Laughter really is the best medicine for cancer patients: Sufferers mock 'Mr C' to get through their illness and create a sense of community, reveals study of 1.5 million forum posts
Certain patients jokingly refer to their colostomy bag as 'baggy'
Others call their oncologists 'the Wizard of Onc' when writing in online forums
Many use metaphors as coping mechanisms, such as calling a tumour a 'beast'
They also refer to their treatment as a 'marathon' and the experience as 'hell'
Researchers believe their results may help people use metaphors sensitively
By Alexandra Thompson Health Reporter For Mailonline
PUBLISHED: 15:44 GMT, 6 December 20xx | UPDATED: 16:24 GMT, 6 December 20xx
Laughter really is the best medicine for cancer patients, new research suggests.
Referring to their condition as 'Mr C', their colostomy bag as 'baggy' and even oncologists as 'the Wizard of Onc' helps patients get a handle on their illness and bond with other sufferers, a study analysing 1.5 million online forum posts found.
Many also use metaphors as coping mechanisms, such as referring to their tumour as a 'beast', their treatment as a 'marathon' and their experience as 'hell', the research adds.
Study author Dr Zsófia Demjén from Lancaster University, said: 'Making fun of cancer helps some people on the online forum cope with serious, threatening and unpredictable circumstances, and to bond with one another.'
The researchers believe their findings may help people use metaphors sensitively when interacting with cancer patients.