Saranne Rothberg is 41. She looks 17. The woman is actually dewy. "Chemo exfoliates," she explains. "It's the chemo facial."

We crack up. After 11 misdiagnoses, three surgeries, four chemotherapy protocols, and 44 radiation treatments, the founder of Comedy Cures (a nonprofit that brings humor to people who really need it) laughs plenty. To her, it's therapy.

Patricia Volk is the author of Stuffed: Adventures of a Restaurant Family (Knopf).

Start spreading the laughter-Saranne's story is one you need to know.