I'm a sucker for a bad pun, so Tits 'n' Giggles started off on a positive note with me. A night of comedy to raise money for breast cancer awareness - really, what's not to like in that sentence?
Well, when I first heard about CoppaFeel! the charity - the gig was raising money for - last year, I wasn't so sure. I've known people who have had breast cancer, and my day job occasionally involves working with people who have or had cancer, and the advertising campaign I saw didn't sit well with me. It used young women, in what seemed like sexualised poses. Is that really relevant to the average person with breast cancer when the usual age of diagnosis is over 50?
Well, when I first heard about CoppaFeel! the charity - the gig was raising money for - last year, I wasn't so sure. I've known people who have had breast cancer, and my day job occasionally involves working with people who have or had cancer, and the advertising campaign I saw didn't sit well with me. It used young women, in what seemed like sexualised poses. Is that really relevant to the average person with breast cancer when the usual age of diagnosis is over 50?
Guess what? I learned a few things on Tuesday night, as well as having a laugh. I know, that's my favourite type of evening too...
It's not that I'm cynical. Ok, I am cynical. And when I see advertising campaigns for any charity - including ones I've worked for - there is a part of my brain that is looking for a way to tear it apart and find what's wrong with it. The part that looked at CoppaFeel!'s campaigns and said something derisive about sex selling. The part of my brain that was sitting back with one eyebrow arched during Legs Akimbo's opening song 'Boobogram', mentally comparing the humorous lyrics to a recent conversation I'd had with a breast cancer patient about the difficulties of treatment. What can I say? It's a riot round mine. You should hear my commentaries to the TV ads. Except you can't, because my flatmates have probably told me to shut up.
It's not that I'm cynical. Ok, I am cynical. And when I see advertising campaigns for any charity - including ones I've worked for - there is a part of my brain that is looking for a way to tear it apart and find what's wrong with it. The part that looked at CoppaFeel!'s campaigns and said something derisive about sex selling. The part of my brain that was sitting back with one eyebrow arched during Legs Akimbo's opening song 'Boobogram', mentally comparing the humorous lyrics to a recent conversation I'd had with a breast cancer patient about the difficulties of treatment. What can I say? It's a riot round mine. You should hear my commentaries to the TV ads. Except you can't, because my flatmates have probably told me to shut up.
| Luckily the cynical part of my brain got a break as the evening moved into stand-up comedy. Even I can't quite manage to sustain an air of detachment when a cute Canadian lesbian is singing a hilarious/stalkery ode to her 6th Grade maths teacher and the feelings she stirred. | I didn't just sit in my seat laughing and gasping for air like an asthmatic sea lion. |
The entire line up was superb. The night was hosted by Funny Women, who certainly lived up to their name. It overran by about an hour but I doubt anyone was complaining - it's been a while since I saw such a variety of female comics in one place. Everything from cutting and acerbic (Tiff Stevenson, my new fantasy drinking buddy), to the surprising (Ellie Taylor - host of Snog, Marry, Avoid. I'm not going to pretend I don't have a secret love for that show, but I had no idea the host's standup was funny enough to make me cry. Look I could sit here and tell you how great each of the acts was, or you could use the line up to plan which comics you're going to watch next time you get the chance. We both know which is easiest, at least for me)
But like I said, I didn't just sit in my seat laughing and gasping for air like an asthmatic sea lion. I also managed to take in a bit about how and why CoppaFeel! Was set up.
The average age for a breast cancer diagnosis may be over 50. But Kris was diagnosed at 23, after 8 months of being told that the lump in her breast was probably nothing to worry about due to her age. By the time it was diagnosed as cancer, it had spread to her spine. 4 years after her diagnosis she is still undergoing treatment. She set up CoppaFeel! With her twin sister, Maren, in a bid to raise awareness among young people.
So some of their tactics don't work for me. I'm not exactly in their target demographic. And if I had an ounce of the grace and tenacity that Kris had I would be amazed. The way she's reacted to her diagnosis is something even the most cynical part of my brain can't be sarcastic about. Young people (let's not forget men can get breast cancer too) are statistically less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer – but they're also more likely to be diagnosed late, facing more complications and worse outcomes. Perhaps it's time to CoppaFeel!
Squeamish Louise
But like I said, I didn't just sit in my seat laughing and gasping for air like an asthmatic sea lion. I also managed to take in a bit about how and why CoppaFeel! Was set up.
The average age for a breast cancer diagnosis may be over 50. But Kris was diagnosed at 23, after 8 months of being told that the lump in her breast was probably nothing to worry about due to her age. By the time it was diagnosed as cancer, it had spread to her spine. 4 years after her diagnosis she is still undergoing treatment. She set up CoppaFeel! With her twin sister, Maren, in a bid to raise awareness among young people.
So some of their tactics don't work for me. I'm not exactly in their target demographic. And if I had an ounce of the grace and tenacity that Kris had I would be amazed. The way she's reacted to her diagnosis is something even the most cynical part of my brain can't be sarcastic about. Young people (let's not forget men can get breast cancer too) are statistically less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer – but they're also more likely to be diagnosed late, facing more complications and worse outcomes. Perhaps it's time to CoppaFeel!
Squeamish Louise
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