Healing goes faster with a little humor

Scary diagnosis sometimes easier to face with love, laughter

When life hands you lemons, people often suggest making lemonade.

Personally, I think the better approach is to use those babies as a garnish on an adult beverage, and then dig deep for two things — bravery and a sense of humor.

Recently, a member of my family in Ohio was diagnosed with a slow-growing form of cancer. The prognosis is excellent, with her specialist at the Cleveland Clinic confident that the tumor can be removed. In fact, the doctor said she won’t need to undergo chemotherapy or radiation — just remove and move forward.

All the tests and data at this point indicate that this will be a fairly simple process, but let’s face it: no one likes to hear the word “cancer,” and “tumor” is really tough to say.

Any time those two words come into someone’s life, it’s scary, and causes some level of anxiety.

So we took those lemons, and made them garnishes. We renamed the tumor — it shall now be known as Antigone.

Why? Every time we said the words “cancer” or “tumor,” she shuddered, as did we.

But the name “Antigone” — which just happened to be the first obscure name to pop into my head — made her laugh. And so Antigone it is.

Now, when we ask her about the situation, we refer to Antigone. We started a countdown to tick off the days until Antigone is removed (17!), and while she’s recovering, I’m thinking about having the family show up in her room dressed up in Greek togas of antiquity, just to make her laugh.

I hate that she’s in this situation, and I hate that I’m physically so far away, but I’m relieved that it was caught early and that the prognosis is positive.

When we find ways to face those fearsome moments, and to do so with a smile, it helps tremendously. We heal faster when we focus on the light and the love in our lives, instead of fixating on the negative and the fears.

This weekend, hundreds of Yumans walked at Relay for Life, to raise support, awareness and funding in the fight against cancer. If you wish to donate, there’s still time today. Or give the Yuma Regional Cancer Center a call, and ask what donations or support they can use to help local cancer patients in their personal fights.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS OR NOT?