By Melissa Weber

The world’s first glimpse of her came six decades ago‚ and now‚ at age 70‚ Elizabeth Taylor is in remission from basal cell carcinoma‚ a form of skin cancer.

The two–time Oscar–winning actress—who has also been in the spotlight recently thanks to her new book‚ Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair With Jewelry—underwent radiation treatment in June and her doctor says there’s no evidence of residual disease.

Millions of children knew Richard Harris as Professor Albus Dumbledore from the two Harry Potter films‚ while those a little older knew him as King Arthur in the film version of 1967’s Camelot. Harris‚ who announced in early October that he had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease‚ died Oct. 25. The 72–year–old actor‚ who was undergoing chemotherapy treatment‚ also starred in Unforgiven‚ Mutiny on the Bounty‚ This Sporting Life‚ Gladiator as Emperor Marcus Aurelius‚ and many others dating back to 1959.

Smokers now have one more reason to quit: their cats. A recent study conducted at Tufts University and the University of Massachusetts has linked second–hand smoke exposure to feline lymphoma. The study‚ published in the American Journal of Epidemiology‚ found that the risk of getting the disease more than doubled in cats exposed to second–hand smoke. In households where they were exposed five years or more‚ cats had more than triple the risk‚ the study says.

The fund–raising postage stamp for fighting breast cancer has currently brought in more than $27 million through the sale of almost 400 million stamps. The stamp‚ which costs 45 cents‚ has been on sale since July 1998.

Bruce Paltrow‚ Hollywood director and producer‚ died of complications associated with throat cancer Oct. 3 at age 58. Paltrow‚ father of Oscar–winning actress Gwyneth and husband of actress Blythe Danner‚ produced and directed the TV show St. Elsewhere and most recently directed the 2000 film Duets‚ which co–starred his daughter.

By My Side™ has announced Voices of Experience‚ their new support network that matches cancer patients with trained survivors. Rob Lowe‚ star of The West Wing‚ is the voice for By My Side‚ which is designed to raise awareness about chemotherapy–related infections and other side effects. “My dad [Chuck]‚ like most patients‚ had a tough time absorbing information about his disease and treatment when he was first diagnosed [with non–Hodgkin’s lymphoma]‚” Lowe says in a press release. “I wish that we had been able to talk to others who had been through the same type of cancer and treatment and who could warn us that serious side effects‚ like chemotherapy–related infections‚ were possible.”

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne took in their daughters’ friend after his mother died of colon cancer in August 2002. Robert Marcato‚ 18‚ has moved into the Osbournes’ Los Angeles home‚ and Sharon Osbourne‚ who was diagnosed with colon cancer in July 2002‚ told the New York Post that they will send him to the best college they can find.

Historian Stephen Ambrose died Oct. 13 at age 66 after a six–month battle with lung cancer. He spent much of his life as a history professor‚ but gained fame in 1994 with the release of his book‚ D–Day June 6‚ 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II. Too young to have fought in the war‚ Ambrose spent his career listening to soldiers’ stories. He is probably best known as the founder of the National D–Day Museum in New Orleans and for his best–selling book Band of Brothers‚ which was made into an award–winning HBO miniseries. He also served as a consultant on Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan. Ambrose published more than 30 books with his last coming out more than a month after his death. This book‚ which Ambrose wrote after his cancer diagnosis‚ is called To America: Personal Reflections of an Historian.

The man who wrote films Basic Instinct‚ Sliver‚ and Flashdance now wants to take it back—the smoking part‚ that is. Hollywood screenwriter Joe Eszterhas‚ 57‚ was diagnosed with throat cancer more than a year ago and is now urging Hollywood to quit promoting smoking. In an op–ed piece he wrote for The New York Times‚ Eszterhas apologized for glamorizing smoking in his films.