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Privacy NoticeIt’s exactly 15 years since Jade Goody tragically died from cervical cancer. The TV personality, who rose to fame after appearing on Big Brother in 2002, passed away on 22 March 2009 at the age of 27, leaving behind her husband Jack Tweed and two children, Bobby and Freddie. Prior to her death, Jade was a vocal campaigner for smear tests and did what she could to raise awareness. In fact, according to Jo’s Trust, the UK’s leading cervical cancer charity, Jade’s story saw an extra 400,000 women in the UK book to get their smear test. One person who was encouraged by Jade’s story to attend a smear test is Hayley Prince, 46. After following Jade’s story, the mum-of-three attended an appointment where she received the devastating news that she’d got cervical cancer. Here she tells OK! her story…
Hayley Prince was encouraged to book a smear test following Jade’s story
(Image: Hayley Prince)
Jade Goody passed away from cervical cancer 15 years ago
(Image: Tony Ward/TV Times/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
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“When Jade revealed that she’d been diagnosed with cervical cancer, it made me take notice of the fact that I’d been called up to have my smear test and hadn’t gotten around to booking an appointment. I’d been to smear tests in the past, but as a single mum of three who was working full-time, life had gotten in the way of arranging another. Life was hectic. Life was busy. Her journey really pricked my conscience and made me think that I needed to get a smear test booked in, so I did. About a week after Jade died I went for my smear test. I hadn’t been experiencing any symptoms, so I thought everything was fine. The test was really quick and painless and the nurse said that everything looked healthy. I completely forgot about it until two weeks later when I got a call on my birthday to say that I’d had an abnormal test result. From there, things began to spiral and suddenly I was having lots of different procedures. I remember sitting in a hospital room with a consultant, cancer specialist nurse and my auntie. I was told that I had cancer.
“Her journey really pricked my conscience,” says Hayley
(Image: Hayley Prince)
It felt like I was looking in on myself. I heard those words and my immediate thought was ‘I can’t die. What about my children?’ I thought that because Jade had died, I was going to die too. It was utter devastation. I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to cope. I didn’t know what lay ahead for me at all. The unknown is the most frightening thing. What happened next was all very quick. I had a biopsy where they took a sample of my cervix to see what grade the cancer was and I was diagnosed with stage 2 cervical cancer and told that I needed a radical hysterectomy. I was just 32 years old. It was extremely difficult. In my head I hadn’t finished having my family, so to have that taken away at such a young age and to be plunged into menopause was absolutely horrific. Luckily my children were very resilient, although it did affect them and they were frightened.
Hayley was diagnosed with stage 2 cervical cancer when she was 32 years old
(Image: Hayley Prince)
I had chemotherapy and radiotherapy too. During my treatment I had to rely on people to take me to the hospital daily for my radiotherapy and somebody would come with me and spend 12 hours in a chemo suite with me weekly. I felt like a burden. Without the love of family and friends, I don’t know how I would’ve got through it. It was during this time that I discovered Jo’s Trust. Their helpline and community of people going through similar situations to me was invaluable. I was given the all clear in January 2015. I was absolutely elated and I threw a really big party. My son also did a sponsored silence for the Christie Hospital, which is where I had my treatment and raised quite a large sum of money for them. That being said, even now my diagnosis impacts me. I automatically panic if something about my body doesn’t seem quite right. I also have radiation colitis which is an effect of the radiotherapy. As a result of what I’ve been through, I celebrate life every single day. I’ve always said that my diagnosis is thanks to Jade. I wouldn’t have gone for a smear test if it wasn’t for her. It was at the back of my mind before she shared her story, but it was only with what happened to her that brought it to the forefront.
“Her children should be so proud of the legacy that she’s left behind,” says Hayley
(Image: Claire Greenway/Getty Images)
I hope her sons Bobby and Freddie realise how many thousands of lives their mum has saved by sharing her story. I owe my life to Jade, it’s as simple as that. Had I not gone for my smear test when I did or I had left it any longer, I probably wouldn’t be here to tell the tale. Her children should be so proud of the legacy that she’s left behind. Hopefully the anniversary of her death will encourage women to go and get their smear test done. There isn’t anything to be frightened of. It can save your life.” Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is the UK’s leading cervical cancer charity. Call 0808 802 8000, or visit jostrust.org.ukStory SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnJade GoodyHealthReal Life
