Source: Daily MailToday, "Mothering Sunday"*, brought news of the needless death of Jade Goody, a British celebrity. This is the needless death of yet another British mother this week, after Natasha Richardson, both mother to two boys.
Like Natasha Richardson, Jade Goody's death was preventable. She died of cervical cancer. One of the easiest to detect and easiest to treat if detected early. Jade had a positive pap test but decided to ignore it. Now she has left a husband, of a couple of weeks, and two beautiful boys, without a wife and mother. No matter what her past, it is tragic.
A number of years ago I stayed with my friend while her mother died of cervical cancer. The mother had chosen an alternative lifestyle and didn't believe in modern medicine instead treating herself with herbs and prayer, mostly prayer. The sight and smell of her dying needlessly in hospital and the turmoil it left the family in in the years after gave me a religious zeal about having regular pap tests.
Since then my mother and a very young aunt have received treatment for cervical cancer. While it's not genetic in any way, the thought of leaving my partner, beautiful boy and baby 2 will force me to endure the cold metal and discomfort of a pap test every two years, not the four recommended in the UK. That's not frequent enough. Please do it every two years. Please book yours today.
*The name has been changed from Mother's Day to Mothering Sunday after a US company bought the trademark for Mother's Day.
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