No laughing matter

The show, according to the Internet Movie Database (imdb.com) is about a suburban mother, recently diagnosed with cancer, attempts to find humor in the disease.

Linney has won a Satellite Award and Golden Globe award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Cathy Jamison, the woman diagnosed with cancer.

In addition, the show was named Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy) during the 2010 Satellite Awards.

I've never watched the show. We don't have Showtime in our cable package.

But to be quite honest, my funny bone must have deserted me a long time ago, because I don't see humor in cancer.

When I first came back to Brazil, my grandmother was battling cancer.

A battle she lost.

Now, the disease has reared its ugly self within my family yet again.

This time, twice.

The disease has also reared its ugly self on the family of my wife in recent months.

It never gets easier to deal with. You can see the pain and fear in the faces of family members, knowing life could come to an end.

While one of my family members appears to have beaten back the disease, another may not be so fortunate.

It is too early to tell what may happen, but the pain is always there. For everyone in our families.

While I can't, and won't, speak for my wife, even while sitting at work, attempting everything one can to get through the day, I have found it difficult to not let my thoughts drift to family members who are battling these demons.

All we can do is think of them, keep them in our thoughts and pray for them.

Maybe "The Big C" is funny. Maybe it's a television series with a great message.

But maybe doesn't mean a whole lot when you're dealing with the real thing.