I want to talk about something that has helped me a lot during my treatment and recovery of a breast cancer diagnosis, 11 years ago, at the ripe old age of 33: humor. Yes, humor. You might think that cancer is no laughing matter, and you’re right. It’s a serious and scary disease that affects millions of people around the world. But humor is not about making fun of cancer or denying its reality. It’s about finding joy and laughter in the midst of pain and uncertainty. It’s about coping with stress and anxiety by using humor as a tool to lighten and boost your mood.    Humor has many benefits for your physical and mental health. It has been widely accepted that laughter can lower your blood pressure, reduce inflammation, improve your immune system, release endorphins, and relax your muscles. Humor can also help you deal with negative emotions, such as fear, anger, sadness, and guilt. It can help you reframe your situation and see things from a different perspective. It can also help you bond with others who are going through the same thing as you.    But how do you find humor when you’re facing cancer? How do you laugh when you’re feeling sick, tired, scared, or depressed? Well, there’s no one right answer to that question. Humor is subjective and personal. What makes one person laugh might not make another person even grin. And that’s okay. You have to find what works for you and what makes you happy. After all, this is your own journey, and we each walk our own path in life, as we see fit, with what we are given, at that exact moment in time.    As one of my favorite comedians explained how she dealt with her cancer diagnosis, using humor as her stage. “When I announced I had cancer on stage, it was my brain leaping to that insane moment of, “There’s no way I could start a show saying, ‘Hi, I have cancer!’” But she did, and she rocked it like the champ that she is.    With that, here are some tips that have helped me find humor during my cancer journey:    – Watch funny movies or shows. There’s nothing like a good comedy to make you forget your troubles for a while. Whether it’s a classic sitcom, a stand-up special, or a parody video, find something that tickles your funny bone and enjoy it.  – Read funny books or articles. If you’re more of a reader than a watcher, there are plenty of humorous books and articles out there that can make you laugh out loud. From memoirs to novels to blogs to magazines, there’s something for everyone.  – Listen to funny podcasts or music. Sometimes, you just need to hear someone else’s voice to make you feel less alone. Podcasts are a great way to listen to funny stories, interviews, or conversations that can brighten your day. Music can also lift your spirits and make you smile. Whether it’s a catchy tune, a silly song, or a parody song, find something that makes you sing along or dance.  – Follow funny accounts on social media. Social media can be a source of stress and negativity, but it can also be a source of humor and positivity. There are many accounts on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or TikTok that post funny memes, videos, or jokes that can make you laugh. You can also join groups or communities that share your sense of humor and interests.  – Make jokes with your friends and family. Sometimes, the best humor comes from the people closest to you. Your friends and family know you best and can make jokes that only you would understand. They can also help you laugh at yourself and not take things too seriously. You can also make jokes with your doctors or nurses if they have a good sense of humor and are open to it.  – Write down funny things that happen to you or that you think of. Writing can be a therapeutic way to express yourself and release your emotions. It can also be a way to capture funny moments or thoughts that happen to you during your cancer journey. You can write them down in a journal, a notebook, or an online platform like this blog. You can also share them with others if you want to.  In short, finding humor in the absurdity of cancer was paramount to my survival, and frankly, my sanity. Cancer is absurd. It’s unpredictable, unfair, and illogical. It makes no sense why some people get cancer and some don’t. It makes no sense why some treatments work and some don’t. It makes no sense why some people survive and some don’t. Sometimes, the only way to deal with this absurdity is to laugh at it. To find humor in the irony, the paradoxes, and the contradictions of life are to radically accept one’s existence and mortality.