Chemotherapy sent my blood counts spiraling on two separate occasions. Both times I landed in the hospital. And during my second stay, it took several daily injections of Neupogen -- a growth factor immunity drug -- to push my white blood counts from a low 1,200 to a whopping 58,000.

The only side effect I suffered as a result of this drug was aching bones and joints. This was temporary and not such a big deal. What might be a big deal for breast cancer survivors like me, however, is the result of a new study suggesting there may be a risk of leukemia from these immunity boosting drugs.

These drugs, G-CSF (such as Neupogen) and GM-CSF (such as Leukine) may cause rare cases of leukemia, says Columbia University's Dawn Hersmand whose study is published in yesterday's Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

It's already been established that chemotherapy itself can cause leukemia. And Hersmand's study showed 1.04 percent of women who did not receive growth factors developed leukemia from chemotherapy alone. But 1.77 percent of women treated with G-CSF or GM-CSF developed the disease. While the drugs appear to statistically double the risk, the actual risk still remains quite small. And researchers say the benefits of the drug right now outweigh the risks.

I am in a slump. I feel tired and slow and unmotivated. And ever since October 14 -- when I ran in the 5K Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event -- I can't seem to find the inspiration to exercise. I am making myself do it -- here and there -- but my usual drive and push and spunk are missing. Typically, I crave exercise and feel lethargic if I don't accomplish some sort of daily physical challenge. But for the past week or so, I have no craving, no desire to walk or run or lift weights, no appetite for my usual fitness routine. I am just plain tired.

Fatigue is a common side effect of cancer treatment -- even years after treatment ends, according to some experts. So perhaps my drop in energy and enthusiasm is due to the cumulative effect of my own treatment for breast cancer that just ended in June. My treatment spanned almost two years. Maybe it's no surprise my body is lagging behind my expectations for physical health.

Experts also say exercise helps combat fatigue. I believe this -- it's why I usually like exercise. It boosts my adrenaline, perks me up, makes me feel alive. If only I could get back into the swing of things, these feelings might come flooding back. But right now, I am not even thinking about how to find my old groove. I am just too tired.

It's no secret exercise is beneficial for just about everyone. So it should come as no surprise that researchers reported Monday that moderate, regular exercise can help women combat some of the side effects of breast cancer radiation treatment.

Researchers found that breast cancer patients who walked briskly 20 to 45 minutes three to five times per week during treatment maintained healthy blood cells. Red blood cells and hemoglobin -- which carry oxygen -- often suffer during radiation treatment. And those who do not exercise lose significant oxygen capacity.

This study, published in the journal Cancer, is the first to look into the effect of exercise during breast cancer radiation treatment. It rounds out research that already shows exercise can help prevent breast cancer and can also help women recover from the disease.

Laughter Yoga is a technique based on the philosophy of acting happiness. In other words, you do not need to be happy, have a sense of humor, or even have a reason to laugh in order to participate in laughter yoga. Laughter Yoga is not religious. According to the founders of Laugher Yoga, it is not a joke. "It is the very nature of life to be joyful. Research has shown that young children laugh an average of 300 to 400 times a day, versus an average of about 15 laughs for adults. Children live in their heart. They laugh for the sake of laughing. Adults live in their head. Most often than not, they fear. The human mind has rules and inhibitions."

John Cleese traveled to India to witness laughter yoga firsthand and report about his experience. Cleese, a legendary comedic talent of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers fame, observed that laughter is the great social connector, and that it is impossible to feel isolated when laughing with others. A feeling of connection is known to promote healing. Research has proven that cancer patients who are involved in social support systems recover better. In addition, research has proven that laughter boosts the immune system. The immune system plays a significant role in fighting cancer. And as Cleese found out, forced laughter leads to genuine laughter in the yoga of laughter.