Play, Laughter and Cancer

"Play is mandatory, it is not elective."
-O. Carl Simonton, MD

What is play and its benefits?

"Healing is a creative process that requires energy and vitality. Your energy and vitality will be stimulated by play, which will increase your ability to heal.

Play is an outcome dependent process. It consists of any activity engaged in for amusement and recreation that can produce the feeling of joy or the experience of having fun.

Think about what hobbies and activities you have enjoyed in the past and how you played as a child. Try to rekindle that feeling by doing similar acts.

Create your own list of inexpensive playful activities. Understand the value of developing a wide range of selections because what works for you one day may not appeal to you on another. Add to your list over time to create a lot of options.

Play is one of the first things people give up around illness or difficult times in their lives. It is underappreciated and misunderstood in our culture. Play is essential to our physical health and mental well-being. Find time to play."
-Simonton Cancer Center

• What are your playful activities? Make a list.
• How do you play differently now compared to when you were younger?
• What brings you joy?

What about laughter?

"Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face."
-Victor Hugo

Children laugh at least ten times more daily than adults. Why do most adults lose their natural impulse of laughter? You can rekindle laughter inside of yourself. Laughter is joy and natural medicine.

What is laughter therapy?

Laughter therapy is the use of humor for the promotion of wellness and the relief of physical or emotional pain and stress.

Laughter therapy is free. You can make yourself laugh by watching funny movies, reading funny books, with jokes, and simply deciding to laugh. You can fake it until you make it if necessary. Laughter therapy groups also exist at medical centers and private facilities in some communities.

What are the potential health benefits of laughter?

Research suggests that laughter has a range of health benefits in people with cancer^1-4.

• Enhances oxygen intake
• Strengthens the immune and circulatory systems
• Relaxes muscles
• Reduces pain
• Improves mental functions
• Decreases stress
• Enhances comfort and sense of well-being

What is the history of laughter therapy?

Laughter has been used in medicine throughout recorded history dating back to the Bible. Surgeons used humor to distract patients from pain as early as the 13th century. The scientific study of the effect of humor on physical wellness started in the 20th century. Norman Cousins' well-known story of healing himself from illness with laughter and vitamins increased awareness about the health benefits of humor.

• What makes you laugh?
• How many times do you laugh daily?
• When is the last time you watched a funny movie?
• Who in your life makes you laugh?

For More Information

• Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient by Norman Cousins
• Simonton Cancer Center

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References

1. Penson RT, Partridge RA, Rudd P, Seiden MV, Nelson JE, Chabner BA, Lynch TJ Jr. Laughter: the best medicine? Oncologist. 2005 Sep;10(8):651-60. Review. PubMed PMID: 16177290.
2. Christie W, Moore C. The impact of humor on patients with cancer. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2005 Apr;9(2):211-8. Review. PubMed PMID: 15853164.
3. Bennett MP, Zeller JM, Rosenberg L, McCann J. The effect of mirthful laughter  on stress and natural killer cell activity. Altern Ther Health Med. 2003 Mar-Apr;9(2):38-45. PubMed PMID: 12652882.
4. Erdman L. Laughter therapy for patients with cancer. Oncol Nurs Forum. 1991 Nov-Dec;18(8):1359-63. PubMed PMID: 1762976.