Publicity Stunt?

It’s only 24 hours since we wrote about Jade Goody finding out she has cancer and already people are beginning to suggest it may have been some kind of publicity stunt.

Jade appeared on the Indian Big Brother (called Bigg Boss) to try and show the world that she isn’t really a racist, and it was while she was on the show that she found out about her cancer.

This may or may not have been the best way to find out, but it’s certainly got people questioning how genuine this all may be.

Here are some of the reactions from different people (taken from Sky News).

“Jade would have wanted to be told this way. Her career was made in the Big Brother house and ended there,” she said.

“In my cynical opinion it is entirely possible that she planned to find out in the house.

“Let’s not be naive. It won’t have been the doctor’s idea to tell her that way. She’s looking for a comeback.”

Her agent and publicist Mark Thomas told Sky News it was absurd for anyone to suggest it could be.

He said: “The idea this is some kind of publicity stunt is ridiculous.

“I was contacted yesterday by the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow and told that the consultant there needed to speak to Jade urgently.

“Because of the nature of patient confidentiality he couldn’t tell me exactly what the diagnosis was but he made it clear that he needed to contact her and that it was serious.

“We contacted the TV company and Jade took a call from him. Yes it was in the diary room but the cameras weren’t on and she was in there because it was private.

“To anyone who says it was a publicity stunt I’d ask them how could anyone get a hospital consultant to call up a patient and do that? It’s just not possible.

“And if anyone doesn’t believe that they can call the Princess Alexandra themselves and ask them”.

“It is a serious medical condition and it sounds like the producers should have taken her out first to tell her,” he said.

Cance charities have been quick to support Jade and offer help and advice.

Stuart Dankskin, a senior cancer information nurse at Macmillan Cancer Support told Sky News she will need her family.

“Her treatment will be tailored to the type of cancer that she has and the stage that it’s at.

“Like anyone, she will have lots of concerns about the impact of the illness and lots of thoughts will be going through her head about what happens next.” he said.

For further help or information, visit www.macmillan.org.uk or call their freephone helpline on 0800 500 800.