Psychological factors involved with cancer sufferers and psychological treatments that are possible and if other things like laughter can help.

Well first of all, a happier person with a more positive out look would have the better chance of getting through cancer than a pessimist, as they would be more open to a range of treatments and would be involved in things such as exercise, which as Craig has said, can improve a person’s chances of making it through cancer by two fold (I’m still suss on that). Also, according to RW Trijsburg, FC van Knippenberg and SE Rijpma at the Department of Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; behavioural interventions and counselling were effective with treating the symptoms of cancer treatment such as pain, nausea, anxiety, and vomiting. So behavioural intervention and psychological treatments have been shown to help with the side effects of cancer treatment. The greatest methods for these, involve relaxation, suggestion, and distracting imagery.
The stress management part of the psychological treatment has had the greatest success in helping the patient as their mood towards the whole situation improves and are able to deal with it, they are able to get better sleep and have improved immune system functioning. So far, it appears the administering of stress management techniques in therapy groups has the best affect on the patient, but these are not self-help groups as such, the patients are taught things.
PeterMac offers psychological treatments free of charge and via the Pratt foundation are at present running a further research into it.
Psychological treatments help as they improve the mental state of the individual undergoing the treatment, and are able to put them in a better frame of mind when making decisions about treatments and also feel in more control of their life, reducing secondary risks such as depression.
Research, particularly in the US (Seattle) is suggesting that laughing, no matter what causes it, can boost your immune system, ease muscle tension and generally make you feel better. It appears this can occur as it brings about an increase in brain activity particularly in the frontal lobe, which is associated with emotional responses, and stimulation of the motor sections evokes physical responses to the joke. There is a real organisation called the World Laughter Tour, which promotes this involvement in treatment. Laughter helps with stress management, and also can take a patient’s mind off what they are going through.
So seen how laughter helps here are some jokes off a legitimised website in which cancer sufferers write in jokes: the website is: http://www.learningplaceonline.com/illness/humor/jokes-intro.htm and worth a looksee.
Doctor: "I'm sorry to be the one to tell you, but this is your last day to live.
Cancer patient: "Then I'll ask my friends to come here for a final party. We'll have a gourmet dinner, champagne and dancing girls! We'll party 'till dawn. Come and join us doc."
Doctor: "That's easy for you to say. You don't have to get up in the morning."
A woman with terminal cancer returns to religion with fervor. She knows that God will help her get better.
Early in her sickness, a surgeon proposes radical surgery.
"No", she says, "I don't want to get mutilated and suffer pain. It's not necessary, God will help me".
A while later, she sees a radiologist and he proposes radiation to treat the tumour, which by now is uncomfortably large. "No", she says, "I don't want radiation burns inside and out. It's not necessary. God will help me."
A year later, the cancer has metastasised. It's painful and she is referred to an oncologist. Chemotherapy is advised. "No", she says, "I don't want to be sick all the time and lose my hair as well. It's not necessary. God will help me".
Soon after, she dies. She goes to Heaven and demands an audience with God. "Why didn't you help me?," she whines.
"What do you mean? I sent you help three times: a surgeon, a radiologist and an oncologist. What more did you want?"

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/262840_laughter14.html
http://www.psychosomaticmedicine.org/cgi/content/abstract/54/4/489
http://www.psychologyhelps.org/id27.html
http://www.petermac.unimelb.edu.au/dept/clipsy