PINK RIBBONS! Laughter: An Essential Part of Breast Cancer Recovery

“Laugh when you can. It is the best medicine.” Lord Byron

How can a few jokes change the course of breast cancer?

Researchers are finding that those who laugh a lot through their breast cancer treatments have a high rate of recovery and a low rate of remission. Why, you ask? Laughter floods our bodies with chemicals called endorphins. These ‘happy” chemicals alter our bodies into staying happy. Becoming happy creates a chemical map to remain happy. It’s a lot like smiling when you don’t feel like it. Fake a few smiles when you’re unhappy, and you’ll find yourself feeling better and spreading joy beyond yourself.

But, can laughter kill cancer, physically-speaking?

"One characteristic of the cancer patient who does well,” says Dr. Michael B. Van Scoy-Morsher, an oncologist in California, “is the ability to often put cancer in the background for periods of time."

That’s what laughter can do, put breast cancer on the back burner of the body and healing in the forefront. Humor gives us power over things that bring us down, gives life to hope, and hope to life. The worst problem can lift a bit with a hardy guffaw or a bashful smile. Laughing relieves the stress that contributes to cancer, giving our bodies a “vacation”.

Humor affects our entire brain, especially the prefrontal cortex, the nest of perception and mood. The emotions and moods we experience directly affect our immune system, strengthening our fight against the challenge of breast cancer. Laughter often shows us what’s most important and real in life. A sense of humor allows us to perceive and appreciate the incongruities of life and provides moments of joy and delight. These positive emotions can create neurochemical changes that will buffer the immunosuppressive effects of diseases and stress. That’s helping your treatment along the way.

The secret of laughter … is that our bodies are hardwired with some surprisingly powerful natural reactions to extended hearty laughter. These side effects include:

•Blood & all major organs are fully oxygenated leaving us bursting with energy
•Blood pressure drops, circulation improves and pulse rate drops
•Depression is lifted, even chronic depression is often cured
•High endorphin levels put us in a great mood and reduce any aches & pains
•Immune, digestive & sexual systems that are switched off by stress are switched on
•Self confidence is boosted, communication skills and creativity are boosted
•Our lymphatic system is massaged and our immune systems boosted
•Stress levels reduce by 75% or more and we become more stress resistant
(Source: Laughter Yoga)

Humor is the Anti-Cancer. Laugh at the enemy and you will win the everyday battles.

So chuckle when your hair falls out from chemo. Buy crazy wigs. Use this chance to see how you’d look in different hairstyles and colors! Write a funny song about mammograms and sing it to your friends and yourself every day. Smile at your kids at play. Snicker when your dog chases his tail. Build yourself a DVD collection of movies that crack you up. Collect jokes, plan fun. Imagine that breast cancer as a small adversary to your grand attitude. Time flies when you’re having fun!

A breast cancer diagnosis is not a choice; it’s a challenge. How you face and deal with your breast cancer is your choice. Laugh your way into more life. Make breast cancer your favorite target of hilarity and humiliation. Attack the attack, a German martial arts concept. Make your humor more progressive than your sickness.

Here’s to LaughAngeles.com and their list of 40 Laughter Exercises!:
http://www.laughangeles.com/40-laughter-exercises.php

Wishing you good health of body and laughter of soul.
Michele