When I first became acquainted with the waiting room where my son was receiving his amifostine shot every day, I noticed "laughter therapy" sessions listed but at the time, we had missed the ones scheduled for that month. I kept looking for more laughter therapy sessions for each following month but none were listed and it was kind of depressing to think that maybe there was nothing more to laugh about.

I have really appreciated how other posters have made me smile and even laugh at times with their wonderful comments . . . it definitely helps to relieve the anxiety and it would be nice to have them all the smile moments in one place for "quick reference" when those anxious moments come. My son made me smile recently when he told me about how he and his daughter were having fun sliding on the hardwood floor with the slippers I had knitted for them. While sliding, his 5-year-old daughter suggested: "Daddy, if you take a little jump just before sliding, you'll go further". Well, against his better judgment, :rolleyes: he did and promptly fell and bruised his arm and side. I could tell it was still painful the next when he told me about it, but he was smiling and it made me smile, too. Now it looks like I'll have to get him some knee and arm pads to go with the slippers. Anybody have a smile story/comment to add to my smile file?

Anne-Marie,

When I was going through radiation, the elevator down to the nuking level was plastered with great cartoons. Someone seemed to be constantly updating them, so there was always something new to read that would make me laugh. (I occasionally hoped the elevator would break down so I'd have time to get through all of them.)

One of the reasons I tried to keep going to work as much as possible during treatment was because I worked with some people who had great senses of humor. I found it to be great therapy to try to socialize as much as possible with them, even when I felt really lousy, because it helped to take my mind off of the nasty side effects I was feeling.

Cathy

Well, there was the day that John was due to be discharged after surgery #2, and things were progressing to slowly to suit him, so while I was at the nurse's station getting paperwork together, he unplugged the I.V tube, got his suitcase, walked down the hall to the elevator and pushed the down button. One of his nurses saw him about ready to step on the elevator and realized that the I.V. needle was still in his arm and ran down the hall to grab him. The aide with the wheelchair was standing there holding the elevator door open while the I.V. needle was removed. John put his bag in the wheelchair and rode down on his own two feet.The morale to that story is " There's no place like home". Amy

Cathy - Elevator cartoons - that sounds great! I've always thought that the dentist's office should have cartoons plastered on the ceiling, too. And Amy - I can just picture John setting off with his suitcase! (I hope he still didn't have his hospital open-in-the-back gown on) You and John, by what you have shared with each other have given a special meaning to "There's no place like home".

Amy, I have always remembered that story about John from the first time you told it about a year ago! I sure know how he felt about wanting to get the heck out of the hospital after a surgery but what a way to show it. It definitely makes me smile.

I wanted to watch nothing but light comedy movies when I was in treatment. And I fiund the pain meds made me a little too groggy to really enjoy reading except for books by Chrisopher Moore--have you all ever read anything by him? Definitely good for some laughs.

Laugh therapy has never just been p;sychological for me either--the radiation+chmo left some scar tissue around my mouth and lips and when I smile big it sometimes hurts a little because it stretches that tissue--definitely good for me!

Sorry but I can't think of any funny stories right at the moment..I'll come here when I do!

Nelie

Nelie - I am definitely going to look up and get some of the Christopher Moore books. Recently, I found a section called "Healing with Humour" at the Cancer Crusade site:
http://www.thecancercrusade.com/Cancer_Survivorshealing_with_humor.asp
It has a list of the 100 of the funniest movies made. It also has jokes and cartoons. One cartoon shows a bald, very happy, smiling lady laying on a couch dreaming of weird things. The two adult genlemen standing behind her remark: The doctor calls it Ativan, but we call it "Atta girl."

An then, there is a picture of a smiling doctor with a news item next to it that notes: " Doctors at a Brooklyn hospital have gone on strike. Hospital officials say they will discuss the doctors

Unbelievably funny, as Maxine always is.
Life's Lessons From a Butterfly
Let go of the past.
Trust the future.
Embrace change.
Unfurl your wings.
Ride on the breezes.
Put on your brightest colors.
Savor all the flowers.

Martha [Stewart] vs Maxine

"Martha"
Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.
"Maxine"
Just suck the ice cream out of the bottom of the cone, for Pete's sake! You are probably lying on the couch with your feet up eating it, anyway!
"Martha"
To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
"Maxine"
Buy Hungry Jack mashed potato mix, keep it in the pantry for up to a year.

"Martha"
When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.
"Maxine"
Go to the bakery! They'll even decorate it for you.

"Martha"
If you accidentally oversalt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant "fix-me-up."

"Maxine"
If you oversalt a dish while you are cooking, that's too bad. Please recite with me the real woman's motto: "I made it and you will eat it and I don't care how bad it tastes!"

"Martha"
Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.

"Maxine"
Celery? Never heard of it!

"Martha"
Brush some beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.

"Maxine"
The Mrs. Smith frozen pie directions do not include brushing egg whites over the crust so I don't.

"Martha"
Cure for headaches: take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

"Maxine"
Take a lime, mix it with tequila, chill and drink!

"Martha"
If you have a problem opening jars, try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.

"Maxine"
Go ask that very cute neighbor if he can open it for you.

"Martha"
Don't throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

"Maxine"
Leftover wine???????????
HELLO !!!!!!!

Amy - thanks - I love this! Couldn't sleep (4am) and just what I needed! I have been more of the "Martha" type and my daughter is the "Maxine" type. After reading the above post I looked at the clock and realized it is not really 4am because of daylight saving time - it's 5am so I guess I'm not really sleepless in TN anymore - it's close to the start of the day. Guess I will go unfurl my wings and savor all the flowers (maybe reorganize my cabinets).

This might not come as a surprise, but a long time ago, I was a "Martha" type of personality. However,, over the past few years, "Maxine" is definitely making a whole lot of sense!!Amy

I love Martha vs. Maxine.

OK--this joke is just a *little* off color but still funny I hope....

A guy goes to the supermarket and notices an
attractive woman waving at him. She says hello.

He's rather taken aback because he can't place where he knows her from. So he says,"Do you know me?"

To which she replies, "I think you're the father of one of my kids."

Now his mind travels back to the only time he has
ever been unfaithful to his wife and says,
"My God, are you the stripper from my bachelor party that I made love to on the pool table?"

She looks into his eyes and says calmly,"No, I'm
your son's teacher."

Nelie - This is really a "laugh out loud" one! Thanks! You have made my day.

I read recently that Just as tears are very healing, so is laughter. My son, who has been coping with depression for quite some time has one of the best senses of humor of anyone I know. When he was in the hospital just coming out of his cancer surgery, a sympathetic nurse asked him if he needed anything and he immediately replied, "a motorcycle?" (he was missing the one he had to sell recently to pay bills). And later when another nurse came in to ask how he was doing and if he needed anything, he asked for the phone number of the cute nurse who and come by earlier.

Hello All!
I too, beleive Laughter and Crying are great "healers". I also possess a great sense of humor.
Most post here make me cry and pray, but there are some that have made me laugh out loud!
YES, a joke post-place would be fun, as long as they are not too "colorful". (usually the best!)
HERE'S ONE FOR YA...
There are 3 patients in a hospital ward.
All are terminal. Their diseases are cancer, aids, and alcohalism. GOD walks in with 3 books, and says If you ask for and follow the words in this book you will be cured!
The aids patient cries out, I MUST HAVE ONE!
ME TOO! Hollers the cancer patient!
GOD stares at the bewildered looking alcohalic.
Finally the alcohalic asks, HOW MANY PAGES IS IT!!
Keep'em Coming!
PeteyB

Yes, laughter is a great healer and we have had some real great laughs on thsi forum from time to time.

These books will most likely appeal to women more than men, but two books I read on the beach years ago had me rolling in the sand with tears coming out my my eyes. I'm certain everyone thought I was nuts as I erupted into gales of laughter. They are If Life is a bowl of Cherries, why is mine always in the Pits and Why is the Grass always Greener over the Septic Tank, both by Erma Bombeck. Too bad I had forgotten about these 'til now. I will have to buy a few more to take to the beach this summer. I can always use a good laugh.

Take care,
Eileen

Eileen - Thanks for mentioning the two Erma Bombeck books. She really is funny. If I can't find them at the used book store I am definitley going to order them online through the OCF link. And here's a little story in honor of St. Patrick's Day (I know I'm a little late):
Father Murphy walks into a pub in Donegal, and says to the first man he meets, "Do you want to go to heaven?"
The man said, "I do, Father."
The priest said, "Then stand over there against the wall."
Then the priest asked the second man, "Do you want to go to heaven?"
"Certainly, Father," was the man's reply.
"Then stand over there against the wall," said the priest.
Then Father Murphy walked up to O'Toole and said, "Do you want to go to heaven?"
O'Toole said, "No, I don't Father."
The priest said, "I don't believe this. ? You mean to tell me that when you die you don't want to go to heaven?"
O'Toole said, "Oh, when I die, yes. ? I thought you were getting a group together to go right now."

WOMAN'S PERFECT BREAKFAST

She's sitting at the table with her gourmet coffee.
Her son is on the cover of the Wheaties box.
Her daughter is on the cover of Business Week.
Her boyfriend is on the cover of Playgirl.
And her husband is on the back of the milk carton.


CREATION

A man said to his wife one day, "I don't know how you can be
so stupid and so beautiful all at the same time."
The wife responded, "Allow me to explain.
God made me beautiful so you would be attracted to me;
God made me stupid so I would be attracted to you !


WIFE VS. HUSBAND

A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word.
An earlier discussion had led to an argument and
neither of them wanted to concede their position.
As they passed a barnyard of mules, goats, and pigs,
the husband asked sarcastically, "Relatives of yours?"
"Yep," the wife replied, "in-laws

For those of you who do not live in the South and may wonder why we are
having so much trouble getting a national health plan. It just may be a
communications problem.

Benign.................. What you be, after you be eight.

Artery................... The study of paintings.

Bacteria................ Back door to cafeteria.

Barium.................. What doctors do when patients die.

Cesarean Section... A neighborhood in Rome.

Catscan................. Searching for Kitty.

Cauterize............... Made eye contact with her.

Colic...................... A sheep dog.

Coma..................... A punctuation mark.

Crab cakes..................a girl from Maryland

D&C....................... Where Washington is.

Dilate...................... To live long.

Dumb ass......................Petey

Dumb boy......................Petey at 9 yo

Enema.................... Not a friend.

Fester..................... Quicker than someone else.

Fibula...................... A small lie.

Genital.................... Non-Jewish person.

G.I. Series............... World Series of military baseball.

Hangnail.................. What you hang your coat on.

Impotent.................. Distinguished, well known.

Labor Pain............... Getting hurt at work.

Medical Staff............ A Doctor's cane.

Morbid..................... A higher offer.

Nitrates.................... Cheaper than day rates.

Node........................ I knew it.

Outpatient................ A person who has fainted.

Pap Smear............... A fatherhood test.

Pelvis....................... Second cousin to Elvis.

Post Operative.......... A letter carrier.

Recovery Room......... Place to do upholstery.

Rectum..................... Damn near killed him.

Secretion................... Hiding something.

Seizure...................... Roman emperor.

Tablet......................... A small table.

Terminal Illness........... Getting sick at the airport.

Tumor......................... One plus one more.

Urine........................... Opposite of you're out.

Varicose...................... Near by/close

Whacko............................Petey

Good ones Petey--thanks for the chuckles!

Petey, you are killing me......LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Laughter releases the tension, as well as crying does, and it is a normal human function.

Fight hard so you can laugh harder tomorrow. Petey

Whacko.......Petey........LOL!!!!!!!!! Very funny!

Reasons to be cheerful..........
My kids won't have the bother of finding me a care-home

I don't have to worry about saving clothes 'for best' any more

Won't need any more dentures--(I so HATE those 'impressions' moulds!)

I'll never be old enough for a bus pass

The next election won't be an issue

I can tell outrageous and politically incorrect jokes and get forgiven

I can sit around in night clothes all day without feeling guilty

Who cares about the dust right now?

I can leave the phone on ansafone all day without feeling guilty

That 'Monday Morning' feeling is a thing of the past!

And no more worries about the cold and snow and how to drive to work through it!!
Brenda

Sorry, know I'm a bit late on hopping in here. But I have talked many times with my wife about the funny things that happen. Just the word 'cancer' evokes such negative feelings, like an instant dark cloud. But we have found so many things to laugh about. Sometimes they're not funny at the time, but later you look back and can't help but laugh. I joke and poke fun at myself at work about my own treatment and resulting issues, and it seems to put people at ease. I understand there's a time not to be funny. But I think sometimes laughter is the best medicine. I love the list above from Petey.
-Steve J

I love all these jokes and laughter posts! Laughter has kept me sane throughout all of my treatments and recovery. Keep sharing the funnies!

Karon

I love this site!!!! As a wanna be comedian I was self forced to tone it down but I see now I was wrong. We heal faster when we are happy right? Thank you all so much for reminding me. Brenda

I thought it was about time to resurrect the Laughter therapy section of OCF. One of the posts that really made me laugh was JAM's (Amy) re Martha vs Maxine. So, to update I decided to extend an OCF invitation to Jeanne Robertson who makes me laugh myself silly every time I see one of her renditions about everyday life situations. Here, she talks about teenage daughters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE82Gt93UYc

My daughter is not a teenager anymore, but I can sure relate to this. When she told me she wanted to be a beach bum I told her, "OK, be a beach bum, but first you have to go to college!" And she did. Now she and her husband have a condo at Myrtle Beach, SC and they go there every chance they get.

Well I had not even been diagnosed when this thread started. I see that some people have never posted again after 2007. My hospital exit story is similar to the one posted here except that it was the Hospital staff who was so eager to discharge me that the nurse came in and started packing my suitcase over my objections that I could do it myself. The nurse was so eager that she forgot to take out my IV tube inserted into the back of my hand and I was so drugged up that I did not notice until we got home. Luckily the nurse sent to show me how to use the feeding bags agreed to take it out when he showed up. Perhaps the nurse wanted me to have a souvenir.
As for funny books, I still favor "Cancer Made Me a Shallower Person "by Miriam Engelberg, but that's because I love comics.

This thread was started by Petey. He was the one who guided me thru the forum with PMs when I first joined. Im still sad that shortly after we became pals Petey passed away from OC. What a great sense of humor he had.