not now

Facing Cancer: Not now, she’s having a no hair day!

By Barry Bittman, MD

Did you ever find yourself laughing in the face of cancer? Probably not.

After all, the diagnosis of a life-threatening illness often brings us to our knees physically and emotionally. When the dust eventually settles, and realization of the seriousness of our situation sets in, it’s difficult for most of us to even crack a smile.

Don’t get me wrong¾ cancer is not a laughing matter. Yet, for Christine Clifford, author of Not Now, I’m Having A No Hair Day, humor became a way of life that enabled her to live beyond breast cancer in an extraordinary way. Even for Christine, the humorous approach was not the initial knee-jerk response to a diagnosis leading to a rather uncertain future. Her battle against cancer began at age 41 on a more serious note.

With what has been described as poor timing, Christine’s diagnosis surfaced during the Christmas season 4 years ago. Hoping not to destroy the spirit of the holiday festivities, Christine and her husband, John, decided to wait to reveal the news to their children, Tim and Brooks. As you can imagine, it wasn’t easy to hold back and anticipate the impact such dreaded news would have on their family.

Finally, the day after Christmas, they sat down with their children for a serious discussion ¾ one that was anticipated with great trepidation and many sleepless nights. Christine began by explaining to the boys that she had cancer. Observing their every reaction, she proceeded to carefully present what might occur over the next few months as she faced surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The children were absolutely silent.

Then, after presenting the news that she would most likely lose all of her hair, her youngest son suddenly blurted out, “Cool, mom¾ you’ll look like Captain Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek!”

The laughter that filled the room was infectious. It was a clear-cut turning point¾ a transition from seriousness and despair to a lighter approach coupled with positive anticipation. From that point on, Christine knew that humor would help her and her family meet this extraordinary challenge. Today, she is a survivor, and the rest is history in the making.

Christine’s ability to find humor in every situation is her formula for success. Her stories reflect a light-hearted perspective based upon insights that reflect one’s choice to laugh in the face of adversity.

One particularly poignant incident is recounted in her public lectures. Christine, an avid golfer, describes an incident that occurred during a major PGA Golf event. While standing among a crowd of observers waiting for the next pro to tee off, a gust of wind suddenly caught her wig and hat, hurling them into the center of the fairway. In a stately manner, she stepped under the ropes and proceeded to march toward the center of the fairway to recover the items. Without the slightest hesitation, she turned to the foursome of famous golfers and declared, “Gentlemen, the wind is blowing left to right!”

And the direction of the wind has never shifted Christine’s focus. Having served as a senior vice president for a marketing firm prior to diagnosis, Christine continues to apply her skills to the task of helping others live beyond cancer. Her two illustrated books, Not Now, I’m Having A No Hair Day and Our Family Has Cancer, Too, have helped thousands of people throughout the world discover the healing power of humor. These books, as well as many other valuable resources are available from her company, the Cancer Club (612-944-0639, www.cancerclub.com).

So if you’re facing a diagnosis that’s getting the best of you, consider Christine’s example, and bring laughter back into your life. This doctor is convinced that healing begins with a smile¾ Mind over Matter!