Jade Goody given hope with new drug regime

Jade Goody is set to start a new drug regime in a last ditch attempt to halt the progress of her cancer.

Earlier this week the reality TV star was told that the disease, which was diagnosed as cervical cancer last August, has spread to her liver, bowel and groin despite surgery and intensive chemotherapy treatment. Jade was initially given a 50/50 chance of survival, which was then slashed to 40% before Christmas, and now doctors have told her there is little chance of a cure, it is more just a case of how long they can keep her alive - and that might not be any longer than a year.

A source told the Mirror: “Jade was devastated to be told the original chemo did not work and the cancer had spread.

“She was very down because it seemed there was no hope.”

But now doctors are said to be “optimistic” after deciding to try Jade on new drug topotecan: “[Her main doctor] said to her, ‘We’re going to try something else. You’re a young woman with two young children. We’ll do everything possible for you’.

“Jade was a lot brighter after [that conversation] than she’s been for weeks. She’s still sedated and is in great pain, but they’re getting on top of it.”

Jade herself added: “I’ve had an awful time recently but I got some hope.

“It’s the first good news I’ve had in a dreadful few weeks. Over the last three or four days my view has been, ‘How long have I got?’ Now I’m thinking, ‘Maybe there’s a chance’.”

Topotecan was introduced in Europe in 2006 and has a reported one in four success rate in shrinking tumours.