We're lead to believe that if we eat our fruits and veggies, we should be just fine healthwise. But despite all the antioxidants, fiber and nutrients, a major study recently found that those who consumed a diet high in produce and low in fat fared no better when it came to cancer than those who ate a less healthy diet. This news, to me, is both liberating and disappointing -- on one hand, I don't have to wallow in guilt when I cave to my pizza craving, but on the other, if our diet doesn't have an impact on our chance against cancer, what does? Are we doomed?

Barbara Ehrenreich's blog says the answer might lie in your attitude, and I wholeheartedly agree. Those who are optimistic and determined to beat what ails them have a must better chance of coming out on top. Faith, hope and laughter are what keep us going, even when facing cancer. Do you agree?

Cancer is not funny, but I do like the comics about cancer that I have found on the Internet. Mostly they are written and illustrated by cancer patients themselves.

We all need to laugh -- even sometimes at the most un-laughable things. This cartoon reminds of the time when I myself was wearing a very long sexy wig. I also had fake eyelashes and had drawn on my eyebrows.

Going to work one day I got a whistle from a gentleman on the street. I had to laugh to myself -- if he really knew what I looked like underneath all of this I wouldn't be getting any looks!

You can find more cancer cartoons here.

Two-time breast cancer survivor Tania Katan was first diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 21, and then again ten years later. With gutsy humor in an outlandishly candid expose, she faced cancer twice, dealt with a "supportive but neurotic family," swore off toxic girlfriends, wrote about her experiences in a book and performed a one-woman play, both called My One-Night Stand With Cancer.

Katan, who underwent a mastectomy each time she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and who appears naked above the waist in her back-of-the-book photo, ran a race to raise breast cancer awareness in the best form she thought possible -- topless. "People were racing for something very specific, to cure breast cancer, but they didn't want to see what breast cancer looks like."

On the Amazon webpage for her book, the description of My One-Night Stand With Cancer reads, "A Jewish lesbian's memoir loaded with humor. She survived to prove, perhaps, that laughter is in fact the best medicine. With lymph nodes negative and outlook positive despite lightning striking twice, this 10K runner shows great spirit and strength."

When Australian pop star Kylie Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, there was a sudden surge in the number of young women requesting breast cancer screening. Minogue's breast cancer diagnosis at the age of 37 raised concern among a younger population of women that breast cancer is a diagnosis that could potentially happen to them. Knowledge is power and education saves lives. The increase in breast cancer awareness became known as the Kylie Effect.

However, the awareness that younger women can develop breast cancer has led some women to age-related conclusions about breast cancer that are not true, and this is also being referred to as the Kylie Effect. According to a recent survey of 2,289 women conducted by Cancer Research UK, 77 percent of the survey participants said that breast cancer risk was higher for women under the age of 70, and 33 percent said that women under the age of 50 were most at risk. The fact is cancer risk increases with age, and four out of five women diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 50.

"Celebrities with breast cancer like Kylie Minogue and Caron Keating have attracted a lot of publicity -- especially in magazines aimed at younger women. This is very beneficial in that it raises awareness of breast cancer. But the down side is that it may also set up a chain of panic among young women, while misleading older women to think that ageing is not a relevant factor in breast cancer," stated Dr Lesley Walker of Cancer Research UK.

For a retrospective of Kylie Minogue's breast cancer journey:

• Kylie Minogue: voted favorite traveling companion of men.
• Kylie Minogue: world exclusive interview with Sky One.
• Kylie Minogue loses close friend and personal chauffeur to cancer.
• Kylie Minogue: back on stage as a breast cancer survivor.
• Kylie Minogue: laughter is the best medicine for cancer cure.
• Dannii Minogue: sings under pressure about sister Kylie.
• Kylie Minogue breast cancer survivor glows in health.
• Kylie Minogue: cancer survivor writes children's book.
• Kylie Minogue joins women in fight for Herceptin.
• Kylie Minogue in breast cancer remission.

What should younger women do to be breast cancer smart? Do a monthly self exam and if they notice any abnormalities or lumps, insist that tests be done to rule out breast cancer. Realize that while any woman at any age can get breast cancer, the chances increase with age and 80 percent of breast cancer diagnosis happen for women 50 years and older.

Julia Fikse, founder of Ta-tas trademark brand clothing, who wants to do some good in the world, has built a company based on the philosophy that laughter heals. As Fikse states on the Ta-tas company website, "Our mission is to celebrate the varied beauty of women through playful expressive clothing and accessories. We believe all people are uniquely designed by God and should feel comfortable, valuable and beautiful as they are."

Some of the slogans screen printed on tees include: caught you looking at my ta-tas; ta-tas unite; and save the ta-tas. Fikse is living her goal of doing some good in the world as she donates five percent of every sale to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in hopes of finding a breast cancer cure in our lifetime.

She is fun and funny, as you will learn as you browse through the Ta-tas website or read the Save the ta-tas thoughts on breast cancer blog. There are more than a few celebrities who think her line of clothing is fun and help promote the cause. A quick read-through finds Fran Drescher wearing caught you looking at my ta-tas tee to an Emmy SWAG party and making the front page of the LA Times Calendar because of the tee. Kate Beckinsale, Abigail Spencer, Haylie Duff, Daisy Fuentes and Jessica Alba have answered "where do you take your ta-tas" in photos published by Fikse.

Fikse asks for photo submissions of people wearing a ta-tas tee and is also open to design suggestions for future tees. Like I said, she is fun. Visit the website, read the blog, save the ta-tas.

Caregivers are quiet heroes, helping and caring without asking for anything in return. Caregivers step in when there is a need and they bring with them a sense of hope and comfort during the challenges facing a loved one diagnosed with cancer. In the selflessness of love, they sometimes forget to take time to care for themselves. To avoid caregiver depression, frustration, resentment, illness and burnout, here are six ways a cancer caregiver can care for themselves while caring for someone else:

Take a daily walk. Exercise is a great stress reducer. Taking the time to stroll through the neighborhood or local park is like a deep calming breath for the body and emotions. If you are a jogger, go jogging. The point is to get away for a moment, get the body moving, and enjoy a change of scenery as you go.

Keep a journal. Daily journaling is a way to outwardly express your thoughts and emotions and can act as a relief value for emotions that are building up inside. It can also give you a better perspective. Sometimes we need to see what we are thinking and feeling to sort it all out.

Pursue personal interests. If you have a hobby or activity -- like writing poetry, photography, crafts, painting, knitting, reading, gardening, or listening to music, that has always been fun and brought you a sense of joy and contentment -- make time each day for your personal pleasurable pursuits.

Maintain friendships. We need our connection to others for the enjoyment of company and for comfort and support. Make regular weekly dates with friends and meet for coffee. Join a book club or start a book club. If there is a caregiver support group in your area, or a support group for families affected by cancer, consider joining.

Learn ways to relax. Try breathing exercises and muscle relaxation exercises. Schedule a massage. Take a weekly yoga or tai chi class. Cannot get away? Pop in a yoga or tai chi video and follow along.

Make your health a priority. Eat well-balanced meals, get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids. Find inspirational quotes that lift your spirits and display them where you can read them each day. Remember to laugh each day. Hug and be hugged.

To offer the very best care for your loved one, you must take care of yourself too. It's not selfish, it's wise.

If you are a caregiver that has found unique fun ways to take a moment to take care of yourself while taking care of someone you love, please share your ideas with other caregivers in the comment area following this post. If you are a reader with fun tips or ideas on ways a caregiver can take care of themselves while caring for someone else, please share in the comment area. We are all in this together, and we will get through the challenges and struggles of cancer much better with each other's support and encouragement.

Take it one day at a time.
Get a good cry one time.
Find someone to talk to, not talk to you.
Watch, listen to everything funny.
It ain't over.
Pray. -- Tips from the Trenches

Flying Colors is a community support center of The Memphis Cancer Foundation. If you live in the Memphis area, it sounds like an excellent place to visit and meet others facing cancer and surviving cancer who can help you learn techniques to regain control emotionally, psychologically, and physically.

They provide a lending library, one-on-one counseling and activities. However, if you don't live close enough to visit in person, the Flying Colors website offers a variety of information for cancer patients.

You can read Affirmations, add your name to the Chain of Hope, send e-Cards, meditate on the Mindless Meditations, join the Society for Silly Survivors, read Tips from the Trenches and survivors sharing poetry and stories. There's much more in wonderful content but this gives you an idea of what to expect when you visit the Flying Colors website. I got lost in there for a time. It's nicely done.

From the moment the news broke that Kylie Minogue had been diagnosed with breast cancer, the world has followed her through treatment and into recovery. While she has been spotted recently at various events, she has never spoken at length about the last year that has transformed her life forever.

In a world exclusive interview with Sky One's Cat Deeley, that aired July 16, Kylie Minogue sat down and shared her experiences as a young woman diagnosed with breast cancer -- the effect it had on her and her family -- losing her hair -- coming to terms with being a breast cancer survivor and the fact that being a breast cancer survivor is still sinking in -- staying positive and believing you can get through it as her advice to other young women who have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and are undergoing treatment.

Sky One has made available video segments of the interview with Minogue online here.

"I just want to do everything. I honestly don't want to sound soppy or too clichéd, but that's the way it is. It's nice to take a walk and to see friends. I just can't help but see things differently," said Minogue of life as a breast cancer survivor. "I want to thank all the people who really might have thought that what they did was very small, but they all add up and even the smallest thing makes a difference in how you're feeling and your road to recovery.''

For a retrospective of Kylie Minogue's breast cancer journey:

• Kylie Minogue: back on stage as a breast cancer survivor.
• Kylie Minogue: laughter is the best medicine for cancer cure.
• Dannii Minogue: sings under pressure about sister Kylie.
• Kylie Minogue breast cancer survivor glows in health.
• Kylie Minogue: cancer survivor writes children's book.
• Kylie Minogue joins women in fight for Herceptin.
• Kylie Minogue in breast cancer remission.

According to the National Cancer Institute, one out of two men and one out of three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and three out of four American families will have at least one family member diagnosed with cancer. Those statistics are so overwhelming in scope that it takes a minute before it sinks in just how epidemic cancer is and how many lives it touches. And even after the reality of the numbers has become a reality in my mind, I am still always surprised when I find out someone has been diagnosed with cancer, or someone they are related to has died of cancer.

I was happily and distractedly researching information for something entirely unrelated to cancer -- a recently released animated movie based on a favorite comic strip Over The Hedge -- when in an interview with Bruce Willis, who is the voice of RJ the raccoon in the movie, shared his philosophy about life and living. Willis lost his younger brother to pancreatic cancer five years ago. In the interview Willis remarks:

Hey U.G.L.Y. Unique. Gifted. Lovable. You., an organization that develops self-esteem building tools for teens, asked celebrities to donate their laughter for a fundraising CD of contagious laughter called Laugh It Off. According to the president of Hey U.G.L.Y. Betty Hoeffner, "We know the healing powers of laughter and how it can improve health and relieve stress." Past research has shown, from a biological standpoint, that laughter and humor do have healing power.

Why a CD of celebrity laughter? "When we saw other charities asking celebrities to donate things like purses, shoes and even bras, we thought celebrities donating their laughter would be a perfect fit," explains Hoeffner. Produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Rick Erwin, the 60-minute CD and includes the laughter of: Jimmy Neutron voice talent, Debi Derryberry; Emmy-award winning actor/comedian Ben Hollis; JBTV host, Jerry Bryant; and commercial voice talent, Richard Schoen; Saturday Night Live's Tim Kazurinsky; Frank Sinatra's opening act comedian, Tom Dreesen; nationally syndicated radio host, Mancow Muller; and Late Show with David Letterman regular, Bob Sarlatte. One woman wrote Hey U.G.L.Y. that her brother, who has cancer, listens to the CD three times a day and loves it.

Can laughter cure cancer? Not by itself -- but there are numerous studies that show laughter initiates a powerful biological process of feel-good healing chemicals that support and strengthen the immune system. We have done several posts here, here, here, here, here and here about the healing power of humor and the laughter associated with it.

Miriam Engelberg, was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 43 and decided to chronicle her breast cancer journey in a series of comic strips that have now been collected in the book, Cancer Made Me a Shallower Person: A Memoir in Comics. Engelberg, mother of a then four-year-old, used cartooning as a way to cope with the shock of diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy, support groups, and a second cancer diagnosis. The reviewers like her and the way she handles the subject matter of being a cancer survivor, and the readers all seem to love what she has done in cartooning the perils and reality of being a cancer patient and cancer survivor. Some of the reviewers describe her book as "a fusion of the deadly serious with the absurd, in the finest tradition of black humor." Some of the readers describe her book as a fresh look at how someone's life changes with a cancer diagnosis -- an inside humor for survivors -- funny, heartbreaking and totally relatable and a refreshing take on living with cancer. If you find value in humor as a healing tool, or simply enjoy humor, visit Amazon's page for more information about her new book. They are selling it with Mom's Cancer, another cartoonist's take on the experience of cancer.

Dannii Minogue told the British magazine Cosmopolitan that she is convinced laughter cured her older sister Kylie's breast cancer. While the prognosis was always good, Dannii admits both sisters struggled to believe everything would be fine, so they dressed up in silly clothes and watched comedies to keep a positive attitude and spirits up.

Can laughter cure cancer? Not by itself -- but there are numerous studies that show laughter initiates a powerful biological process of feel-good healing chemicals that support and strengthen the immune system. We have done several posts here, here, here, here and here about the healing power of humor and the laughter associated with it. So, even if it seems farfetched and unrealistic for Dannii to believe that laughter cured her sister of breast cancer, she might be more right than she is wrong.

Saranne Rothberg, the inspiration and founder of ComedyCures, is a breast cancer survivor. Diagnosed in 1999 with stage IV breast cancer, she made a vow to laugh at least 100 times a day. The ComedyCures foundation reflects her belief in the power of laughter to heal and the positive coping offered by focusing on a comedic perspective.

Many other cancer patients must share her perspective on the positive healing benefits of laughter on the body, mind, and spirit because, according to the ComedyCures website, she has a multi-year waiting list for her motivational, inspirational, laughter-rich performances and keynote addresses. In addition to her appearances, ComedyCures 1-888-HA-HA-HA-HA LaughLine is said to reach as many as 4,000 people per month. Approximately 30,000 of her Wellness Joke Book pages have been created and circulated around the world. The foundation sponsors Live Laugh-A-Thon, Live LaughAbout, Laughing Lunch events, and offers videos and books.

Cancer-free now, Rothberg is a profoundly compassionate woman who has worked with The Red Cross, The United Way, Gilda’s Clubs, Paul Newman’s Hole in the Woods Camp, Paul McCartney’s Garland Appeal, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Cancer Survivor’s Day, and many other organizations. She has been featured on Good Morning America, in Oprah Magazine, The New York Times, and at YAHOO. She has been honored with awards including The Hope for The Future Award, The Making a Difference Award, and The Cancer Superhero of the Year Award. Her work and awards are many, and I could fill up a half-dozen posts just telling you about them.

What is truly remarkable, is that this is the vision Rothberg had while sitting in a chair during chemotherapy treatment. Go check out Rothberg's ComedyCures, find out that James Gandolfini of the Sopranos got caught doing the ComedyCures Body Giggle, and read tips on how to add laughter as part of the healing process.

San Diego Cancer Center oncologist Dr. Steven Eisenberg had the original vision for bringing laughter to cancer, and is the medical advisor for The World Laughter Tours Bringing Laughter to Cancer and Other Health Support Communities program that introduces laughter to people living with cancer, as a method of enabling greater healing. The World Laughter Tour works with groups such as Gilda's Club Worldwide and The Wellness Communities. The purposes of the program are:

• To strengthen the effectiveness of support group programs.
• To show how the proper application of laughter can create a therapeutic alliance between mind and body in order to capitalize on the role of attitudes and emotions in health and healing.
• To expand the awareness of the value of laughter and programs such as Good-Hearted Living.
• To teach life-affirming, enjoyable coping skills to support group participants.
  

Contrary to commonly-held beliefs, most laughter is not about humor -- it is about relationships between people. The causes that make us laugh differ, but laughter is universal, and is proven to bring benefit to the health and wellbeing of those who laugh. And laughter is contagious!