The Importance of Fun During Lung Cancer Treatment

Written by Abby McCoy, RN
Medically Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD on April 29, 2026

As you navigate non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), fun may be the last thing on your mind. But finding ways to enjoy small moments can ease stress, lessen anxiety, and offer motivation to follow your treatment plan.

Living with NSCLC can prompt intense emotions, such as sadness, fear, and feeling overwhelmed. But no matter what your treatment path looks like, you can include some fun into your days for relief from these feelings and a better quality of life.

Why does fun matter when you have lung cancer? While no amount of joy can completely get rid of tumor cells, thinking positively and leaning on the support of loved ones at the time of a cancer diagnosis can help with:

“Having a powerful positive mindset is a must while going through treatment,” says Kelley Sciko, a lung cancer survivor and advocate in North Ridgeville, Ohio. “Focusing on the good things and not letting the bad things drag me too far down helped so much, and finding little things to celebrate throughout my cancer journey has had such a wonderful impact on my overall health.”

Experts have found that people who do activities they love actually feel healthier and report a better quality of life. Through communication using chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) such as dopamine, your brain rewards you for doing activities that you enjoy, says Mary Morreale, MD, a clinical psychiatrist at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, Michigan.

Stress is common when you have cancer, and feeling stressed launches a biological process that helps you handle threats. When this response gets triggered over and over throughout diagnosis and treatment, it can lead to anxiety, depression, and heart disease. Some research studies involving animal models and human cancer cells show that prolonged stress may even encourage more cancer growth.

But by doing things that bring you joy, you can lessen stress. “Engaging in fun activities can provide a much-needed mental break from the stress and anxiety that often accompany a cancer diagnosis and treatment,” says Nabil Rizk, MD, the chief of thoracic surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, New Jersey.

Laughter gives a much-needed boost to your body and brain. And laughing can be a strong antidote to the stress and anxiety of cancer.

While laughter distracts you from any negative thoughts, it also releases endorphins that can make pain feel less intense. As the cherry on top, laughing increases the number of immune cells in your body, which can fight cancer and infections.

Joy and distraction achieved through activities that align with your values are important to maintain quality of life throughout lung cancer treatment, says Gabriel Cartagena, PhD, a psychologist and the clinical director of the Yale Psycho-Oncology Program at Yale Cancer Center/Smilow Cancer Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut.

“This doesn’t mean every activity you do has to be life-changing and full of meaning,” Cartagena says. “Values-aligned means that they fulfill your values and are what you want to be doing.”

For example, watching a movie with your family can help distract you and build on your value of being present with them, Cartagena says. “In a sea of medical appointments and treatments that patients never hoped to do for an illness they didn’t choose to have, choosing to do your activities your way makes a big difference,” Cartagena says.

“Cancer can feel isolating and frightening,” says Alisa Secaida, a NSCLC survivor in La Verne, California. “It is easy to focus only on survival and forget to live. Joy brings you back to the present and reminds you that you are still here, still living, and still creating meaningful moments.”

Focusing on fun in cancer doesn’t mean you don’t allow yourself to feel negative emotions. Whatever emotions arise, know that they are normal and even expected. You’re allowed to feel those feelings.

If you want to, talk about these emotions with a trusted loved one or mental health provider, as expressing feelings can help you process them. Then, when you can, try to spark joy again with a favorite activity.

You can have fun at home on your own or with loved ones — and you can keep it simple. “At home, activities can range from a very purposeful dish you make by yourself or with people you love, concerted time spent together watching a movie, or playing games,” Cartagena says.

Hobbies you can do on your own, such as reading or crafts, can help cultivate parts of yourself outside of your illness and keep you occupied, Cartagena says.

But it’s important to find activities that you enjoy and can adapt to your energy levels, Rizk says. For example, if you like to cook elaborate meals that keep you on your feet for hours, you can adjust by choosing a less complicated menu or sitting on a stool while you work.

Sciko had to change up her exercise routine after her lung cancer diagnosis. “However, daily movement — stretching, walking, yoga, tai chi — helped improve my energy levels and kept me flexible.”

If you want to add some fun to your life at home, try these suggestions:

  • Watch a funny TV show or movie on your own or with a loved one.
  • Try a new hobby, such as woodworking, quilting, or knitting.
  • Start a jigsaw puzzle.
  • Read a new book.
  • Write a short story.
  • Play a board game with family or friends.
  • Ask your kids or grandkids to teach you how to play a video game or two.
  • Listen to uplifting music or a funny audiobook.
  • Build a Lego set.
  • Bake some sweet treats.
  • Finish an adult sticker book or coloring book.

Finding fun outside the house can help distract you from cancer stress. For example, Secaida found that walking outdoors helped her. “It gave me a sense of control and strength during a time that often felt uncontrollable and helped with chemo side effects.”

Just the act of moving into a new environment can help you reframe negative thoughts. You don’t have to run a marathon to get these benefits. “I often tell my patients to ‘start small, grow tall,’” Cartagena says.

For example, if you want to get back to the long route you used to walk, begin your return through small increments — 5-10-minute stretches, Cartagena says. “Check in with yourself throughout and following the activity to get a sense of how you feel.”

If you’re not sure where to start, try some of these outdoor activities:

  • Pack a picnic to enjoy at your local park.
  • Meet a friend for a slow walk through your neighborhood.
  • Visit your local zoo or botanical garden.
  • Go fishing at a nearby lake or pond.
  • Plant and maintain a garden in your yard.
  • Try a new outdoor hobby, such as birdwatching or photography.
  • Take a short hike with plenty of shade.

You can (and should) stop anytime you notice any new pain, aches, or symptoms, Cartagena says. “This does not mean defeat.” Reconditioning your body and understanding its capacity during treatment is a process, and you don’t have to overextend yourself to do an activity that brings you joy, Cartagena says.

While getting out and about can be rejuvenating, it’s also important to take some safety and comfort precautions if you have NSCLC, Rizk says. Before you head outside, Rizk recommends taking these steps:

  • Get your oncologist’s approval before starting any new exercise routine or outdoor activity.
  • Check your local air quality daily and avoid going outdoors when pollution levels are high.
  • Avoid going out in very cold or hot weather.
  • Keep your skin covered, and wear sunscreen and a hat.
  • Take plenty of water to stay hydrated.

You can get more personalized precautions from your oncologist, Morreale says. Some lung cancer treatments can make you more sensitive to sunlight, so be sure to ask your doctor if you need to be extra cautious outdoors. Many treatments also depress your immune system, so try to avoid large crowds, and use hand sanitizer or wash your hands with soap and water before you eat.

Lung cancer treatment days can mean being stuck in one spot for many hours. Some infusions need many days to finish, which means spending some nights in the hospital. But you can bring some fun with you in a thoughtfully packed “chemo bag” filled with books, e-readers, tablets, laptops, journals, or puzzle books, Rizk says.

Morreale recommends bringing a soft blanket, favorite snacks, and noise-cancelling headphones to add to your comfort and increase your chances of enjoying the time. Sciko liked to read books, color, and do puzzle games on her phone during treatments.

“Perhaps most importantly, the presence of a friend or family member can provide invaluable emotional support and companionship, transforming a challenging time into a more connected and positive experience,” Rizk says.

Secaida tried to bring someone to treatment with her who made her laugh. “Laughter is the best medicine and makes everything feel lighter,” she says.

Here’s how you can add some fun to your treatment days and hospital stays:

  • Try online hobbies, such as painting, puzzles, and word games.
  • Watch downloaded movies and TV shows on a tablet or laptop.
  • Play video games on a portable handheld device.
  • Use a virtual reality headset to watch movies, play games, or visit faraway places.
  • Learn how to knit or crochet.
  • Ask a friend to bring you your favorite takeout meal or treat.
  • Bring a different loved one with you each time for variety.
  • Wear a cozy top that allows access to your IV but makes you feel comfortable and like yourself.

Positive connections with other people can make a huge difference in your well-being during your cancer journey and can even help treatments work better. This support system offers crucial emotional stability, helping you navigate intense feelings of fear and anxiety while promoting a positive mindset, Rizk says.

On a practical level, your support system can help with daily tasks. “Allowing family members to step in and help with chores around the house or support you in more instrumental ways can help you rest and maintain your energy, so that you can use your energy for the activities that matter most to you,” Cartagena says.

Sciko credits her family and friends with her ability to stay positive throughout treatments. “Encouraging messages, continued prayers, small comforting gifts, and many tongue-in-cheek cancer shirts and mugs kept me smiling throughout my cancer journey.”

You can spend time with your loved ones however you’d like. For example, Cartagena says his patients sometimes plan “no cancer” days with their families. “They watch movies, make jokes, have dinner, talk about one another’s lives, without bringing up the illness or treatment.”

This can provide a healthy boundary for you and your family, as well as a sense of normalcy — that not every part of your life needs to be taken up by the illness, says Cartagena.

Even if you didn’t have a loving support system in place when you got your lung cancer diagnosis, you can still find a meaningful connection that brings fun into your life. You can ask your doctor to recommend a local support group, or you could search for online support through these organizations:

“Even if your support system feels small, I encourage reaching out and building one,” Secaida says. “Most people want to help, but you have to let them in. That vulnerability matters.”

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