Apr 14, 2008 8:16 pm US/Eastern
Book Explores Ailing CMU Professor's Cancer Battle
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
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CMU Professor Randy Pausch, 47, is battling pancreatic cancer.
KDKA
Since his "last lecture," the story of Carnegie Mellon University Professor Randy Pausch has sparked a huge response worldwide.
Pausch is battling pancreatic cancer and was given two months to live last October. He's still fighting the disease and fighting to raise awarness.
Pausch's new book, "The Last Lecture," has sold out. At a news conference, he joined his co-author, Wall Street Journal reporter, author and CMU graduate Jeffrey Zaslow via speaker phone to discuss it.
Of his thousands of writings, Zaslow holds this as his most important.
"This is the greatest story I've ever had to share with people," he said.
Zaslow says he almost didn't attend the last lecture. His article was online by midnight that night and minutes later he received thousands of emails. Soon, the story was worldwide. The book is being released in 18 languages.
The book is anecdotal and gives insight into Pausch's life and approach to dealing with pancreatic cancer which attacks and kills fast.
Today was a good day for Pausch.
"On a day-to-day basis it's two steps forward one step back," he said. "I'm feeling stronger everyday and I'd say I'm seven to 10 days away from being strong enough to get back on my back and try exercising," he said.
Pausch wanted to write this book and raise awareness and money for pancreatic cancer research. He and Zaslow articulated the need during the news conference.
"I was reading the other day that the great progress in the last 30 years is that we've moved median survival up by a month," Pausch said. "And you know that's just not acceptable. Not for the fourth-leading killer amongst cancers."
"The Last Lecture" was released last Tuesday and is sold out. Another 1.25 million copies are on order.
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