A “No Brainer”
DOES CHEMO MAKE
MY BUTT LOOK BIG?
sarcastic, my messages say, “Hey cancer,
game ON!”
Finding the funny in a speaker’s life
While in the waiting room at he Wake Forest Comprehensive Cancer Center, I was the target of
several side-glances and snickers. For
most people, this would be annoying
and possibly hurtful. Not for me! As
a walking billboard promoting Tumor
Humor, I wear a t-shirt with big letters
that reads “Does Chemo Make My Butt
Look Big?”
An older couple sat across from my
wife and me. After seeing my shirt, the
gentleman laughed, said how much
he liked it, and added, “What a great
attitude.” His praise made me proud.
That’s what my t-shirts are for—to
express my positive approach toward
my recurring battle with brain tumors.
So I responded, “Attitude is key in
this battle. And humor is my greatest
weapon in keeping that attitude posi-
tive and strong.”
Shortly after, I was called back where
the nurses and doctors all laughed
at my new Tumor Humor shirt and
snapped photos. In fact, my neuro-
oncologist takes photos of all of my
shirts for his presentations. (I should
ask him for a royalty fee!)
Each month, I create a new t-shirt
and wear it like a badge of honor
because it represents who I am—
someone who brings light to a dark
situation. My favorites include:
• “Got chemo. Got radiation. Prefer
Starbucks Chai Tea!”
• “My oncologist can beat up your
oncologist.”
• “I’m glowing! (It’s probably the
chemo & radiation.)”
• “Leave a message. I’m busy beating
cancer.”
My all-time favorite features an MRI
picture of my brain with a Twinkie pho-
toshopped into it and reads, “It’s not a
tumor. It’s a brain Twinkie.” (Avoiding
scary medical terms helps loved ones
like my amazing wife stay strong.)
Finding Humor in All Situations
I know that using humor to find the
positive in every negative situation lifts
spirits and allows people to find balance
in tough times. It assists others by lightening the mood, making conversation
less awkward, and filling the room with
laughter. I know this for sure: My humor
helps my family, friends and me feel
more comfortable about my situation.
Find humor in everything that life
throws at you. You don’t have to be
diagnosed with cancer to realize the
importance of that. And given where my
tumors are located, I have the right to
say that using humor is a “no brainer!”
Jeffrey Rowe’s life mission is to
have a positive impact on the
people around him while
teaching and inspiring others to
do the same in the workplace.
His Service Excellence Series helps professionals
and their companies achieve customer, colleague
and community satisfaction. To learn about his
service principles and programs, go to www.
JeffreyRowe.com. And for Tumor Humor and
details about Jeffrey’s cancer journey, visit
www.TourDeTumors.com.
