Breast cancer seemed distant to me; I’m young and I don’t have a family history of breast cancer, so I never checked—that was until I saw someone walking around dressed in a CoppaFeel boob. CoppaFeel is a charity that raises awareness around breast cancer in younger people. As October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month I spoke with Erin Tipper, the President of CoppaFeel Edinburgh, to see how CoppaFeel raises awareness around the most common form of cancer in the UK.
It’s a rarely sunny Edinburgh day when Erin hops onto our teams call. I’m greeted with a smile as she explains why she joined CoppaFeel: “I’m a medical student so I had a bit more awareness of cancer,” she begins. “In my third year I did an intercalated degree with sociology and anthropology, and one of my projects was on screening. I came across CoppaFeel which is the only charity that focuses on breast cancer in young people and I found their work really interesting.” Erin interviewed to become a team leader after finding out that since 2022 Edinburgh hadn’t had a CoppaFeel team: “I really wanted to get a team on campus and raise awareness.” And raise awareness they have; CoppaFeel Edinburgh runs different events throughout the year ranging from pumpkin painting, to the Pink Parade at St James Centre on Saturday 24 October in which you’re encouraged to break out your tutus and pink wigs to raise awareness for Breast Cancer.
But what does CoppaFeel do? “Their main thing is sort of myth-busting,” Erin says, she notes that a lot of young people think they’re invincible: “[CoppaFeel] want to break that down and make sure everyone’s aware and putting a big focus on knowing what’s normal for you.” Erin details the checking process: “they recommend you check once a month, they don’t give a specific guide on how to feel as long as you include all your breast tissue, the nipple, up to your collarbone and under your armpits. Then take a minute to ask ‘was that normal for me?’ if it’s not, get in touch with your GP and advocate for yourself.”
Those most at risk of breast cancer are people who were assigned female at birth, are over 50, and have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. You’d assume young people don’t have to worry, but Erin fact checks: “CoppaFeel wants you to know that while the risks are slim you are still at risk—everyone has breast tissue so that includes any gender. The aim for young people is to make more of a routine to check your chest.” She clarifies that “it’s more checking once a month to know what your chest and breast tissue feel like, so you notice sooner if there is a change. The faster you pick it up, the easier it is to treat then the survivable outcomes are better.” 23 per cent of breast cancer cases are preventable, and starting checking when you’re younger means you get in the habit of checking when you’re older.
About 400 men in the UK are diagnosed each year. Erin explains that “I know a lot of CoppaFeel stuff is very pink and gendered, and that’s because their main target is young women—but that’s why I try to switch it up a bit. CoppaFeel doesn’t just focus on young people, they have more targeted groups that they look at such as people of colour, Jewish people, trans and nonbinary people and men.” Fruit is prominent in CoppaFeel campaigns, Erin reveals that the aim of the fruit was to be more inclusive: “that’s one of my personal aims, I want to get more trans people, nonbinary people, and men involved as well.”
Now I’ve copped a feel, and you don’t need a boob hurtling towards you as a reminder. Simply go on CoppaFeel’s website, enter your number and you’ll get a text every month reminding you to cop a feel. No matter how distant breast cancer may seem, it’s good to get into the habit of checking. Erin and the rest of the CoppaFeel Edinburgh have been educating students and raising awareness all while organising events. So, this Breast Cancer Awareness month, get on your pink clothes, cop a feel, and get yourself down to the Pink Parade.
Image by CoppaFeel Edinburgh for The Student
