By Vinay Jain, MD

We can hardly believe it’s already the Winter issue—our second—and we hope the cover gave you a moment of lightness in this often dark time called cancer.

While humor may seem a strange choice to some, we want our Winter issue to be lighter than the rest of the year. Last year we chose to focus on survivorship, reminding you that life after cancer can be as full and meaningful as life before cancer.

We also feel it’s important to remember that cancer comes into the lives of individuals who already have coping styles in place, one of which may be humor. We need to draw on those coping skills while going through cancer and remember that looking at the lighter side can often get us through. If you didn’t see yourself as someone who appreciated humor before cancer, it may be harder to get there now, but as senior editor Kathy LaTour says, “Often, there is nothing left to do but laugh.”

Other features in this issue look at two very difficult cancers: ovarian and pancreatic. We have also given you a journey of sorts with the evolutionary story of Bexxar, a new drug that is being used with success against non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Our departments this issue look at sexuality and take a walk on the wild side with the Pony Express fundraiser for breast cancer.

Be sure to check out the details about the Patient & Survivor Forum 2004 in this issue. We are very excited to be able to offer this forum and hope it will become an annual meeting where you can learn the latest updates about research in all areas of cancer while networking with those who advocate for you.

CURE tries to keep you up to date on the constantly changing world of cancer treatments, and we are hoping this annual event will be the forum where those affected by cancer can come together with medical professionals to learn the latest advancements.

Today’s patients want information and to be partners in their care, and, for that reason, we will also be hosting at the forum the formation meeting of the Association for Cancer Patient Educators, where those who provide you with information can come together to share best practices.

So join us in Dallas on May 22 and 23. Discuss how to live with cancer and its effects and talk with other survivors and advocates about the cancer journey. The full agenda can be found on our website at www.curetoday.com. Register now through the mail-in card in this issue and pass it on to friends. You can also register online at www.curetoday.com/patientmeeting/.

CURE is also celebrating two new awards. In October, the staff traveled to New York City for the annual Folio Show, the largest magazine awards celebration in the country. While there, CURE collected a silver Eddies Award for editorial excellence in the consumer health magazine category and a silver Ozzie Award for best design in a new magazine.

We are proud of this accomplishment, but we’re just as proud that you, our readers, continue to tell us that YOU love the content and design of the magazine.

We hope to meet each of you in Dallas in May.