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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find this cashing in disgusting?

228 replies

BitOfFun · 16/09/2008 12:32

I am at work in the bookshop at the moment and we have just had a delivery of an auto-biography of JADE GOODY ffs, complete with fears about losing her hair etc. It seems to have been ghostwritten by some hack from Heat magazine, but even so, wouldn't you want to spend time quietly with your family and concentrate on getting well after a cancer diagnosis? All the sleb mags are full of her "exclusive" interviews and pics though, and it seems like one huge money-making opportunity. What is this - well you've seen my kebab, now pay to read about my internal organs ???? I think it's in very poor taste, AIBU?

OP posts:
lulabellarama · 16/09/2008 14:58

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

CoteDAzur · 16/09/2008 15:17

Particularly shocking about her story is that she ignored repeated warnings (3, iirc) that a treatment had to be done because her smear tests had come back with abnormal cells.

I would certainly hope that the general female population is not so dumb as to actually need to be told that Very Bad Things happen when you ignore repeated warnings from your doctor, but you never know.

poorbuthappy · 16/09/2008 15:17

At the end of the day no one would wish this situation on anyone...
But what sticks in my throat is the way in which she has handled herself and her life in the past meant that lots of people (including) myself thought it was publicity stunt when first announced.
It was her behaviour in the past which made me think that she had only (don't mean to say only but you know what I mean!) been diagnosed pre cancerous cells which had to be burnt off (and yes its happened to me) and was exagerating to get public sympathy...

Obviously we are all enlightened now...and I do hope she recovers.

zippitippitoes · 16/09/2008 15:20

i think its quite common to ignore potential bad medical news and sympotoms...hoping it will go away

2beornot2be · 16/09/2008 15:21

I am sure if she does not tell her story the Press and tabliods will do it for her and invade in her life anyways so she might as well try get as much truth out make some money for her children and get on with her life.

Also the real loser is the people buying the shit I hope her book goes well she has lost alot since Celeb BB and I know alot worse celebs than her.

mayorquimby · 16/09/2008 15:22

"but it seems utterly idiotic and horrible to accuse someone with cancer of being 'despicable' for talking about it in public!
"

whoah i never said she was despicable for talking about cancer in public.
i said she was despicable full stop, which in fairness i think most ignorant racists are.

i simply said i would expect nothing less from such a despicable person than to turn their illness into a pr stunt to try and make cash and get back in the publics good books after being outed for the lowlife that she is.

expatinscotland · 16/09/2008 15:25

'the best thing to come from the whole jade goody thing would be if her story was used in schools to educate teenagers about the risks of having many sex partners, unprotected sex, and starting at too young an age. I am a teacher, have taught sex ed in science and in social ed. I have also had girls aged 15/16 have babies, so I know what happens'

I find the fact that you're so woefully ignorant about HPV and its role in the development of cervical cancer AND are in charge of teaching children more shocking, disgusting and quite frankly, chilling than anything going on with Jade Goody.

YOU, and anyone else, can contract one or more strains of HPV which can predispose you to the development of cervical cancer a) without having sex at all b) from contact with one partner c) at any age.

In males, it can lead to anal or penile cancer (rare).

Furthermore, whilst HPV is behind the majority of cases of cervical cancer, it is entirely possible to develop it and not have HPV at all - we don't know which in Jade's case.

ruddynorah · 16/09/2008 15:29

from seeing the programme last night her doctors have been very unsure as to what has been wrong with her. her cells have been coming back inconclusive. she said herself that the doctors were saying everything will be ok and she was saying to them but it's not ok i have pain in my 'la la'.

ruddynorah · 16/09/2008 15:30

how awful that it's in her womb so people say it's her own fault. next you'll be saying anyone who gets cancer didn't eat enough vegetables.

frankbestfriend · 16/09/2008 15:39

Leosdad are you suggesting that the poor girl somehow engineered her cancer and subsequent hysterectomy?

I find this insinuation far more repulsive than Jade Goody earning some money from a book that thousands of people will want to read.

She has cancer ffs, she is probably willing to sell anything to ensure she and her 2 lovely sons can manage financially during this time.

lulumama · 16/09/2008 15:43

lulubellarama.. i hope you read expat's post re HV and cervical cancer..

i would be more concerned about teaching your pupils about the dangers of clamydia.. incredibly common STI that can lead to infertility..

blaming cervical cancer on being sexually active too early is a slap in the face for those diagnosed with it after years of monagam

lulumama · 16/09/2008 15:44

sorry, monagamy

frankbestfriend · 16/09/2008 15:45

In fact, I am repulsed by this horrible judgey thread full stop

Can't believe posters are debating whether her cancer was caused by too many sexual partners or having sex too early, or whether or not it is morally wrong for her to make money from a book

expatinscotland · 16/09/2008 15:46

it's also possible to carry strains of HPV around for years, decades, even the duration of your life and never have an abnormal smear test at all.

so, yes, loobeylou, you, too, may have the exact same thing that has resulted in Jade Goody's getting cancer.

and are no less immune from it going the same way in yourself.

2beornot2be · 16/09/2008 15:46

Yes when I saw her Public speaker on GMTV he said she had been given the all clear b4 going on india big brother

mayorquimby · 16/09/2008 15:49

"She has cancer ffs, she is probably willing to sell anything to ensure she and her 2 lovely sons can manage financially during this time"

so what was her excuse before cancer?

CoteDAzur · 16/09/2008 15:53

"a) without having sex at all"

Sorry but that is only a theoretical possibility, rather than a real risk. Ever heard of a child with cervical cancer? There are old studies out there about thousands of nuns in convents not having a single case of cervical cancer (before even HPV was discovered).

I agree that HPV infection has nothing to do with promiscuity, as you can get it from your first ever partner.

frankbestfriend · 16/09/2008 15:53

Well your original post inferred you found it disgusting that someone with cancer would be selling their story to make money.

Sorry, you obviously thought she was disgusting before this, and the cancer hasn't changed your view

tortoiseshell · 16/09/2008 15:55

Women are horrible sometimes aren't they.

THIS is the problem with our celebrity culture. People like Jade are no longer people, they are commodities, whose actions/clothes/relationships/health/family are dissected to the minutiae of whether they developed a type of cancer because they had too many sexual partners, or whether she should be compelled to hide away so that no-one can accuse her of 'cashing in'.

How about a bit of compassion, as we would have for any young mother, faced with a horrible illness, a possible early death, leaving 2 little boys.

colacubes · 16/09/2008 15:56

its her body and her life, and she can do what ever the hell she likes with either.

if you dont like it dont look, if you want to slag her off on your head be it, I wouldnt want to say anything about a young mother who has just had a hysterectomy that may offend her or other women in her position.

There but for the grace of god and all that.

I have said it before and I'll say it again, Sisterhood should be what binds us, we are women with children, why cant we offer support instead of bitchy remarks. And as for the book well thats how she earns her living being a public person, and I would bet there is nothing like the fear of death or chronic illness to make a single mother think, how will I feed my kids, what will they have if I am gone. So my guess would be thats why she has done what she has done, survival mode.

expatinscotland · 16/09/2008 15:57

I doubt those nuns were engaging in some of the foreplay that a lot of people get up to with going for full penetrative sex, Cote.

We did see women who fit that bill in the women's clinic at Denver Health Medical Centre.

Now, of course, they made have been lying about being virgins. Or they may have not.

No one knows if Jade even has HPV - she has stated in the past that she began having problems before she first had sex - or how many partners she's had.

It's irrelevant, too, and certainly she shouldn't be used as a warning to teens about having 'too many partners' or 'starting too early' or the like .

zippitippitoes · 16/09/2008 15:58

i dont have any sisterhood genes

frankbestfriend · 16/09/2008 15:58

Can't quite believe some of the nasty posts on here, and how lacking in compassion some people must be.

expatinscotland · 16/09/2008 15:59

I don't have any sisterhood genes, either, but it's scary to think of teachers who are so ignorant and judgemental and narrow-minded in this world.

Remotew · 16/09/2008 16:03

HPV is linked to genital warts which you can get from one partner, so cervical cancer is not necessarily a result of being promiscuous.

I must admit when I first heard of Jade's cancer I thought it may just be precancerous cells, which I've had years ago, and the whole thing is being blown out of proportion to make money from the magazines etc. To get her back in the public eye/affection. Her behaviour on celeb BB was awful. I do sympathise and I wish her a complete recovery. However, I wouldn't read the book and never read heat etc.

If she wants to make money for her son's fair enough. Perhaps she should have kept money safe for them anyway prior to her illness. She must have made a few quid since doing BB.