One Woman s View: Laughter, encouragement good medicine
Contributing writer
Cancer Survivors' Day is coming up June 3. Don't ask me who hangs all the esoteric labels on the calendar, but since somebody has, this might be a good time for a phone call, a note, or a word of encouragement to a friend who is battling (or has battled) cancer.
The last weekend in April I attended a woman's weekend for cancer survivors at Crosswinds Conference Center near Hesston. The event was sponsored by Victory in the Valley with many other businesses and individuals contributing support. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who made this getaway possible and affordable for 155 women whose spirits received a needed lift.
Some of those attending were still going through chemo or radiation treatments. Others like me had undergone surgery and/or treatment in the past. You might think we had nothing in common except the same disease, but we all bonded immediately and had a great time. Part of the magic may have been feeling comfortable if you were minus hair or a breast, because many others were in the same boat. Some of the speakers gave us good medical information and encouraging counsel. Although these were appreciated, I think we were benefited most by the speaker who kept us laughing uproariously for an hour each day.
I read recently that a prominent doctor has done a study showing that cheerful people who laugh a lot fight off disease better than grouchy people. In other words, the surly bird gets the germ. I know that I usually experience quite a lot of joint pain. Looking back on the survivor weekend, I realized that I had hardly any pain all weekend. Although I can't prove it, I think it may have been the laughter. I imagine it also was beneficial for those in chemo who no doubt needed the "medicine" much more than I.
Perhaps cancer survivors among my readers would be well-advised to celebrate their day by reading a book of jokes, watching a funny movie or two, or whatever will make them laugh. If you are a friend of a cancer patient, a funny card might do more than a solemn one. If you pay a visit, try to find a reason to laugh and get your friend to laugh. Of course, there may be times when he or she also needs a friend to cry with; you just need to feel your way.
Of course, our weekend was not all lectures. There were break times when we could get a massage, facial, or pedicure. I never found time for the facial, but I doubt anything could rescue my face. I reveled in the massage, and for the first time in my life I had my toenails painted pink. We had an outdoor concert by a Spanish singer and guitarist Saturday evening and another by a gospel quartet Sunday morning. Even though most of us had a few health issues, a couple of the peppiest gospel songs had us holding hands and weaving among the tables like a bunch of teenagers.
The theme of the weekend was "Fiesta and Siesta," but I think we did more of the first than the second. It kept my spirits up for a long time.
I am not quite sure why we rate a special day. Those who are still undergoing treatment could certainly use some concern and encouragement from family and friends. As for me, if any of my women friends want to honor me on Cancer Survivors Day, I can give you a one-item wish list. Go get a mammogram.
