Battling Cancer

Happy Friday.

Battling Cancer readers…this is your last day to post for a chance to win free books.

The rules are simple. Let me know you are out there by posting a hello by 8 pm, MST. Tonight!!

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Bibliophile is back on Battling Cancer.

And that means free books.

Here are some of the most recent books in fiction and non fiction featuring cancer topics.

Two readers will be able to choose the book of their choice from these great offerings.

The rules are simple. Let me know you are out there by posting a hello between now and next Friday, June 27 at 8 pm, MST.

Then if your name is drawn and I email, drop me a note back with your mailing address and real world name.

Fiction:

Fool On the Hill: A Tess Camillo Mystery by Morgan Hunt (April 1, 2008)

Product Description: When amateur sleuth and breast cancer survivor Tess Camillo discovers the body of her housemate’s favorite rock star—crucified—everyone’s shocked. After all, he seemed to have no enemies. Why would someone nail him to a cross? With quirky wit, Tess and her loopy hetero housemate Lana snoop Hollywood music producers, Lego Land, a church, and a carousel to solve the murder. Fool on the Hill zips along on a sometimes-poignant, sometimes-zany trajectory, slowing down only for zoo critters and erotic encounters.

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Friday again.

Perhaps the most exciting cancer news comes out of M.D. Anderson regarding Metformin and cancer response. Metformin is the most common drug prescribed for Type 2 diabetes. It was observed that patients using Metformin had a lower cancer incidence. Findings are preliminary and M.D. Anderson will soon begin a clinical trial with Metformin and hormonal therapy studying metastatic breast cancer patients who are obese. Read the complete article at Science Daily.

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Friday. Friday. Friday is my favorite day.

Cancer Events:

Marie Curie Cancer Care is sponsoring the Skimmington Castle Bike Ride. “An exciting fun filled cycle challenge, Saturday, June 7 in the beautiful surroundings of the Surrey countryside.Cyclists will set off from the Skimmington Castle public House in Reigate, either on the 47.5 mile route, for those who fancy a challenge, or the 16.5 mile route for those who feel they’d like the day to take a more leisurely pace.

Once you have completed the bike ride you will end up back at the Skimmington Castle pub for a chance to exchange stories over a well earned drink.”

Father’s Day Ride and Stride. Sunday June 15, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

“This Father’s Day, honor Dad and support the fight against prostate cancer. Bring your family and enjoy a morning of fun at beautiful North Park, while supporting Pittsburgh’s leading organizations in the fight to defeat prostate cancer— the Allegheny General Prostate Center and the Western Pennsylvania Prostate Cancer Foundation (WPPCF). This event will include a 25K, 50K and 100K bike ride and a 2 mile fun walk. Choose either as your weapon to fight against prostate cancer and a way to celebrate Father’s Day with loved ones. We’re taking aim against this deadly disease.”

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Cancer News:

The Arizona Republic, April 4, 2008-Cancer Fighters Give Grants. “The Phoenix Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure on Wednesday gave out more than $2.3 million to help fight breast cancer.”

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Testicular Cancer Awareness Week

April 1-7, 2008

“There will be about 8,090 new cases of testicular cancer in the United States in 2008. About 380 men will die of the disease in 2008. A man’s lifetime chance of having testicular cancer is about 1 in 300. Because treatment is so successful, the risk of dying from this cancer is very low: about 1 in 5,000. Testicular cancer is one of the most curable forms of cancer. There are nearly 140,000 men who have survived testicular cancer in the United States.”

–Source: The American Cancer Society

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I’ve scoured the headlines to bring you the latest cancer news– what’s new in science and entertainment.

Cephalon wins U.S. Approval For Leukemia Drug

Washington (Reuters)-March, 20, 2008. Cephalon Inc won U.S. approval to sell a chemotherapy drug to treat patients with a slow-growing type of leukemia, the company said, on Thursday.

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Actually you are all winners, but specifically book drawing winners.

Congratulations to Hannah, Ann W., Mary C, Gina and Missy.

Let’s do this again soon.

Thank you to New York Times best-selling authors Wendy Markham, and Sherryl Woods, and and the very generous professionals at

Nancy Berland Public Relations, Inc. for making this first drawing a success.

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Friday I’ll be giving away three books donated to the site by gracious authors, publicists and/or donors. All that is necessary for a chance to win, is to post a comment with a way to reach you. Winners will be chosen by random.

1. If Only In My Dreams by Wendy Markham. Best selling author, Wendy Markham a.k.a. New York Times best selling author, Wendy Corsi Staub is a busy writer, not only does she write women’s fiction as Wendy Markham, but she writes bestselling mystery/thrillers as Wendy Corsi Staub. Along with her young adult books she is releasing a new young adult paranormal series set in the Lily Dale spiritualist community of southern Western New York.

From Booklist. “Clara McCallum finally gets her big break as an actress when she’s cast as the romantic lead in a World War II-era epic, but the good news is accompanied by a frightening diagnosis of breast cancer. Though her doctor tells her it’s treatable, Clara can’t bring herself to tell those close to her and instead opts to go forth with filming. Her decision has unforeseen consequences when she boards a train for the set and ends up in New York in 1941 and meets the real-life Jed Landry, the soldier her character falls in love with in the movie. When Clara finds herself falling for Jed in the past, she’s torn between saving his life and returning to the future to undergo treatments to save her own. ”

From Publisher’s Weekly. “The fantastic setup is balanced with convincing period details and strong characters, and the story’s conclusion is unexpectedly real and refreshing. ”

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Since Wednesday’s post on Cancer in the News, I’ve talked to several authors and publicists regarding books featured here. Next week, thanks to their generosity, I will be giving away books.

Until then, here is a sneak peak.

I will be giving away a copy of New York Times, best selling author, Sherryl Woods’ new release, Seaview Inn.

From Publisher’s Weekly, “New York PR exec Hannah Mathews is in remission from the same disease that claimed her mother’s life months before: breast cancer. She heads south in an attempt to persuade her 85-year-old grandma, Jenny, to sell the Seaview Inn, the Florida Keys resort owned by her family for decades, and move into a retirement home. Spry and headstrong, Grandma Jenny isn’t ready to be put out to pasture, intending to spruce up the inn and reopen for business. Hannah’s daughter Kelsey, turns up pregnant; she plans to drop out of college, live at Seaview and put her baby up for adoption. Surgeon Luke Stevens, Hannah’s high school crush, shows up shortly thereafter, fresh from a stint in war-torn Iraq and carrying his own set of emotional baggage. A seasoned romance novelist of more than 100 titles, Woods is a master heartstring puller, and her endearingly flawed characters must deal with their plethora of problems in a predictable but satisfying manner.”

Additionally, check out Sherryl’s blog, Just Between Friends, where she recently held a contest and donated funds for the Susan G. Komen:For The Cure, in honor of a survivor or in memory of a loved one who lost the fight against breast cancer, and features stories from the contest on the blog.

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