Joss, 34, owes her life, and Olivia, to one test
Monday 14th March 2011, 2:30PM GMT.
Joss Bisson and six-month-old Olivia, the baby she discovered she was going to have as she started treatment for stage one cervical cancer. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 1105573)
WHEN Joss Bisson had a routine smear test she had no idea she had stage one cervical cancer.
The 34-year-old then discovered, as she started treatment, that she was pregnant.
But against the odds she beat the illness to have her daughter Olivia, who is now six months old. The mother of three wants island women to realise how important the tests are, because one saved her life.
‘This is all about making sure women go for smears,’ she said. ‘If it had been a five-year check, like in the UK, I would not be here. I am very lucky.
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I’m very pleased that Miss Bisson is fit and healthy once again, but the Press is a bit wrong with the bit about it being ‘against the odds.
Cancer isn’t a death sentence anymore, and the survival rate for Stage One Cervical Cancer is between 80 and 96 per cent.
Don’t scare people on false grounds please, do your research!
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SB, it wasn’t just that it was stage 1, Joss’s life was in danger. I don’t remember all the details now, but my husband knows Joss’s husband and I remember at the time everyone was very worried for them & their young sons.
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SB – it’s still a great positive story which is a welcome change from all the doom and gloom we so often read about.
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SB,
I’d say that the circumstances that Joss Bisson found herself and the eventual outcome were against the odds. The ‘against the odds’ bit is surely reference to her being able to carry and have safe delivery of her daughter whist undergoing treatment for the cancer.
I don’t know if you read what was on the second page but the description of the procedure that the surgeons carried out directly next to the growing baby was frankly amazing.
That particular operation and associated dangers to mother and child would certainly go far beyond what would be required for someone were they not pregnant when the cancer was discovered. From what I gathered when reading the article all could have been lost at any point up to the caesarean so an absolutely terrifying time for everyone concerned.
Congratulations to all those involved and it is truly refreshing to have such a positive ending to the story.
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I know it’s a positive story, I never said I was upset that she had survived.
I just think the GP are using it as a scare tactic when they shouldn’t be. Survival rates are hugely improved from ten years ago.
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I know the family and although it was at late stage 1 it was advanced and risky not only for Joss but the baby too.
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The point that women should take smear tests seriously is a valid one, and if it takes front page headlines to get it across, then how is that bad?
Two words: Jade Goody.
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It would be a good idea for the health service to buy a “Well Being” bus like they have in most cities in the UK.
I’m well aware it’s our responsibility to maintain our own health. This hop on & hop off service tends to catch those that would otherwise wait until whatever it is they’re concerned about is too late.
There is various locations on the island where such a service would be very successful. It could work sharing the cost with Jersey’s health service.
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