I'm certainly no fan of Jade Goody but I wouldn't wish what is happening to her on my worst enemy. I know only too well how devastating it is as my wife was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in July 2008. We found out quite by accident after she had a blood test when she complained of having pains in her hands. A colleague at work told her to insist on having the FULL blood test which she did or we would not have found out until it was too late. Fortunately, we found out in time and after a huge operation and 6 months of chemo she has just been given the all-clear. The point that I am making is that any cancer is a nasty evil disease that creeps up on you when you least expect and devastates whole families with its consequences. Why are comprehensive tests for it not made compulsory instead of wasting NHS cash on treating people who have never paid anything in to the system.
We are fortunate in the fact that we have private health cover as part of our pay package, if we hadn't ,my wife wouldn't have seen Xmas with me and our grandchildren if we'd had to rely on the NHS or the GHA. But, as a result of the shock of my wife's illness being discovered many of our work colleagues, end even our dentist's wife, have gone and had this full blood test. Fortunately, they were all okay apart from 2 who found out that they each had a Haitus Hernia. Again my point is that if the high profile coverage of Jade Goody's last few months can achieve anything it will make people more aware of the disease and will make them go and have a check-up, and if this helps to save only one life then it will her legacy.
I would like to thank Dr Esther Penas of the Quore Clinic in Soto Grande, Dr Molena my wife's general surgeon and all the staff at the Xanit Hospital, Benalmadena, for giving me my wife back. Also, we work for Victor Chandler in Gibraltar and the whole company has been marvellous in their support for us, we wouldn't have got through it all without them.