'Cancer with JOY' Author Featured with Lucille Ball on NBCnews.com

Topeka, KS

August 6th is Lucille Ball's birthday! This queen of comedy has delivered countless laughs to several generations. As the annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival kicks off today, the daughter of Lucy & Desi, Lucie Arnaz, is also busy shifting the mission of the Lucy Desi Center for Comedy to focus on the power of laughter as medicine - the best medicine, so we've heard.

More information is found in the Legacy of Lucille Ball: Showing Laughter is the Best Medicine.". Joy Huber of "Cancer with JOY" is also featured on NBCnews.com in this article as a very-alive-personal-guide to navigating a devastating diagnosis that over 1,500,000 receive in the U.S. each year.

Joy also recognizes the power of laughter as medicine, and its importance in healing. She credits her own healing, and continued good health, to finding the "Bright Side Effects," a term she coined by looking on the 'bright side' of the 'side effects' of her cancer treatment. "For example hair loss," Joy said, " was the most emotionally painful part of my battle. However, when I realized hair wasn't growing back on the top of my bald head - or anywhere, like on my legs - I couldn't help but laugh! Having perpetually smooth, silky legs without having to shave was definitely a 'bright side effect' of my stage four cancer treatment!"

Having heard 'mind over matter,' Joy decided she wouldn't stay stuck in the initial and understandable negative emotions she felt at diagnosis. "Where does that get you? It just makes you a bitter, angry person . . . who's now trying to fight cancer!"

Joy's refreshing attitude didn't just make a positive difference for her; it helped others around her also cope with the diagnosis. Now she has authored the essential resource guide on "how to have cancer and be happy, facing 'Cancer with JOY!" Joy also speaks to groups at hospitals, cancer treatment centers, and churches, and prioritizes in her schedule making time to personally coach others facing cancer and their caregivers who need someone with an infectious positive spirit as well as "I've been there" personal experience in their corner each step of the way!

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