New cancer drug gives Jade Goody 'glimmer of hope'

London, Feb 05 (ANI): Cancer-stricken Jade Goody is being given a new drug to help combat her spreading illness.

The 27-year-old said she was starting a two-month course of Topotecan after her first round of chemotherapy failed to stop the cervical cancer spreading to her liver, bowel and groin.

"I've had an awful time recently but I got some hope today," the Mirror quoted Goody, as saying.

"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'," she added.

However, some experts doubt the drug's chances of success and grimly warn she may have as little as 12 months to live.

Prof Martin Gore is part of the team treating her at London's Royal Marsden Hospital and the one who suggested topotecan.

A pal said: "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 he was optimistic.

"Others have been quite pessimistic but the fact that Prof Gore's the top man and was not despondent gave her hope.

"He 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 afterwards than she's been for weeks. She's still sedated and is in great pain, but they're getting on top of it." Her spokesman, PR guru Max Clifford, added: "It's given her a glimmer of hope as opposed to no hope," the pal added. (ANI)