You might have thought that cancer and marketing make uneasy bedfellows. But like or not (and I don't) where there is cancer there is money to be made. The vast pharmas supplying ever more sophisticated chemotherapy drugs, need to make the case for their latest therapy to Healthcare Professionals and Health Managers, and to the public via sophisticated media campaigns - the Herceptin campaign (with its focus on breast cancer) being notably more successful than that for Avastin (focusing on bowel cancer). There is nothing new or even wrong in marketing like this, but it is very targeted, regulated and specialist, so people like you and me don't really notice. Believe me, the pharmas are extremely smart in how they present statistics and support certain causes.

But with Jade Goody, cancer has come into the marketing mainstream, The story has presented newspapers and media companies with the opportunity to boost circulation and viewing figures and thereby attract more advertising. There will also be a 'halo' effect with a spike in the sales of related goods and services, from increased screening to alternative therapies. More of the 'worried well' will be hot footing it down to their nearest BUPA hospital for a thorough MOT.

This is all fact, not conjecture. And however distasteful we may find the thought of profiteering from terminal disease, it happens. Those of you who complain about her behaviour but "just love reality TV" are now having to confront real reaIity on TV. Good. This is the animal you have created. I for one, enthusiastically support Jade Goody's desire to make her condition so public. Not so much for her wish to make money for her children in the only way she knows how, but because of the number of women who will now live because they've now gone for a smear test and been diagnosed early. Cancer is a truly terrifying disease, with the emotional stress often harder to deal with than the brutal treatment, and yet many forms are curable if caught early. Yes, I would do almost anything to get the message about early testing and successful outcome across. And I wish Jade Goody peace.