Scientific American reports that swearing provides pain relief. Now I don't feel so wimpy for moaning and cursing when I've had bad pain. Researchers theorize that swearing taps into ancient parts of the brain that respond to danger with angry vocalizations to intimidate attackers.
I have also found that singing can help with pain endurance too. During my sessions of CyberKnife radiation, my muscles and bones hurt more and more during the hour kept still on the hard table. On the third session, I tried humming along to my iPod and got through the last thirty minutes much easier than with the other sessions.
Tales and insights from a 37-year-old colon cancer patient about dealing with cancer as a young adult.
