Let’s talk b**bs.
In the shower? At your desk? On the dancefloor? Where do you check your boobs, bits or bobs? Bristol Uni Boob Team want you to cop a feel of them for CoppaFeel!
CoppaFeel! is a UK based breast cancer awareness charity, and one of their university teams, the Bristol Uni Boob Team are on campus to bust some busty myths and talk b**bs.
Breast cancer isn’t just limited to older women
CoppaFeel!’s founder Kris Hallenga was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer at the age of 23. Her late detection was partly due to her being unaware that young people like her can be susceptible to breast cancer. This is why CoppaFeel! aims to reach out to young people in particular.
Everyone is at risk of breast cancer – not just those who identify as women!
At the heart of CoppaFeel! is the message that anyone and everyone should be checking themselves – guys, gals and non-binary pals. Roughly 400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year; recently Beyonce’s dad, Matthew Knowles, revealed his own diagnosis. Whilst this may seem ominous, CoppaFeel! don’t want to instil fear into us all! Instead, we want to educate everyone of the importance of knowing your body and knowing what normal feels like so that if something is not right then you can have the earliest detection and treatment.
There is no ‘right’ way to check yourself, only you will know
Great news – you are the perfect candidate for this role! Everyone looks different, this is even more true when it comes to boobs and bits. The only right way to check is to get to know what normal looks and feels like for you. The image below contains 8 common signs and symptoms of breast cancer that are useful to know what to look out for but trust your touch and feel – if in doubt, get checked out! Making an appointment with your GP if you aren’t sure about something you spot is your best bet, it may be nothing but early detection is key!
Our aim is for everyone on campus to regularly check themselves and know what to be looking out for. There is no shame in looking after yourself – treat it like looking after the rest of your body. Remember anyone and everyone has breast tissue so however you see your boobs – big, small, one, ‘none’ – should be checking! Around 23% of breast cancer cases are preventable so one little monthly check could make a huge difference.
Let the conversation flow
Whilst boobs are funny and wonderful things, we do need to look after them and be able to talk about them. We seek to break down the taboo and normalise conversations around bits, boobs and cancer. With one in two people now affected by cancer at some point in their lives, it’s important that we take away any awkward feelings we have around the topic. You can join us for a cup of tea and chat at our fortnightly Cancer Coffee Mornings to get this conversation going.
It’s as easy as 123 (or texting “UBT BRS” to 70500)
Not only do CoppaFeel! tell you what to look out for but they tell and remind you when to do so! We offer a free monthly text reminder service, simply text “UBT BRS” to 70500 for a funny reminder at the start of each month if you need some help remembering! The Bristol Uni Boob Team are constantly bombarding campus with stickers, shower hangers, cards and more so look out for these. If you haven’t seen us yet though, CoppaFeel! HQ have launched the Boob Bot – who you can ask questions to through Facebook Messenger to make boob checking even easier!
The power is in your hands!
Feel the power, be the power. Now you have been enlightened and have the confidence to check yourself, we need you to spread the word and get as many people to do the same thing. From your flatmate to that person you sometimes speak to in tutorials to grandma – get everyone else to get on board / boob.
Check us out on social media – Facebook: Bristol Uni Boob Team and Instagram: @coppafeelbristol then check yourself!