Laughter, the 2nd Best Medicine

My thoughts this week have been about cancer, stemming from today's news about Mary Travers* death from leukemia and the news earlier in the week about Patrick Swayze's death from pancreatic cancer. Celebrities bring cancer to the headlines, but we all have lost family and friends to cancer. For me, whenever I hear about another cancer death of someone close to me, I feel re-traumatized, helpless, and angry.

In fact, when I was starting my MSW program and listing the types of client populations and specialty areas that I felt would not be an appropriate field placement for me, I shied away from working with cancer patients and their families. To be an effective social worker and get the training I needed, I felt that I had to step away from such a difficult area of concentration.

But you know what? I'm ready to jump back into the fray, because many people survive cancer and there are outstanding services available today for cancer victims and their families. One of the most inspiring programs I have seen is Gilda's Club, a program that you can find worldwide and that people like my social worker friend Erin (one of the Wisconsin chapters) keep running with positive energy and laughter. Gilda's Club, which honors comedian Gilda Radner, was founded with the purpose of establishing cancer-free support communities where individuals can laugh, share and be themselves.

We have two Gilda's Club chapters here in New Jersey. You can find them at: South Jersey (http://www.gildasclubsouthjersey.org/) and North Jersey (http://www.gildasclubnnj.org/).

As Gilda said, "While we have the gift of life, it seems to me the only tragedy is to allow part of us to die - whether it is our spirit, our creativity or our glorious uniqueness."

*As a side note about Mary Travers, I'd like to mention that my parents are named Paul and Mary, and I am incredibly thankful to them that I was not a daughter named Peter. Thanks Mom & Dad.

Kendra Hayes, MSW, LSW