Russell Brand's mother has breast cancer.
The comedian has revealed his beloved mum Barbara is battling the disease after surviving a number of bouts during his childhood, including uterus cancer when Russell was eight and breast cancer a year later.
According to The Daily Star newspaper, the funnyman, who is an only child, has cancelled his sold-out show at Derby's Assembly Rooms tonight (07.03.14) to spend time with Barbara, who he is incredibly close to.
He also pulled out of a show in Glasgow recently citing "family reasons" and told a fan on Twitter soon afterwards: "Me Mum ain't well (sic)."
Russell later spoke about her illness on his The Trews video blog, saying: "My mother has currently got breast cancer."
The 38-year-old star, who is seeking comfort from girlfriend Jemima Khan, also slammed the CoppaFeel! charity campaign, which encourages women to check their breasts for lumps.
He said he cannot see how using topless models to raise awareness is helping victims like his mother.
Russell said: "I don't feel that this is helping. The NHS, which is slowly being destroyed, that's quite useful.
"The support groups she's attended that the NHS encouraged (are useful), but this, I don't know if it's doing my mum a lot of good (sic)."
Russell's mother brought him up on her own at their family home in Essex after his dad Ron left when he was six months old.
Speaking about when she was first diagnosed, he said he was "too young, in fact, to properly comprehend what was happening, only old enough to sense the tingling presence of fear."
He also wrote about Barbara's battle with cancer in his first autobiography 'My Booky Wook' and has spoken out about the disease on a number of occasions.

Johnny Cash's son says another film about his father's life could be made.
The 2005 movie 'Walk the Line' focused on the late country musician's early life and career and earned Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Johnny, while Reese Witherspoon won the Best Actress Academy Award for her performance as the singer's second wife June Carter Cash.
John Carter Cash believes there could be another movie made about his legendary dad - who died in 2003 at the age of 71 - and he would like to see a biopic made that focused on his father's latter years.
Speaking at a launch event for the new Johnny Cash album 'Out Among The Stars', John told BANG Showbiz: "It's just got to be the right kind of film. The one that makes the most sense would be the end of his life, you know, but it's got to be the right kind of film, we'll see."
However, the songwriter-and-author - who was Johnny and June's only child - isn't sure if Joaquin and Reese would want to reprise their roles in a new film.
John, 44, said: "I don't know if they'd do it or not ... I'd just have to approach it if the project ever came up."
John - who has four half-sisters from Johnny's first marriage to Vivian Liberto - admits he misses his dad all the time and wishes he could have just one more day with him.
He said: "I'd like him to be brought back to life so I could go fishing with him again."
'Out Among The Stars' has been recovered by John from the lost 1980s recording sessions Johnny did with producer Billy Sherrill, which were axed by his record company Columbia and will be released on March 31.

Mark Wahlberg claims his mother tries to rule her family "with an iron fist".
'The Gambler' actor stars alongside his parent, Alma, and his brothers Donnie and Paul in new reality show 'Wahlburgers', and says they all make for an interesting dynamic on camera.
He explained: "My mother tries to rule with an iron fist. We're all supportive of one another, yet competitive. We all bust each other's chops, but if anybody else tries to, you'll be ganged up on by all of us."
Mark was one of nine children, but says he and wife Rhea Dunham are happy to stop after the four they have: Michael, seven, Brendan, five, Ella, 10, and Grace, four.
He added to People magazine: "I didn't necessarily want to have nine kids like my mom had, but I certainly wanted a couple of boys and a couple of girls. I think we're at the perfect balance right now."

Jennifer Connelly found it "strange" going to work with her husband every morning for 'Shelter'.
The actress was directed by Paul Bettany in the new movie - in which she stars as a homeless person - and even though they've been married for more than a decade, it was weird for them to be on the same set together.
She told DuJour magazine: "It was kind of strange, going to work in the morning with the director.
"But it really seemed to come quite naturally to him - phew - and it was an amazing experience to have had together."
The 43-year-old star added she didn't even get preferential treatment and had to wait to speak to Paul like everybody else.
She added: "I had this fantasy that we'd talk about scenes all day. In reality, if the man sat down, there was a line of people wanting to talk to him. Since we moved so quickly, I think he felt his wife was the least of his worries."
Jennifer and Paul have children Kai, 16, Stellan, 10, and Agnes, two, together and while they have been on most of her film sets she says they don't realise she is famous.
She added: "I think they're interested in the same way all kids are interested in what their parents do, but [fame] doesn't come up. It affords them some fun experiences. They've seen hardly any of my movies, but they've been on almost every set."

Michael Jackson allegedly fathered a love child.
A DNA test claims to prove the late 'Beat It' singer is the biological father of Brandon Howard, a 31-year-old aspiring singer, prompting speculation he was the boy Michael was singing about in his 1982 hit 'Billie Jean'.
Brandon is the son of Miki Howard, a gospel singer who toured with Michael and was represented by his father, Joe Jackson, in the 80s.
Beverly Hills dental surgeon Dr. Joseph Goodman claims he procured a sample of the star's DNA from a dental device bought at auction.
At a press conference to announce the results today (06.03.14), Dr. Goodman opened the results envelope and declared it said there was a "99.9 percent probability" Michael is the father.
The doctor said: "I think we have the proof."
Brandon - who goes by the name B. Howard - has addressed both the test results and rumours he was to go Michael's estate for money in a video posted on his Facebook page.
He said: "Number one, I did not call [website] TMZ or anything like that. Didn't put out a story, nothing. Number two, I've never 'self-proclaimed' to be Michael Jackson's son.
"Number three, I'm definitely not suing the estate. I've been taken care of very well. Number four, it is true I did do a DNA test but it had nothing to do with any of this."
Michael was father to three children, Prince Michael, 16, Paris, 15, and Blanket, 11 until his untimely death in 2009.
A lawyer for Michael's estate, Howard Weitzman, told TMZ.com: "We've never even heard from him ... Any deadline for claiming to be Michael's child has long since passed."
Another man, Augie Johnson, has also claimed he is the biological father of Brandon and agreed to a DNA test.

Katy Perry is planning to give Miley Cyrus "the biggest spanking" when she sees her.
The 'Dark Horse' hitmaker made the cheeky threat to 'Wrecking Ball' star Miley in response to a dig about her ex-boyfriend, John Mayer, earlier today.
The incident started when Katy said she pulled away from kissing Miley at a recent concert because she didn't know where her tongue had been, and she responded by writing on Twitter: "Girl if ur worried abt where tongues have been good thing ur ex boo [boyfriend] is ur EX BOO cause we ALL know where THAT [tongue] been (sic)"
Katy then responded: "@MileyCyrus Oooo gurrrl I'm gonna give you the BIGGEST spanking when I see you in the UK bb!"
Katy is currently in Australia on a promotional tour for her latest album 'Prism', while Miley is in the US on the first leg of her Bangerz Tour, which will head to Europe later in Spring.
Katy was in a relationship with guitarist and singer John Mayer until last month, when they split over their conflicting schedules.
The 'Gravity' star has been known as a ladies' man and has previously been linked to Jennifer Aniston, Taylor Swift, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Vanessa Carlton, Cameron Diaz and Rashida Jones.

Keira Knightley and Salma Hayek are campaigning for women's rights in Afghanistan.
The actresses are among a number of celebrities who have put their name to a letter which has been sent to UK Prime Minister David Cameron ahead of International Women's Day on March 8, asking him to assure help in the country.
Afghanistan has a fragile political infrastructure, and while its people are embracing great change in 2014 - with elections and the withdrawal of international troops - many are concerned about how women, whose rights have increased a great deal in the last decade, will be treated in future.
The letter has been signed by Keira Knightley, Joseph Fiennes, Salma Hayek, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Sheen, Gillian Anderson, Grayson Perry, Dave Stewart and Adrian Lester.
It states: "It has taken true courage for Afghan women to defy the Taleban, to
vote in elections, to work in high-profile jobs, and to send their
children to school.
"But Afghan women have told Amnesty International that they are concerned the rights they have fought so hard to achieve could now be lost.
"In the last six months, numerous Afghan women committed to working
for peace and development have been murdered, including four
policewomen, a pregnant school teacher and a local government worker.
"We mustn't turn our backs on the women and girls of Afghanistan. We
ask that you publicly insist on renewed commitments to women's rights
from the new Afghan President when that person is elected.
"As Prime Minister your support sends a very clear message to the
Afghan authorities as well as to the brave women working for the
future of their country."
The letter forms part of a campaign by Amnesty to protect the women of
Afghanistan from attack. For more information visit amnesty.org.uk/afghanistan

Jared Leto wonders if Jennifer Lawrence's haphazard ways are a "bit of an act".
The 'American Hustle' actress tripped up over her dress as she went to accept the Oscar for Best Actress at last year's Academy Awards, and then slipped again on the red carpet at this year's show, and Jared is getting suspicious.
He told website Access Hollywood: "You know, I'm starting to wonder if this is a bit of an act."
Jared - who was named Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'Dallas Buyers Club' on Sunday (02.03.14) - also explained how a moment when Jennifer, 23, went off script as she came onto the stage was because she saw him and his family laughing.
Jared, 42, added: "She said, 'What are you laughing at?' But what she didn't know was that Ellen was on the side ... making, pantomiming [motions like], 'Don't fall, don't fall,' and my mom and my brother are all cracking up.
"I guess we don't have any manners. You can take them out of Louisiana but you can't take Louisiana out of them, right?"
At the Oscars last Sunday (02.04.14), Jennifer said she was worried people are going to think she is falling on purpose, but reassured it had never been planned.
She said: "I'm afraid that like - I got so scared and I hope nobody took a picture, because I'm afraid it's going start looking like a gimmick."

Andrew Garfield treated Batkid to a day at Disneyland on Monday (03.03.14).
The 'Spider-Man' star took the budding superhero - real name Miles Scott, who is currently recovering from cancer and made headlines when officials across San Francisco rallied to make him the sidekick of fictional superhero Batman for a day - to a fun time at the theme park after a segment they rehearsed together for the Oscars was cut.
A spokesperson for the Academy Awards told E! News: "Due to the nature of a live show, hard decisions sometimes must be made which require the Academy to cut segments due to the logistics of production.
"Andrew Garfield understood that his segment had to be omitted, and he drove to Disneyland on Monday to spend time with Miles Scott, Batkid, and his family."
Andrew and his girlfriend Emma Stone were both absent from the awards show last Sunday (02.03.14), and Chris Evans, who plays Captain America, stepped in for a shorter introduction to the segment instead.
Natalie Scott, Miles' mother, said: "I don't know if they ran out of time, or if there was something about the segment they didn't like.
"It got pulled so quickly that we didn't have a lot of insight into what was going on.
"It is kind of a disappointment, but things happen. I know that's how TV goes and how Hollywood is."

Miley Cyrus has slammed Katy Perry on Twitter.
The pair locked lips when Miley performed in Los Angeles recently, but Katy said on Australian TV earlier this week she pulled away when 'Wrecking Ball' star tried to take it further, saying: "God knows where that tongue has been. We don't know! That tongue is so infamous!"
Miley, 21, hit back on Twitter today, slamming notorious ladies man John Mayer, who recently split with Katy.
She wrote: "Girl if ur worried abt where tongues have been good thing ur ex boo [boyfriend] is ur EX BOO cause we ALL know where THAT [tongue] been (sic)"
Trying to soften the blow, Miley then added: "Dontchyouuuu act like you didn't lurvvvvv it @katyperry (sic)"
After their kiss on February 22, Katy shared an aftermath photograph, which features the '4x4' singer with her mouth hanging open in shock and Katy covering her mouth with her hand, and captioned it: "And after! I adore you @Miley Cyrus."
Katy, 29, and John split last month, blaming their conflicting schedules, but since then friends have accused the guitarist of "sketchy" behaviour.
A source said: "The last time they broke up John won [Katy] back by making a ton of promises. He was going to put her first, but now he's falling back into his old patterns.
"Like, he shuts off his phone and disappears all day and night - he says it's because he needs alone time, but it's sketchy for sure."

Matthew McConaughey's hat from 'Dallas Buyers Club' is being auctioned off.
The actor wore the white Resistol brand hat throughout filming of his Oscar winning performance as AIDS patient Ron Woodroof in the movie, and it is now up for auction with a starting bid of $3,000.
The hat is signed under the brim, where Matthew has written in black marker pen: "Just Keep Living, Matthew McConaughey.''
The hat is a size 7 and 3/8 with a 4-inch brim and made in Texas. The headwear - to be auctioned in Los Angeles by Nate D. Sanders - comes with a certificate of authenticity from Universal Pictures.
Matthew isn't the only star to auction off hit hat this week, as Pharrell Williams sold the hat he wore to the Grammy Awards - a bold Vivienne Westwood Buffalo style piece, which became a talking point at the music ceremony last month - for $44,100.
The hat was snapped up by fast food chain Arby's and the money raised will benefit Pharrell's teen charity One Hand to Another.
After the auction had closed, Pharrell wrote on Twitter: "Thank you to whoever bought my Grammy hat on @eBay for $44,100. Your donation benefits From One Hand to Another. (sic)"
Arby's - whose corporate logo is a 10-gallon hat, bearing a strong resemblance to the one sported by the singer - jokingly tweeted back: "You're welcome. We're HAPPY to support a great cause & get our hat back."
To bid on Matthew's hat visit tinyurl.com/kyc9pru

Khloe Kardashian has bought Justin Bieber's house.
The reality TV star has splashed out on the mansion in gated community The Oaks, located in Calabasas, California, according to Us Weekly.
Justin put the house on the market late last year after a number of run-ins with his neighbours, culminating in a raid by the local sheriff's department after the property of one of the singer's neighbours was egged, causing up to $20,000 of damage.
Security footage from Justin's mansion was removed and his friend, Xavier Smith - also known as Lil Za - was arrested for drug possession.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney is now reviewing evidence and deciding whether to press charges against the 'Confident' star.
Speaking of their most famous resident in January, Calabasas mayor, Fred Gaines, said: "The peace and privacy of our residents is the city's top priority. We have unfortunately had a number of breaches of the peace related to Mr. Bieber and his residence, and the sheriff has acted appropriately in addressing those incidents."
Justin, 20, is now renting a house in Atlanta, Georgia, with a view to buying a property and moving to the city full time.
Khloe is moving after selling the marital home she lived in with estranged husband Lamar Odom in nearby Tarzana in January.
The house was bought by 'Big Bang Theory' star Kaley Cuoco, for $5.5 million.
Khloe's sister, Kourtney, has also bought a property in the same gated community, meaning they will soon be neighbours.