer that can kill. Fact.



  14. 14

    Yes, except woman over here in the UK, arnt allowe it under 25! Grrrrrrrrr So bad!



  15. 15

    Many of my girlfriends do not go for regular paps because they hate them so much. Come on now…once a year to go for a pap that lasts no more than 3 minutes?? Come on ladies, don't you want to live?!



  16. 16

    Re: **LondonHockeyGurL**
    Aww i'm sorry to hear that! :(
    My grandmother also died because of cancer.



  17. 17

    We as women need to be more proactive in our health..no one else can look after you but yourself.



  18. 18

    So important I need to say it again. Guys, find out if you have HPV. If you have it, it is with you forever, break out or not. You can give it to a girl even if you wear a condom every time. You can give it to her from a blow job — any kind of sexual activity. And girls, same thing. You can give it to a guy even if both of you are careful. HPV is a monster that kills. Think before spreading it.



  19. 19

    I'm happy that the comments being left are not like the usual comments you'd see on perez's website. Pap Smears, other tests, and Gardasil are all incredibly important and can be life saving. While it is tragically sad that Jade passed away from cervical cancer, I'm glad awareness is being raised and hope that all women know the importance of going to a doctor and being tested.



  20. 20

    To the very young ladies out there. That is the most important test you can get. Yeah, it's a little awkward being seen. But, think of the pain you could be
    avoiding. Think of yourself and your family. Don't worry you will get over it.

    Once you do it's not so bad. Just do it.

    Prayers to Jade and her young family. Jade go with the angels.

    Sheba,



  21. 21

    Also getting the Gardisil vaccine too….



  22. 22

    I came extremely close to ending up like Jade. I had a normal Pap 2 years ago and didn't return to get my Pap after that because I was scared/lazy/didn't get around to it. When I finally went back, my Pap was highly abnormal and I had to have a LEEP procedure. They think they got it all, but I'll have to be tested for the rest of my life. At least they got it before it went to the next stage.

    This is all because I had ONE unsafe escapade when I was 22. Girls, they CAN GET THIS STUFF if you get it diagnosed early. Cervical cancer is EXTREMELY SLOW GROWING, but once it's in you, there is pretty much no hope, as Jade so sadly learned.

    DON'T BE SCARED - get your Paps! If they are abnormal, don't even be scared then, because there are LOTS of steps before it gets to cancer! Just GET YOUR PAP!



  23. 23

    Re: Lol Girl Loves Chuck – Thank you sorry about you're GrandmotherRe: Long Dong Connery – Thanks



  24. 24

    Is it also important to get tested if you're not sexually active? I truly would like to know this, pleas if you can email with an answer: mermerrox922@yahoo.com

    Thanks.

    Her death is getting me to talk to my friends that have had a few different partners to get tested. Goody was doing it all right, yet, it did'nt matter. Very sad.



  25. 25

    also important: from personal experience, beware where you get it done, because even tho the doctor cannot tell, the INSURANCE COMPANY WILL.

    for real, I got grounded for having sex then going to the doctor afterwards (trying to be responsible) a year after it happened, because the insurance company sent a letter to my parents house. lol, just sayin.



  26. 26

    Ladies, get screened and get your Gardasil shots! I got them without health insurance, it was still affordable.



  27. 27

    ….



  28. 28

    There are a lot of types of cancers! Dont list just one….list them all as all are important equally!!!!!!



  29. 29

    And don't sit on any dirty dicks.



  30. 30

    Very Good Message Perez!!!!! :)



  31. 31

    Lets not forget all types of cancer are important!!!!!! One type is not more important than the other. So men & women take care of urself and keep on getting checked out!



  32. 32

    Jade Goody was informed by letter that she had an abnormal result on a PAP smear and she ignored the warning. She admitted this. She ignored symptoms of bleeding. She didn't go in until she basically passed out and it was too late. Her death was not necessary, and it was her own fault. I'm sorry for her, but honestly, if you don't look after yourself for yourself, do it for your children!



  33. 33

    Re: PetitLapin66 – Well said



  34. 34

    I can't agree with this more! My best friend's mother, who's I believe only 59, is losing a battle with ovarian cancer right now. She didn't go to the doctor for her yearly pap smear…which could've caught this horrible disease.
    PLEASE GO GET YOURSELVES CHECKED OUT



  35. 35

    Gardisil is mainly effective with younger women. Make sure you read up on it before you take the shot because remember it is not a replacement for getting tested nor does it protect you from all other STDS. Always use a condom even if you are on Birth Control. I myself have been tested regularly since I was 16 because cervical cancer runs in my family I also get tested for Breast Cancer as well. So yes get tested if you aren't sexual active for the fact that it could be genetic as well. You can never be too safe.
    Also the disease can be very progressive for some so even if you are safe like Jade it may not be totally effective, but if you are high risk they recommend a pap every 6 months rather than once a year. Just some FYI for you.



  36. 36

    RealLife_GossipGirl says – reply to this

    14Yes, except woman over here in the UK, arnt allowe it under 25! Grrrrrrrrr So bad!

    actually you are allowed it before then but the age your asked to start getting them is 25 in england but 20 everywhere else in the uk

  37. ps says – reply to this


    37

    Re: laydi_luckRe: MikeTheGoldfish – Well said ladies, everyone should be getting their regular pap smears and look into gardisil - whatever the price of the vaccine where you live, it is certainly worth less than your life! xox



  38. 38

    Thanks for posting this, Perez… If you're in the UK and under 25, you may still be able to get a test early if you go and ASK, ask, ask your doctor. Mine was willing to do it even when I was under 25, just to put my mind at rest.

    My best friend had to have an operation at age 22, just a few years ago, to remove pre-cancerous cells… This was BEFORE the age limit was changed to 25 - had she waited, she might very well have been in Jade Goody's position now. I really hope Jade's death will prompt the NHS to revert to the age limit of 20 for smear tests.

    GET TESTED!



  39. 39

    When you become sexually active, get a pap smear. If you are not sexually active, get your first one at 18. In Britain, they wait until they're 25 before they do them!!! Horrible and sad.



  40. 40

    I don't usually comment ever on this site, but I feel this is a very important issue and after reading the comments, it seems many are misinformed about HPV and Cervical cancer. First of all, there is NO hpv test for men yet, therefore they can spread it around and never even know they have it because it usually does not have any symptoms. Condoms do not fully protect against HPV, and you do not have to have intercourse to contract this highly contagious virus. Secondly, Gardisil protects against only 4 of the many many stains of HPV, it protects against 2 low risk strains which are mostly associated with genital warts and 2 high risk strains that cause most cases of cervical cancer. Even if you have one of the 4 strains of HPV that gardisil protects against you can still get the vaccine to protect against other strains, although it will not cure you. HPV is very tricky, you can have it for years, get your PAP and never know you have it, it can remain dormant. IT IS SO SO SO important to get your pap smear every 6 months so you can catch anything early enough to fight it. I hope that this helps!



  41. 41

    what is really shit is that the age for smear tests in england was recently put up from 20 to 25, there are campaigns to get it down again coz women are dying because the government are too greedy to pay for it. in the rest of the uk i think the age is still 20.
    good news in that the vaccination is now available to all year 8s



  42. 42

    Re: GG1000 – i agree



  43. 43

    Re: lauralala – its just 25 in england, not the whole of the uk, in wales, scoland and noerhtern ireland the age limit is still 20 which makes it doubly unfair that just the contituent country you were born in could determine if you get vervical cancer under the age of 25!



  44. 44

    Douching is BAD FOR YOU!
    Look it up!
    Get your PAPS!



  45. 45

    And if you don't have health insurance???



  46. 46

    Re: sharre – If you don't have insurance, go to a clinic



  47. 47

    Get regular pap tests AND always wear a condom. I had the beginning of cervical cancer and caught it in time. Had a LEEP procedure and go for regular checkups. Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by the HPV virus, a REALLY common STD (more than 80% women have gotten it at some time or another–it's the same STD that causes genital warts.) There are a few different types of HPV, and 4 strains of it cause cervical cancer. If untreated, it will lead to death 100% of the time. I got it when I was 23 years old and was Very very lucky I stayed on top it. You can get it at any age. Ladies, do the same.



  48. 48

    Get the Gardasil Vaccine, stamp this shit out!



  49. 49

    If you don't have insurance, go to a clinic or borrow or beg to get insurance. In a perfect world, some stimulus money would have been used to create free STD/cancer screening clinics. Jobs for the clinic workers and labs, benefits for citizens in danger w/o insurance.



  50. 50

    It's important to note that pap smears are not only important for individuals who are sexually active! Pap smears are key in detecting ALL cervical cancers — not just those caused by HPV. Girls should start having regularly yearly exams between the age of 18-21 regardless of sexual activity. If you're scared or nervous, you have no reason to be! It's not the most comfortable thing in the world, but it's certainly easy enough to do once a year to ensure your health. These exams don't just detect cancer either — they can detect a host of other issues in young females.

    Just do it.

    As for gardisil. The shot is only recommended for women who aren't already sexually active and it does not prevent all types of HPV or other causes of cervical cancer — therefore you should still, even after getting the vaccine if you choose to do so, have annual pap smears.



  51. 51

    thing is ladies when cancer is found they just dont take out the cancer they remove your cervix. yup, what a joy that is. nuff said.



  52. 52

    anyone ever stop to think the only way you can get hpv is if you have sex. so women should stop being so promisicous and start really checking out every person they have sex with and using condoms ALL the time, then maybe the cervical cancer and hpv rates will go down. but no, now that there's this vaccine (which of course we have no idea what the long-term effects will be) women are going to be even more sexually promiscious and not take extra precautions like using condoms or making sure their sex partner does not have hpv or any stds. so yeah, that's the only way one gets cervical cancer, having sex, so think about that women.



  53. 53

    I'm glad I'm a regular visitor to my obgyn ;D



  54. 54

    the tests are free on the NHS so there is absolutely no reason not to get it done



  55. 55

    Re: crupert7 – There is no test for HPV in men. The only way they would know they had it is if they had had an outbreak of warts or something.



  56. 56

    Re: eternalcanadian
    you are a total backwards looking/thinking idiot! Guess what? Even if you are monogamous and wait until marriage for sex, you can still get an STD if your spouse wasn't completely honest. or cheated on you. STOP equating STD's with only the sexually promiscuous!!! Nobody "asks for it" or deserves to die from sex.



  57. 57

    Re: eternalcanadian – You are an idiot. Yes, HPV can lead to cervical cancer, but it is not the only cause of cervical cancer. One does not have to be promiscuous to get HPV - it only takes one time and one person. Yes, condom use should be encouraged, but HPV is a highly infectious virus that is transmitted through skin contact, so people who use condoms ALL the time can still get HPV, because condoms only cover so much, and the rest of a person's genital area is still exposed. (Same with herpes)



  58. 58

    yes get immunized, please! There is another side though. I had an older patient whose first two wives had died of crevical CA, and his 3rd wife was dying of it. Ladies we do not catch this virus from a toilet seat. We get it from sexual contact. Condoms do not always protect from hpv, herpes etc because viral shedding occurs from navel to thighs. Look at the statistics, 1 in 4 has this, 1 in 5 has that, if you calculate the odds, if you do play with fire you will get burnt. Please protect yourself, and nag your friends and family too.
    Many of our parents are suddenly single and the older generation is SO AWFUL about using condoms. Check out those baby-boomer HIV stats and tell your mom. Buy those condoms for her!!!



  59. 59

    I recently underwent surgery to remove HPV cells from my uterus. Hopefully, it stays gone. I quit smoking, as this makes it harder to get rid of HPV. My doc told me that smoking one cigarette is like sticking 2 in my vagina. Just that thought (the the HPV) got me to quit smoking.



  60. 60

    I forgot all you guys down in the states have to pay for all your health care. Is it a lot for guardisil? Really try to protect yourself. Immunization makes a great birthday present!



  61. 61

    SAD!
    When Did She Die??
    I Hate CANCER!



  62. 62

    PAP smears do not detect ovarian cancer, uterine cancer guys. Just abnormal cells and a viral smear. It also doesn't screen for any other std's.



  63. 63

    THIS.

    ladies, don't be shy, just think your average doc sees many private parts per day, she/he isn't going to think anything weird about yours. haha
    well anyways RIP Jade.



  64. 64

    i'm glad to see all of the positive comments on this thread. it's something that should be taken very seriously because it can kill you quickly! pap smears aren't the funnest way to spend time, but it can save your life. as a matter of fact, my yearly pap is on thursday. ooooh fun lol
    *
    *
    quiestion about guardisil - is it true that you can't get the shot if you've been sexually active? i don't know where i heard that but i thought i heard that somewhere at sometime.



  65. 65

    Re: sincerity – you can still get the vaccine even after you are sexually active, again it will only protect against 4 strains of HPV, but it is definatley worth it! In the US you can get vaccinated until you are 26, so get it done!



  66. 66

    If you don't have health insurance, you can get a pap done at Planned Parenthood. I'm not sure how much it costs, but i know it's cheaper and it's confidential. About 6 million women per year have abnormal pap smears, but there are only about 11,000 new cases of cervical cancer per year in the U.S. — this is because it takes years before abnormal cells turn into cancer, and women who get yearly pap smears catch abnormalities early. I was nervous to get a pap done for the first time, but you have to keep in mind that the actual pap test only takes a few seconds and the whole process is only a few minutes.



  67. 67

    I feel very lucky, because i had my first pap smear less than a year ago and the results came back that i have HPV and abnormal cells. If i hadn't gone get checked they could have told me that i had cancer, but now even if it ever develops into cancer i have caught it so early that i am not worried. This is why every woman should get checked.



  68. 68

    GET TESTED "NOW" FOR ONLY $12.99 ? New French Procedure involving the use of a males tongue to collect the speciman. Be safe and have fun at the same time. Discuss with YOUR Doctor to see if this test is best for you?



  69. 69

    HPV is extremely common - as in, the majority of sexually active people have it. It does not always show signs. There are many different strains. Some strains cause things like genital warts. Others cause cancer. I apparently caught HPV from my first sexual partner. I did not have a Pap smear until a little over a year later, and by then, I already had cervical cancer. It was in a very early stage and easily treatable, thankfully. There shouldn't be such a stigma surrounding STDs. They happen. It's worthwhile to know what's going on with your body.



  70. 70

    Re: 80s_Chick Dreams of Harry
    The scary thing is that many strains of HPV don't have ANY symptoms at all. It's very important to remember that you can easily have an STD, even if you don't have warts, sores, or discharge.



  71. 71

    Exactly! Pap smears only take 30 seconds and they aren't even embarrassing, and although they are unpleasant, it doesn't hurt. And you only need one every two years if the results are normal. Most women go to female doctors anyway, and those doctors need to have pap smears themselves, so don't think they are judging you or anything. Also have the cervical cancer vaccine & practice safe sex.

    Tragedies like this can easily be avoided.



  72. 72

    Re: Ano12345 – well, i'm 33 so apparently i'm fucked. super!

    *
    i had no idea that they wait until you're 25 in england to do your first pap! wow! that seems almost criminal!



  73. 73

    FYI: A COUPLE FACTS FROM SOMEONE WITH HIGH RISK HPV- HPV CAN NOT BE DETECTED IN GUYS, UNLESS THROUGH A GENITAL WART DIAGNOSIS. EVEN IF ABNORMAL CELLS ARE FOUND AFTER YOUR FIRST PAP *GET THE VACCINE!!* MY DR ADVISED ME TO DO THIS, AND ALTHOUGH IT CANNOT CURE HPV, IT HAS STABILIZED MINE. ALSO, HPV IS NOT ONLY SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED- SOME PEOPLE ARE BORN WITH IT AND JUST DON'T GET AN OUTBREAK FOR YEARS. YOUR BODY CAN NATURALLY RID ITSELF OF ALL TYPES OF HPV- HIGH AND LOW RISK. BECAUSE IT IS A VIRUS, YOUR BODY'S IMMUNE SYSTEM WILL GENERALLY CURE LOW RISK IN A YEAR AND HIGH RISK IN 2.
    THE VACCINE CAN BE VERY PRICEY WITHOUT INSURANCE- BUT PLEASE TALK TO REPS AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD OR YOUR LOCAL PREGNANCY CLINIC FOR OPTIONS. THIS VACCINE CAN *SAVE YOUR LIFE!!*



  74. 74

    If you are between the ages of 16-26 take the new vaccine Gardasil! It prevents 80% of HPV that is linked to CERVICAL CANCER!!!

    If you become sexually active make sure that you have a pap smear at least every 2 years, no matter how embarrassing or busy you are, make the time to have an appointment. Detecting abnormal cells early will ensure that you prevent cancer from developing!!!!!



  75. 75

    Are young women as stupid and ignorant about health as this would suggest.?

    Any intelligent female knows to go for smears and other tests at least once every 18 months.It is NOT rocket science.Except to Jade Goody types who ignored 5 warnings and did not turn up for smear tests though warned ….when she did it was 3 years too late.
    One has to be really dumb NOT to know this level of ignorance is absurd.

  76. datav says – reply to this


    76

    I am a cervical cancer survivor. It was detected through a pap and caught in stage 1. GET YOUR PAPS! Cervical cancer is very treatable when caught early. I had to go through surgery and radiation therapy, but I'm alive and have been cancer free for a year now. Get your paps…don't let CC take you out!



  77. 77

    Amen to that!



  78. 78

    I see someone here mentioned Gardasil, the vaccine that may help prevent cervical cancer. This has only recently become available or it might have helped Ms Goody avoid the cancer entirely.



  79. 79

    I have been going on about pap tests and Gardasil on this site for months now! Please, protect yourselves and get your checkups! I have had cancer from this myself, and luckily caught it early on. I still ended up sterile in my mid-twenties, but would rather that any day than death. This is a very treatable cancer when caught early! Thankfully, I am still on this earth to raise and love my child and husband. My sympathy goes out to Jade's family.



  80. 80

    Re: Ano12345 – Thank you! Finally, an educated comment regarding this. Last fall when this story broke, I was talking about all this, and was quite shut down by vaccine fearmongerers! And your info regarding HPV is BANG ON! This is a cancer which can have NO SYMPTOMS! And a condom does not protect you…you can get it from hand-contact. Know your partners!



  81. 81

    My aunt, who was very close to me passed away 8 years ago from cervical cancer, leaving behind two children under the age of 16. She had not had a pap smear in three years, which lead to abnormal cells going undetected and resulting in cervical cancer. It is SO important to get this procedure done, although I know some girls may be nervous about going to get checked. It is seriously not a big deal, these doctors see hundreds of vaginas a week. You can always request a female doctor if you are nervous as well.

    I think it is also important to stress the fact that you do not have to be sexually active to develop abnormal cells, so it is important for all women to get pap smears done. Guardasil is a new vaccine that can protect against HPV, however if you have been exposed to a lot of partners it is not as effective, which is why it is important for young girls to get it done, BEFORE they become sexually active. Regardless, we do not need to lose another mother, daughter, friend or co-worker to this disease. Be smart ladies!



  82. 82

    good call on posting this

  83. biddy says – reply to this


    83

    While this is sooo true and critically important for all women, Jade did not die because she didn't get a PAP. JADE died because of shitty sexist health care. She went to two different doctors complaining of 'pain' and BOTH told her IT WAS ALL IN HER HEAD!!!!!! That's the issue women; the medical community has no respect for women and no respect that women KNOW their bodies better than most doctors. It isn't enough that you get a PAP; WOMEN MUST BE THEIR OWN DOCTORS; BE PRO ACTIVE HEALTH CONSUMERS AND NEVER LET A MAN DOCTOR EVER LET YOU FEEL YOUR PAIN OR ANYTHING ELSE IS IN YOUR HEAD!!!!! I hope her family/estate sues those doctors from here to next week. May they never practice again; may they be shamed into submission; may they be forced to pay for her children forever,; may they be the one's to explain to her children how they MURDERED their mother because they were too incompetant at their job. Anyways, just sayin'….

  84. Kyra says – reply to this


    84

    While HPV does make your chances a little worse for getting cervical cancer, please don't think that if you are not sexual active that you don't have to get papsmears…Body parts have issues whether you are sexual active or not. I feel that it is best to start papsmears once a young lady starts her period. Better safe than sorry..



  85. 85

    Now, this is a story all about how
    I lost my hair, and im rotting in the ground
    And I liked to take a minute
    Just sit right there
    I'll tell you why I’m some one no one could bare.

    South-east England born and raised
    On reality tv’s where I spent most of my days
    Bein’ racsist, whoring out and relaxin' all cool
    And being disgusting, destroying the gene pool
    When a couple of cells
    Who were up to no good
    Startin making cancer in my neighbourhood
    I got one little cancer and my doctors got scared
    They said 'we are putting you on chemo, say goodbye to your hair

    I whistled for a cab and when it came near
    I saw my rascist, bald head in the mirror
    If anything I can say this look is rare
    But I thought 'Now forget it' lots of dudes have no hair.

    I came back from the hospital about 7 or 8
    And I yelled to the cabbie 'Yo homes smell ya later'
    I looked at my family
    I was finally there
    To rot in the ground with no class or no hair.



  86. 86

    Madonna is a four-letter word!