Saranne Rothberg, the inspiration and founder of ComedyCures, is a breast cancer survivor. Diagnosed in 1999 with stage IV breast cancer, she made a vow to laugh at least 100 times a day. The ComedyCures foundation reflects her belief in the power of laughter to heal and the positive coping offered by focusing on a comedic perspective.

Many other cancer patients must share her perspective on the positive healing benefits of laughter on the body, mind, and spirit because, according to the ComedyCures website, she has a multi-year waiting list for her motivational, inspirational, laughter-rich performances and keynote addresses. In addition to her appearances, ComedyCures 1-888-HA-HA-HA-HA LaughLine is said to reach as many as 4,000 people per month. Approximately 30,000 of her Wellness Joke Book pages have been created and circulated around the world. The foundation sponsors Live Laugh-A-Thon, Live LaughAbout, Laughing Lunch events, and offers videos and books.

Cancer-free now, Rothberg is a profoundly compassionate woman who has worked with The Red Cross, The United Way, Gilda’s Clubs, Paul Newman’s Hole in the Woods Camp, Paul McCartney’s Garland Appeal, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Cancer Survivor’s Day, and many other organizations. She has been featured on Good Morning America, in Oprah Magazine, The New York Times, and at YAHOO. She has been honored with awards including The Hope for The Future Award, The Making a Difference Award, and The Cancer Superhero of the Year Award. Her work and awards are many, and I could fill up a half-dozen posts just telling you about them.

What is truly remarkable, is that this is the vision Rothberg had while sitting in a chair during chemotherapy treatment. Go check out Rothberg's ComedyCures, find out that James Gandolfini of the Sopranos got caught doing the ComedyCures Body Giggle, and read tips on how to add laughter as part of the healing process.

Karen de Balbian Verster, artist, writer and poet, is a breast cancer survivor. After her second cancer diagnosis she began attending art workshops at Gilda's Club and got back into painting, which she says was healing since painting uses a different part of her brain than writing. Currently, her artwork, including monotypes, monotype collages, oils and watercolors, are on display in Stroudsburg. Her writing brings us the book, Boob: A Story of Sex, Cancer and Stupidity, now published and available in bookstores.

Her novel is a fictional tale that begins with the reality of a terminal breast cancer diagnosis for Kyra Copperfield. But then Kyra is abducted by a serial killer who promises to delay killing her if she amuses him by telling stories about herself. The author, de Balbian Verster describes it as a Scheherazade meets Hannibal. Kyra figures it is a slow, painful death either way.

You have to admit, as far as inspirational breast cancer recovery books written by breast cancer survivors go, this one has a different twist. At least it's the first one I have run across involving a serial killer. Of the possible scenarios in what could be worse than being diagnosed with cancer -- and I can think of few things that could be worse -- being abducted by a serial killer certainly ranks right up there. For that, I tip my hat to the originality of the author. To learn more about the author, and to read an excerpt of her book, go here. She is as uniquely interesting as the premise of her novel.