I AM writing in response to the letter by R Horton published on Monday, February 16.

I felt a mixed reaction. Firstly, I empathise completely with him. My amazing father died of cancer, leaving behind my young mum and even younger brother and me. Countless members of my family have died from this terrible disease, both my lovely friend and my brave mother-in-law have battled and survived it, my beautiful auntie now has it and a year ago I was diagnosed. So if anyone knows what it is like, I'm one of them.

I'm a 33-year-old mother to my gorgeous 16-month-old little boy and even though I hate to write this, I'm terminally ill. Yes, I was 'lucky' to have tried a wonder drug, but unfortunately for me it was not so wonderful after all and did not work.

Regardless of what opinion you may have about Jade Goody, anyone would feel sorry for her and her family right now. In response to Mr H, surely no one would be stupid enough to think she is the only one to have cancer. Many reading this will know someone or have known someone to have cancer.

What Jade Goody is doing, whether you like it or not, is dealing with this terrible situation the way she feels best, and the money from magazine deals is going in a trust for her children's future. No one can tell her that is a wrong decision.

Who knows, she may have given some money to charity. I don't know anyone who have either had cancer themselves or know someone close to them who has had it who has not donated money or taken part in a fund-raising activity.

But whether she knows it or not, Jade is raising awareness about this awful disease and people are talking about it. Remember, Jade is 27 years old. Nobody thinks they'll get cancer, but when you are young and have a young family it makes it even more unbearable.

But when you read that there are people out there who are in a similar position to yourself, it does make it slightly more bearable. Although I would not wish this illness on my worst enemy, it does help me knowing I'm not the only young mum going through this.

Everyone deals with cancer in their own way. The late, beautiful Caron Keating dealt with her cancer privately but Jade Goody hasn't. This does not make her a worse person.

Some days I want to go public, too. I have been called several unpleasant names while wearing a bandana and I would like to wear a sign in bold lettering displaying the words: "The reason why I'm wearing this bandana is because I'm going through gruelling chemotherapy due to my terminal cancer, therefore I'm bald and do not want to scare you". So I believe any publicity to improve cancer awareness is fantastic. So what if it is Jade Goody who is doing it?

J HALL

Kidsgrove