Goody advises women not to ignore cancer

London (ANI): Cancer-stricken Jade Goody has urged women to learn from her mistakes and start considering the importance of early diagnosis of the disease. The former Big Brother star has begged other victims to take up their offers of smear tests. "Don't ignore the symptoms I had. If you're not happy with the first diagnosis, see someone else. Don't leave it too late," the Daily Express quoted her, as saying.

Goody had three abnormal smear tests and endured three operations to remove the cancerous cells. However, when she was told about a fourth abnormal smear, she was 'too scared' to go to hospital. After collapsing from blood loss for the fourth time last August, Goody left the Indian reality show Bigg Boss to return to London to see Harley Street consultant Dr Ann Coxon.

"Jade is not unhappy about making herself a poster child about screening to pick up a disease which is preventable if caught early," Coxon said. "She went to hospital with symptoms relating to her cervical cancer and it is evident a diagnosis was missed," Coxon added.