This year, the American Cancer Society estimates 1.4 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. The most commonly diagnosed cancers are prostate, breast, lung and colorectal.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death by disease in this country. In 2007, about 559,650 Americans will die of some type of cancer. The leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. is lung cancer. Prostate and breast cancers are the second leading cause of cancer death.

With earlier diagnosis and better treatment, more people are surviving cancer. Currently there are about 10.5 million people living in the U.S. with a history of cancer. The five-year survival rate for all types of cancer is about 66 percent.

Having A "Good" Laugh

Patients newly diagnosed with cancer often feel devastated. They are suddenly drawn into the medical world in a new, intense way. Traditional routines may be disrupted. Families must make life-altering decisions and weed their way through insurance issues. Even once treatment has started, the physical and emotional stress can take a toll on the body.

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America®, a team of health care specialists aim to heal both the body and mind. Doctors integrate alternative medicine with traditional medicine to provide the patient with the best overall treatment.

One form of therapy offered to cancer patients is a group "laughter" session. Laughter is mentally uplifting. It's been shown to reduce anxiety and stress and improve the ability of patients to cope with diseases, trauma and pain. Laughter also has positive effects on the physical body. It provides exercise for the diaphragm and increases the ability to take more oxygen into the blood. Research also suggests laughter can improve blood pressure and enhance the function of the immune system.

Gerri Delmont, R.N. is a Laughter Leader. She heads a weekly "laugh" group for cancer patients. Participants follow her lead, starting out with a simple "ha ha ha" and making eye contact with each other. As soon as one person begins to break out with a smile and natural laugh, the mood spreads through the group. Soon the entire group is laughing naturally.

Delmont stresses that laughter is not a cure for cancer. But it can help patients cope with the physical and emotional effects of the disease. The "laugh" class is even offered to staff to help them deal with the emotional strain of caring for cancer patients and their families.

For information about the programs at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America®, log onto http://www.cancercenter.com.

For general information on the use of humor or laughter in medicine:

American Cancer Society

Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine