#Truecancerbodies Campaign

Have any of you been following the backlash to #bosombuddies, @fashiontargetsbreastcancer and @marksandspencer on social media.

@gammy_tit is putting together a photo shoot featuring #truecancerbodies for tomorrow I believe.

There is a WhatsApp group being set up which you can join by DMing @gammy_tit, there are a few ovarian cancer ladies like me who have joined but it would be great to have more.

I can’t join the shoot as I’m in the North East but will support in what ever way I can.

The aim is to get big brands and cancer charities to represent the realities of cancer and the people it effects in a more authentic way rather than the superficial feel good approach some take. Also to push the fact that there are 200+ different types of cancer and encourage them to widen support from default pink and fluffy easy options.

If any of you are interested pop into Instagram, follow gammy_tit and DM her.

Message me if you are not on instagram with an e-mail and I’ll ask her to add you. Facebook page and instagram page to follow for #truecancerbodies. Lisa x

[Hopefulgal1]

Well done you for running with this. I know you are unable to join the shoot but great that you’re trying to add in ovarian cancer awareness - I shall look up now on Instagram. I can’t join as too poorly / also In the north but hoping others will 🙏 thank you! X

[Hidden in reply to Hopefulgal1]

Hi hopefulgal,

I think the photos should be very uplifting. There are a group of 40 cancer patients doing the shoot today.

Insta and Facebook are both @truecancerbodies.

Where about in the North are you? Xxx

[Hopefulgal1 in reply to Hidden]

I live in Alderley to be close to the christie - so good you’re doing this and look forward to you letting is know your outcomes 😊🙏💕

[Nicky911]

Thanks for this - have just followed on Instagram. Pink and fluffy/ the pressure on women with challenging conditions to have a bucket list can be a bit irritating. 💪

[Hidden in reply to Nicky911]

Hi Nicky, I totally agree! My pet peeve is ‘she bears her illness bravely’ as in she keeps her mouth shut and didn’t moan too much. 😀 We need more awareness of our disease so whatever this campaign can do to help I’m grateful. 👍 hopefully we will get more content on instagram this afternoon after the shoot. X

[Nicky911 in reply to Hidden]

Hi - just seen shoot on Twitter and Instagram. Have flagged up story on Instagram to BBC 3CR and its Afternoon presenter Nick Coffer, and BBC national news. X

[Coldethyl]

ThInk this is a great initiative all round and also a way to increase the awareness of ovarian cancer - not just as a list of red flag symptoms but showing real people living with the disease - obviously volume attracts funding but as much as other cancer communities have been very welcoming and supportive to me, I can’t help but think that some of the money world be better spent on cancers like ours with such a high mortality rate - cancer isn’t a pink walk in the park as the media shows - it’s often a brutal slog against the inevitable - I’ve argued for a long time that the pinkwash promoted by the media and big cancer charities ignores our reality and creates a model for post diagnostic support that doesn’t fit with ovarian cancer - it makes sense to be told to be realistic about recurrence when chance is about 25% less so st 80 % plus !

I hope this campaign helps show the reality of living with cancer across a diverse range of illness x

[Lyndy]

Thank goodness someone is tackling this! Hate the pressure to ‘look good despite cancer ‘ and the trend towards using those filters on photos...! Thanks for posting x