Los Angeles, March 8 (IANS): British comedian Russell Brand cancelled his show in Derby after he received the news that his mother Barbara has breast cancer.

The 38-year-old comedian cancelled his show at Derby's Assembly Rooms in the East Midlands Friday so that he could be with Barbara, reports contactmusic.com.

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 funnyman, who is seeking comfort from girlfriend Jemima Khan, also hit out at 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 of the illness is helping victims like his mother.

'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),” said Brand.