Watching Jade Goody live out her terminal weeks in the press brought back painful memories for me. I had breast cancer in 2005. The way that she was viewed at one point with soft focus, the next with flash bulb severity, mimics the emotional roller coaster that cancer treatment provokes.
The highs and lows remain with you into survivorship, worsened at every follow up appointment. Two years ago, after being accused of bullying on Celebrity Big Brother, she was the nation’s hate symbol. One radio contributor even suggested she deserved cancer because of her racist comments. A death sentence for an inappropriately judged gaffe. But, as death approached, she was commended for her bravery by the Prime Minister.
I think she was remarkably brave in dealing with the media over her diagnosis and treatment. Unlike some celebrities, who have chosen to hide the physical side of their treatment, even on her wedding day, at a time when most women spend hours having their hair tortured into elaborate bird’s nests, she wore her bald head with pride.
Particularly poignant, was her admission to the hospice because of the hallucinations that she suffered. When you start chemotherapy, the oncology team is keen to make sure that you understand the side effects of chemotherapy, and the potential treatments to alleviate them. They will tell you about hair loss, lethargy, nausea, weight gain, skin thinning, and a seemingly endless list of physical manifestations.
No one dares warn you about the almost inevitable depression, possible paranoia and delusional states that can develop. The press blamed Jade’s pain relief, but I can tell you, from personal experience, that combinations of chemotherapeutic agents, and high doses of steroid, can produce similar symptoms.
When you are having chemo, you see the team on a regular basis. Every cycle your bloods, weight, blood pressure, and in-dwelling line are meticulously checked. But no one even takes five minutes to check on your mental wellbeing.
This strikes me as the biggest omission in cancer care. At least I did not have to have my distress displayed to the nation. On all counts, Jade was not so lucky.
Tags: Cancer
Good point Sarah. But let’s not generalise too widely. I know many doctors who do consider the psychological impact of chemo. And while it’s not nice to speak ill of the dead, I’d be wary of cannonising Jade Goody. While she clearly raised the profile of smear tests, it wasn’t necesarily for the right reasons.