Jade Goody's decision to share her fight against cervical cancer has been controversial, but it has undeniably had a tremendous impact. Cancer screening experts report a massive surge in young women coming forward for screening, with some laboratories seeing a 20% to 50% increase in cases.
Julietta Patnick, director of NHS screening programmes, noted that while some women may not need a test, the increase likely includes those who have never been screened or have not been screened as frequently as recommended. Over the past decade, screening uptake had been falling, especially among women aged 25-35, but the 'Jade effect' appears to be reversing that trend.
Ministers in England have initiated a review of the screening starting age, currently 25, with calls to lower it to 20, as in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The ripple effect of Jade's battle may also encourage parents to vaccinate teenage daughters against HPV, a risk factor for cervical cancer.
Professor Karol Sikora, medical director of Cancer Partners UK, praised Goody's honesty, noting it has encouraged others to get screened. He highlighted that her story reaches lower socioeconomic groups who are harder to engage through traditional methods like leaflets or adverts. Dr Jo Waller, a psychologist at University College London, added that women in the target age group identified strongly with Goody because of her ordinary background and public presence.
