Cancer is a science-fiction rock opera and the tenth studio album by American rock band Showbread. The album was released in 2012 through non-profit record label Come&Live!. Cancer was produced by Rich Veltrop, who had previously co-produced Showbread's albums No Sir, Nihilism Is Not Practical, Age of Reptiles, The Fear of God and Who Can Know It?. This is the band's second album to be funded completely by fans and released as a free download without the assistance of a major record label.

The album and story takes place in the near future, over the years 2014 to 2016, and is told through the journal of main character Kimo which is included in the free download. The journal is divided into four parts, with the story told through entries and clippings.

I: Cycle of Disenchantment (Institution of Principalities) The first part of Kimo's journal outlines history, beginning with a spaceship crashing on earth, then showing pictures of multiple events - including the death of every firstborn in Egypt as told through the Bible, and the Pilgrims' journey to America - with figures shaped as winged and fanged aliens performing actions in those events. Songs in this part: "You Were Born In A Prison" and "Sex with Strangers"

II: Cycle of Oppression and Revolt (Rise of Protozoa) In part two, Kimo is revealed as a member of underground punk rock band The Protozoa, who are an alter ego of Showbread. Pictures of the band performing are that of Showbread performing, and The Protozoa's "anti-music" logo is similar to that of Showbread's. After performing for a long time, The Protozoa are signed to media giant Audio Empire's record label in January 2015. In February, one of the band members leaves, citing Kimo's latest lyrics as "disrespectful, un-american(sic) and sacrilegious". Despite this, the band begins to rise in popularity, revealing a new logo - the "anti-music" logo that, instead of a full circle, is a letter "C", which listeners believe stands for "Cancer", which is a derogatory term for the Principalities, who are the main party in the U.S. government. The band names their newest release "Cancer" in March.

Before the Principality National Convention, graffiti in the shape of the band's logo is discovered on a building in Atlanta. In a response, in April, Audio Empire decides not to release the Protozoa's album on their label or fund their tours. Despite this, Kimo calls his booking agent and books a tour of very small venues to promote their rebellious message, wanting to "keep the label's fingers out of this one". The band tours from July to September, and hides digital copies of their album in each venue, which are discovered and shared online for free.

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