Goody's fears for sons' future

Goody returned to the UK on Tuesday

TV star Jade Goody, who has been diagnosed with cervical cancer, has said she fears she may not live to see her two young sons grow up.

Goody, 27, was told she had cancer while appearing in the Indian version of Big Brother, and returned to the UK.

She now needs an urgent hysterectomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Goody told the Sun newspaper.

"I'm fighting for my life. I've no control over this disease and I'm bloody terrified," she told the paper.

"I am going to fight the damn thing every step of the way because I have two beautiful boys who are my world," she continued.

"But I have to be realistic and face the possibility that I might not live to see them grow up."

Goody's two boys are five-year-old Bobby and three year-old Freddie.

In the interview, Goody also said how upset she had been by suggestions that her illness was a publicity stunt because she was appearing in the Indian Big Brother, called Bigg Boss.

"I'm sitting here desperately trying to come to terms with the fact that I might die while people are out there accusing me of making my illness up," she said.

Given all-clear

Since the age of 16, Goody said she has had four smear tests to detect cervical cancer, which all showed up pre-cancerous cells in her womb.

She said she had had treatment three weeks ago following an abnormal smear test, after she collapsed at her home in Essex.

Shilpa Shetty (r) has expressed her sympathy for Goody

But she was given the all-clear and decided to go ahead with the India trip because she was being paid �100,000 and needed the money, she said.

Goody also spoke of her sadness at never having had more children, in particular a baby girl.

But said she was grateful she had had the chance to have two children.

"Then it hit me that some women get cancer and never become mums.

"I realised I should be thankful for my gorgeous sons and decided I was going to take this horrible disease on - and win."

Goody's TV contracts dried up following the row over her alleged racism towards Shilpa Shetty while they were both contestants in Channel 4's Celebrity Big Brother.

Her perfume, Shh..., was also taken off the shelves and publishers dropped a paperback edition of her autobiography.

Shetty, who hosts the Indian Big Brother, said: "It is unbelievable, how life is so unpredictable and finds a way to distract and derail you from your plans.

"My prayers are with Jade, her family in this hour, when they face one of the biggest tests of their life in times ahead.

"I pray she comes out of this soon and stronger with happy memories from this country."

Cervical cancer develops from cells lining the neck of the womb.

It is the second most common cancer in women under the age of 35 in the UK. There are around 2,700 new cases each year.

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