Optimism Thrives on News that Tasmanian Devil Colony Shows Immunity to Cancer
Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 3:58PM
By Dr. Russ
Wednesday is Just One Thing Day, when I answer the oft asked question: "Please, please Dr. Russ can you give me one more moment of optimism this week?" Hence, the “Tip of the Week” is born.
Optimism Tip of the Week: The Tasmanian Devil just might survive after all!
Great news out of Australia today. Scientists have found a colony of Tasmanian Devils (made loveable by the Looney Tunes cartoon character TAZ), that appear to have genetic immunity to the virulent and contagious facial cancer. Known as Devil Facial Tumor Disease, it is threatening the Devils with extinction.
Other than giving us hope for the species survival and hearing a “feel good story,” what does this discovery have to do with Optimism?
- First, it is a positive and hopeful story.
- Second, while the genetic immunity might be “God or Nature Given,” the discovery came about through the hard work of scientists demonstrating, once again, that optimists take on tough challenges and work hard to overcome difficulties.
- Third, with this knowledge of “nature's gift” the scientists might be able to find a cure to help those without the genetic gift.
- Fourth, it is another story that inspires us to use OPTIMISM TO FIGHT BACK TO CANCER.
Tonight, I will be attending a local “Relay for Life” planning meeting. Throughout the spring and around the country, thousands of communities will be hosting a 24 hour Relay for Life event sponsored by the American Cancer Society.
To inspire the participants during the 24 hour period, a number of mini-ceremonies are held to celebrate “survival.” One such ceremony centers around birthdays as each year survived MEANS ANOTHER birthday celebration.
A somewhat new ceremony to the Relay is the "Fight Back Ceremony" where the concept of fighting back with positive attitude and behavior is REINFORCED.
I have been asked to generate brief "Optimistic Fight Back Messages” that can inspire cancer survivors and caretakers to maintain the motivation for the tough cancer battle.
I would love your help in making-up original inspirational messages and finding key quotes that carry an important “fight-back” message. Here are twenty-five that I have thought of to get the ball rolling. I’d like to come up with a hundred or more. If you WOULD LIKE TO HELP ME AND are so inspired, go to the comments section and submit one, two or ten messages or more. I will be glad to credit your authorship.
25 Optimistic Fight Back Messages
1. Be proud! Wear your make up!
2. Name your wig Maude or Harold or anything funny.
3. Stay in the moment because if you are not, you are in the past or the future and time travel has not yet been perfected.
4. Breath In; Breath Out ~ Ever so SLOWLY.
5. Treat every MOMENT OF LIFE as a GIFT.
6. Have Pizza and Ice Cream for lunch at least once.
7. Keep in mind ~ Every set back is an opportunity to move further ahead.
8. Commit to a CAUSE larger than yourself.
9. Make every MOMENT COUNT more than it is worth.
10. It’s OK to say Cancer “Sucks.”
11. Build an e-mail support group with friends and family; post updates regularly.
12. One moment of life lived positively is cherished for an eternity.
13. One moment of life lived negatively can be corrected and made into a positive for eternity.
14. When life is “Really Sucking,” make a list of all the things that could be worse.
15. Accept what part of Cancer you CANNOT CONTROL; then focus on what part of Cancer you can CONTROL.
16. Take a few moments daily to imagine you are living Cancer Free.
17. Exercise daily.
18. Lose weight, but more importantly lose body fat.
19. Post inspiring optimism quotes on your refrigerator.
20. You CANNOT CONTROL getting CANCER, but you CAN CONTROL getting TREATMENT.
21. It is OK for the INNER VOICE to say, “Woe is me,” but only for a MOMENT or TWO.
22. Can we use the TASMANIAN DEVIL AS A SYMBOL FOR FIGHTING BACK TO CANCER with OPTIMISM?
23. Like the Tasmanian Devil, I can’t control having the “cancer gene,” but I can control my “fight back attitude.”
24. Martin Luther King reminds us that, “The stars shine brightest in the darkest hour.”
25. In the words of Jim Valvano, “Never Give-In, Never Give-In, Never Give in to Cancer”
Click here to find a "Relay for Life" in your community.
Want some answers about cancer: Call 1-800-ACS-2345
USE THE COMMENT SECTION TO SEND IN YOUR "FIGHT BACK WITH OPTIMISIM" MESSAGE.

