For Brenda Elsagher, life is most certainly a laughing matter.

In fact, she has emerged from some of her most difficult times with her sense of humor not only intact, but in full force.

Elsagher will be on stage at the Church of St. Stephen Friday, Oct. 23 to perform comedy and share some inspirational stories at an event that is open to the entire community.

“Leveling Life with Laughter” is a free spiritual event laced with plenty of good humor that will start at 6:30 p.m.

Elsagher is a national speaker, cancer survivor, comedian and author. She reminds audiences that humor and an upbeat attitude in daily life can have a positive effect in schools, neighborhoods and the workplace.

Elsagher, a Burnsville mother of two who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 1995, never expected to be a comedian.

But as her 40th birthday neared, she made a crazy remark with her girlfriends over a jumbo margarita that she was going to give it a try.

“I’ve always loved live comedy, but I didn’t think that I was smart enough to be able to do it,” said Elsagher. But she soon learned that her best material was not about current affairs or politics, but her own life.

While she has been the benefit of much support for her comedic career, the encouragement of Marci Berra, a good friend who has since passed away from breast cancer, is particularly special.

“It’s ironic, because she didn’t have breast cancer at the time,” said Elsagher. “She just saw something in me.”

When Elsagher speaks, she talks about her own struggles with colorectal cancer.

“But everybody has struggles – addiction, job loss, raising teenagers – they can relate to,” she said.

Over the past 13 years she has performed and spoken with church and Bible study groups, health care workers and at community gatherings.

She shares her humorous stories about being a Catholic wife of a Muslim Egyptian, she encourages health care professionals to ease their patients’ stress through humor and inspires cancer patients to find the silver lining in their struggles.

Elsagher has also authored two books, “If the Battle is Over, Why am I Still in Uniform?” along with “I’d Like to Buy a Bowel Please.” When she returned to college after her cancer diagnosis, a professor at Metro State University encouraged her writing.

“I never thought I would be able to write a book,” she said.

Elsagher’s path to comedy on the national stage was not planned. She opened her first hair salon when she was just 21 years old. She finally sold her business four years ago so she could devote all of her career energy to her speaking engagements, which now take her across the country.

But being a hairstylist was good communication training for her current gig; over the years her strength has been her ability to talk to all kinds of people, she said.

Elsagher’s ultimate goal is to educate people on the importance of colorectal screenings, especially for anyone over the age of 50 or those with family history of the disease.

She said if caught early, this often deadly form of cancer can be treated.

“It’s hell,” she said. “But you’ll survive.”

Her second priority when in front of an audience?

“You can get through difficult things with humor, the love of your family and friends and a positive attitude,” she said.

Mandy Moran Froemming is at editor.anokaunion@ecm-inc.com