‘The Group Room’ Radio Talk Show Celebrates Three Years on the Air

LOS ANGELES—“The Group Room,” a nationally syndicated cancer radio talk show, entered its third year on the air with new markets, accolades for its host Selma Schimmel, and a new book based on the show.

The recently signed new markets are in Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. The book is called Cancer Talk, and the honor for Ms. Schimmel is being named one of the “Heavy Hundred” by the radio industry publication Talkers Magazine. The “Heavy Hundred” represent the most important radio talk show hosts in America. Ms. Schimmel is a 16-year breast cancer survivor and founder of Vital Options, the national cancer support, advocacy, and communications organization.

“It is an honor to receive this recognition, especially when you consider that there are 4,500 talk shows nationwide,” Ms. Schimmel said. “I want to acknowledge Premiere Radio Networks and our founding sponsor, Bristol-Myers Squibb; corporate sponsors Ortho Biotech and Pharmacia & Upjohn; and the hundreds of local supporters and radio stations who make this show possible every week.”

The program airs live each Sunday from 4 to 6 pm Eastern Daylight Time in major markets and can also be heard live on the Internet at www.vitaloptions.org.

Cancer Talk, a book of hope and lessons in endurance culled from conversations on the radio show, was written by Ms. Schimmel and is due out this spring from Broadway Books, a division of Random House.