Cancer Card

Becky Steepe is on a mission.  She wants to talk about something people would rather not talk about: cancer.  Specifically, in Steepe’s case, bowel cancer.  She’s had it – and Stage 4 too.  That’s potentially as bad as it gets.  She tells us a bit about her life pre and post diagnosis, her parents’ low expectations for her (why she’s called Becky and not Rebecca), but mostly she tells just what it’s like to have bowel cancer.  The prolonged suffering and isolation, the treatment – one aspect of which is how the chemo creates horrendously toxic farts that are actually a form of revenge for the sufferer on ‘normal people’.  The surgery, the dietary restrictions...   But there she is - she came through.

But Steepe wants to emphasise that she’s not playing the poor me cancer card.  (She tried that with a boyfriend, and it backfired.)  In part two of her show, she describes the prequel to diagnosis.  And how frustrating – and dangerous – it is when diagnosis is delayed and delayed.  Steepe dramatises her interactions with her doctor using two balloon sculptures: blue for her and brown for the doctor.  She sees some blood in her poo – but her condescending GP tells her she’s ‘too young’ to have bowel cancer.  Of course, back then she’s young enough to believe him.  As you do.  But the symptoms don’t go away.    Finally, after practically begging, she gets a colonoscopy – but it takes her over twenty months!

It does occur to us, listening to this saga, that although she was more and more worried, not everyone can afford to get a second opinion, get a referral and go into the expensive private system...

In part three, Steepe is the fierce campaigner for early testing and action as soon as we see that tell-tale blood in our stool.  Don’t put it off – and be insistent.  Bowel cancer is a killer – and you can’t be ‘too young’ to get it.  She’s devised a slogan for her campaign.  SPLAT – SPOT – SHAFT.  In other words, check your poo and get tested. 

Steepe personally, luckily avoided – or overcame – the worst consequences of her bowel cancer; she avoided having to have a colostomy bag.  But the damn cancer wasn’t beaten yet – it metastasised as cancers tend to do...  So, more surgery.  More deleterious effects on her body and her life.  We listen and of course we wonder, ‘If she’d been diagnosed promptly, maybe...’ 

Steepe’s been a comedian and balloon sculptor for over ten years.  This show is perhaps more of a documentary (it is very informative), a warning, and agit-prop than it is a comedy routine, but she is deadly serious.

Michael Brindley