Humor: A Powerful Coping Aid

BY SR. MARY CHRISTELLE MACALUSO, R.S.M., O.F.N., Ph.D.

To learn more about Sister M. Christelle, see information below.

George Bernard Shaw wrote, "Life does not cease to be funny when someone dies, as it does not cease to be serious when people laugh." I would modify this by saying, "Life does not cease to be funny when someone has cancer, as it does not cease to be serious when people laugh." Dr. Bernie Siegel, a cancer surgeon wrote, "Show me a patient who is able to laugh and play, who enjoys living and I'll show you someone who is going to live longer. Laughter make the unbearable bearable, and a patient with a well developed sense of humor has a better chance of recovery than a stolid individual who seldom laughs."

Research is beginning to show that laughter has health benefits. The mind, body, soul and emotions are not separate from one another, but are in union with each other. Many years ago society believed this, but around the 17th century ideas were propagated which separated the mind from the body. Sad to say, modern medicine developed from this separation concept. Now medicine is slowly returning to the holistic concept (oneness) instead of a dualistic concept (separateness). Dr. Norman Shealy for a presentation made at the National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine Symposium in 1993 shared the idea that a person's attitude is extremely important in influencing brain chemicals which in turn affect the immune system. Research by Dr. Lee Berk of Loma Linda University has shown that laughter increases natural killer cells and antibodies. Laughter activates T immune cells and decreases stress hormones. No one is saying that laughter cures cancer by itself, as cancer is a very complex illness. However, laughter can be used to help strengthen the mind and body. It is a good coping mechanism. Laughter not only affects the body's immune system, it helps to control pain by causing relaxation, distracting a person from the pain, as well as changing one's attitude and reducing anxiety.

In order to help cancer patients beyond regular kinds of treatment, some hospitals are developing humor rooms that are often found on the oncology wing. The room is usually colorfully decorated and pleasantly furnished. It has a TV, VCR and funny videos available for viewing. There are humorous tapes, flowers, games, toys (yes, even for adults!), costumes, masks, funny hats, nerf balls, yo-yos, bubbles, funny pens and pencils. The contents of the room are left to the imagination. How about a player piano! Many hospitals can't afford the space for a humor room. However, many have developed humor carts with many of the above mentioned items. How about watching a Laurel and Hardy, Carol Burnett and Bob Hope movies instead of the soap operas and gloomy daily newscasts? In some hospitals nurses carry humor baskets containing funny items for the patients' use.

In 1984 Janet Henry authored the cartoon/poem book Surviving the Cure "... a time to laugh."(sic) Janet had cancer. On the last page of her book she wrote, "I have been told that this book breaks new ground. If it has helped one patient, or patient's family, toward a more positive attitude, it has served its purpose." She knew well that laughter is good for a cancer patient. With each cartoon is a verse by Janet. For example, her verse for mastectomy, "It hasn't changed my life style, and I haven't lost my touch. The only thing I find is I don't skinny-dip as much."

A friend of mine who was a five-year cancer survivor sent out invitations to a dinner commemorating the celebration of life. She had her dinner at the Marriott Hotel in Los Angeles! She wanted to celebrate in grand style. You may not be able to do so, but celebrate the life you have been given no matter the stage of your cancer.

What does the Bible have to say about joy, laughter and merriment? My interest motivated me to write the book God Knows Best about Joy: Biblical Reflections to Lift up the Heart, which was published in June of 1998 (See below for information on purchasing). Two of my favorite passages are Proverbs 17:22 and 15:30 respectively, "A merry heart does like good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones" and "A cheerful look brings joy to the heart and good news gives health to the bones." Do you know that your immune cells are produced in your bones? Do you know that if you are depressed over a period of time it weakens your immune system? The sacred writers knew long before our health care system did that our emotions affect our health! Some other verses are: Deuteronomy 12:18 "…Rejoice before the Lord your God in everything you do," Psalm 43:5 "...he will make me smile again for he is my God," Ecclesiastes 3; 1,4 "There is a right time for everything. A time to cry; a time to laugh," Psalm 31:24 "So cheer up! Take courage if you are depending on the Lord," Proverbs 15:15 "When a man is gloomy, everything seems to go wrong; when he is cheerful everything seems right." Some New Testament verses are 1 Peter 1:6 "So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is rough for a while down here," and John 16:33 "...Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrow, but cheer up, for I have overcome the world."

Prayer is so important along with humor. In Genesis 20:17 "Then Abraham prayed, asking God to cure the king and queen and the other women of the household…" Put your faith and trust in God. Cancer can be a blessing if it brings one back to a union with God. We get so busy with our lives that often God gets put on the back burner. Serious illness often makes us ponder where we came from, what are we here for and where are we going. It makes us look at what really matters in life.

Faith, trust, laughter, prayer, sharing, positive attitude and hope are some of the ways you can cope with cancer. The doctors need you to create an environment within that will assist the treatment. Remember that you are partners with all those who are trying to help you.

© Copyright, The Fun Nun, Sister Mary Christelle Macaluso, R.S.M., O.F.N., Ph.D. Reprinted with permission.

The Fun Nun was a full-time professional speaker and member of the National Speakers Association (NSA) who challenged people to live more joyfully, handle stress effectively, and improve their interpersonal skills. Sadly, she recently died of a heart attack. You may be able to learn more about her books, tapes, and smile-on-a-stick by calling 402-399-2474 at College of Saint Mary, Omaha, NE 68124-2377 USA.

TOP 10 REASONS I CAN'T BE SICK ANYMORE

This is a contribution by Betty Cea, a woman with a sense of humor who just happens to also have lymphoma.

It is a good illustration of how some cancer patients use humor to relieve tension and shine a bit of light into the dark corners of their world. As she wrote in the e-mail giving us permission to use her name, "My hair left, my dysfunctional family whom I love very much stayed, and the cancer has come back. I might as well laugh while I fight . . . cancer hates a sense of humor . . ."

Especially if you are not married and if you also have a dysfunctional family that you nevertheless love very much, you are likely to enjoy her commentary on living with a recurrence of cancer under those conditions.

10. My cat and I have gotten too familiar. She has started using the toilet and I have started meowing.

9. Did you know when you are home all the time you can see pieces of dirt no one else can see?

8. Every bodily function you have chooses to dysfunction, but only when you are in public.

7. Your entire family becomes hyper-dysfunctional. Therefore, you must take care of them as well as yourself. I wonder if the psycho ward down the road has group rates

6. If you get sick, be prepared to give up your bed, as whoever comes to take care of you will find an immediate reason they cannot use your fold out couch, i.e. I can't get out of the bed, I am afraid of the cat, I am allergic to the cat, I am allergic to the material of the couch. In short, your couch has cooties.

5. Did you know that your fully functional kitchen now becomes totally ill equipped? Never mind that you are the one making the meals. My God, how did you live this long without knowing this?

4. True, your medicine says you shouldn't drive. But don't worry. You can be the designated driver and be on chemo too . . . your caretaker can wake you up . . . no problem. In the event you have a caretaker that will drive and has their own car, they will insist on driving yours just so you will never get your seats and mirrors back to the right place.

3. Be prepared for your caretaker to take over the television and the remote and sit on your bed (which is the sofa) until 3 in the morning. Your couch doesn't have cooties when they are watching TV. It's a miracle.

2. You know that book you bought to keep yourself busy so everyone else can watch television? Guess what, they need that too, to entertain themselves. Remember, you are sick, so you are entitled to no creature pleasures.

And the top reason you can't be sick . . .

1. YOU NEED TO GET LAID AFTER ALL THIS!!!!!

© Copyright 2000, Betty Cea