How One Woman Used Humor to Help Her Cope with Her Cancer

From OHC, Specialists in the Treatment of Adult Cancers and Blood Disorders

December 19, 2019

Cancer has no perks. It isn’t positive, humorous or inspiring. That was going to be a challenge for Diana Bosse because she has always approached everything with a positive outlook and a large dose of humor. Even after receiving a cancer diagnosis, she decided she was going to handle this like she handled everything else – with a positive attitude and humor. She was going to “laugh through lymphoma” to help her handle the enormous challenge that lie ahead of her.

And it started with Facebook.

“I’m a worrier,” said Diana who lives in Loveland. “So, I started posting on Facebook to take my mind off the worrying. I started every morning with a post about my cancer experience, always with a humorous twist, to help me remain positive.”

For example, when Diana experienced insomnia, she wrote that it comes in handy when you have a lot to do. One night, awake at 3:37am, she finished four ‘thank you’ letters and folded three loads of laundry. When she lost her hair on her head, she wondered if she would also lose it on her shins and be able to end her obsessive-compulsive need to shave her legs every day.

At one point, posting on Facebook changed from a tactic to help her cope with worrying to something she looked forward to. It gave Diana a reason to get up and out of bed every morning. And when her daily posts drew a following, it gave her a sense of accountability.

“I now had people with and without cancer reading my posts and waiting for the next one, so I became accountable to deliver. This accountability made me stay positive, which in turn, helped me emotionally and physically throughout my treatment,” Diana explained.

It also helped that with each post came a dose of encouragement from her followers. When she wrote about looking like Mr. Magoo, her followers knew exactly what she meant and understood her whimsical reference, and then shared their own thoughts and advice.

“For me, the unknown was scarier. I was so sick before my cancer diagnosis and I didn’t know why. When I was diagnosed, I wondered how I would get through chemotherapy if I’m already this sick before it?” Diana said. “The comments from followers helped with that. They reassured me that maybe it’s not going to be as bad as I think. Their comments and my doctor really gave me hope.”

Her doctor, OHC’s Cynthia Chua, MD, medical oncologist and hematologist, instilled confidence that added to her positive outlook.

“Dr. Chua gave me a plan. She told me exactly what would happen and when. This was a wonderful gift because I’m a planner, and the plan turned my cancer into a project with the end goal of being cancer-free,” said Diana. “I remember being at WalMart in Hilton Head. I was in the card aisle when I got the call from OHC that my PET scan was clear; no cancer. I lost it, right there in the middle of WalMart. But luckily, I was in the card aisle, so it looked like I was reacting to the cards!”

Throughout Diana’s journey, people kept telling her she should be writing everything down, which led her to the idea of writing a book.

“There is nothing funny or positive about cancer. I want to make that very clear. But you have to find some way to cope, and for me it was humor and writing. And I thought maybe this could help others who are trying to cope. Maybe a little laughter can give their minds and emotions a little break from the reality of cancer and treatment,” Diana explained. “Plus, I’ve always wanted to be a published author, so I thought maybe now is the time. I even wondered if maybe this is why I got cancer.”

On November 10, 2019, Diana became a published author, and a source of support for hundreds of others with cancer just like her. It also provided her with one more perk – the opportunity to help with her first passion, the Alzheimer’s Association, and her other passion, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, to which a portion of the proceeds of her book sales will go.

“So many people helped me laugh so I could live. My husband, Steve, is my best friend, caregiver, and my rock. My parents who taught me how to live. Big Poppa, the Hilton Head Princess Society, my friends at St. Columbian Church, my co-workers, my many friends and relatives, and so many people I don’t even know. And Dr. Chua and OHC who saved my life. I hope my book can offer others the hope, encouragement and laughter that all of them gave me.”

For more information about Diana’s book, The Perks of Having Cancer, visit dianabosse.com. For more information about lymphoma and how OHC can help you or your loved one with treatments, clinical trials or a second opinion, visit ohcare.com or call 1-888-649-4800.