When cancer has befallen a member of your family, it is wise to keep in mind, “What I Focus On Expands”, and so it is with our attitude to life. A light-hearted, positive attitude in a family with cancer (even amongst the sadness you are feeling) will bring good things into your life. A dear friend once gave me a card with the saying “Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly”. What a lovely thought.
Although dealing with a ‘serious’ time in your life, you can do so without getting too heavy about it. This is a healthy way to view cancer in the family. Just because something challenging is happening in your life; that is no reason to stop having fun. Quite the opposite, in fact. You need intense doses of fun and pleasant activities, to offset any negative feelings about your loved one’s cancer.
Cathy Goodman, whose recuperation from breast cancer was featured in The Secret, had a three part healing process: belief that she was healed and seeing that as true; gratitude for that healing; and the power of laughter to heal. Cathy and her husband watched videos of funny movies for months. They avoided any kind of bad news, or anything that could cause her stress. Within three months her cancer was gone, with no other treatment. If laughter has the power to heal physically, it certainly can heal emotionally too. It can keep the positive energy going. That’s why we’ve included a humour on our forum at www.familiesfacingcancer.org – so you can share what makes you laugh!

Release through humour

Humour is a wonderful way to defuse tension, and let go of emotions. Many people who have cancer develop a black sense of humour, and this allows them to deal with really tough times and emotions.
My friend Annette Shaw once supported her neighbour through cancer treatment. She described her experiences, writing in The Times. Trying to encourage her friend, Annette thought of telling her about the visualisation techniques where you see your white blood cells as soldiers attacking the cancer ‘invaders’. “Think of it as Custer’s Last Stand”, she concluded triumphantly. “Nette”, said her friend, “he lost!” The look of horror on Annette’s face provoked gales of laughter from her friend. The ice was broken, and humour kept them both going through many dark hours.
You too can find things to laugh about – even in the face of hardship. There is definitely a funny side to the indignities of cancer. Obviously I’m not inviting you to laugh at your loved one, but if they can find humour then respond. They may be longing for someone to be light-hearted around them. It’s hard to hold on to anger, fear and even despair if you are laughing.