I Deserve a Drink

If anyone ever doubted the power of laughter, Oxford released a study Wednesday, which proves one of the cornerstones of my foundation—laughter heals. Robin Dunbar, an evolutionary psychologist at Oxford did five sets of studies that tested pain tolerance. Here's the link.

On this 10th Anniversary of 9/11, as we honor the memory of those who lost their lives, something occurred to me. This is my 10th anniversary of living with cancer. I was diagnosed a few months prior to 9/11. Just something that occurred to me. Maybe I should take myself out for a drink?

I am in New York this week because I took part in Cantor Fitzgeralds’ "Charity Day,” which took place on Monday. What Cantor does, is donate the profits from one entire day to different charities that sign up for this day. To be a part of this day, I had to find a celebrity to come that morning to represent the Noreen Fraser Foundation. I was so thrilled to have ESPN's Erin Andrews represent us. She was so lovely and spent an hour on the trading floor shaking hands with all the traders. She was handed the phone several times to talk to the trader's clients and then she learned how to make a trade herself. So many celebrities were there to support other charities—Rudy Giuliani, Michael J. Fox, Kim Kardashian and Bill Cowher to name a few.

Cantor raised $12 million dollars on Monday, and we are all waiting to see how it will be dispersed to the charities. I will be grateful and thankful for any amount. Bit by bit we will defeat womens’ cancers. We are resolved and we will not back down!

Thank you Cantor Fitzgerald for this opportunity.

Next week I go in for my PET/CT scan to see if the cancer in my liver is behaving, and I will also have an MRI to see if the "spot" in my neck is growing or stable. Just another days’ work in the life of one living with cancer. After those tests at UCLA, I always head over to my sister Bridget's house to get hugs and play with Colette (3 years old) and Gigi (9 years old). These three are my real medicine. They smother me with kisses and hugs and really love every minute I am with them.

I get lost in playing "baby.” Colette is little Miss Bossy Pants and lets Gigi and me know if we are the mother, the baby, the brother or the little sister, and we need to act accordingly, that is until she randomly decides to switch our roles. She has a small little kitchen set and she makes us mashed potatoes, peas and chicken whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner.

After two hours of all this love, I feel healed and ready to head home. There needs to be a study done on this. I think endorphins would be spiking everywhere. It's important when you have cancer to really know what makes you happy and do it! Whatever it is. After playing with my girls, I will be heading home to my empty nest. Boo hoo. But it will be with a happy heart and a smile on my face.

If you use Facebook, I urge you to please help us reach 5,000 fans by October 1st, the start of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Noreen Fraser is living with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. She is co-founder of STAND UP TO CANCER and co-produced the TV show, which raised 100 million dollars for cancer research. Noreen went on to create the Noreen Fraser Foundation to raise money and awareness for women's cancer research. The 'Men for Women Now' program enlists men to ask the women they love to make appointments for their mammogram and pap smear. Noreen can be reached at noreen@noreenfraserfoundation.org