Discovery Health Channel Introduces SURVIVORS WEEK With Lance Armstrong and Dr. Drew Pinsky

Discovery Health Channel Introduces SURVIVORS WEEK With Lance Armstrong and Dr. Drew Pinsky

- SURVIVORS WEEK Kicks-Off on Sunday, October 9 at 8 PM (ET/PT) with the World Premiere of LANCE ARMSTRONG: STORIES OF SURVIVAL -

SILVER SPRING, Md., Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Earning the undisputed title of the world's greatest cyclist, Lance Armstrong crossed the finish line leading the Tour de France for the seventh time. Yet the true scope of his triumph does not begin and end on a bicycle. For the 10 million Americans living with cancer, Armstrong holds another admirable title -- cancer survivor.

Inspired by Lance Armstrong's untiring commitment to survival, Discovery Health Channel presents SURVIVORS WEEK, a week-long exploration of real-life survivors who have overcome extraordinary medical challenges against seemingly insurmountable odds.

Kicking off on Sunday, October 9 at 8 PM (ET/PT) with the world premiere of LANCE ARMSTRONG: STORIES OF SURVIVAL, SURVIVORS WEEK features different stories of survival at 8 PM (ET/PT) throughout the week.

LANCE ARMSTRONG: STORIES OF SURVIVAL is an exclusive, intimate conversation between Discovery Health Channel personality Dr. Drew Pinsky and Armstrong on what it means to survive and "live strong." The one-hour special focuses on Armstrong's courage and determination, making him an inspiration for millions of cancer patients around the world. The special features compelling stories of cancer survivors, motivated by Lance, to fight against the disease and "live strong." An interview with Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, director of the National Cancer Institute and acting commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, also provides a glimpse into the future of the battle against cancer.

LANCE ARMSTRONG: STORIES OF SURVIVAL airs as a companion to the release of LIVE STRONG: Inspirational Stories from Cancer Survivors - From Diagnosis to Treatment and Beyond. Presented by The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF), LIVE STRONG is an inspiring collection of first-person stories by cancer survivors of all ages, races and walks of life, giving powerful expression to what "living strong" entails.

LIVE STRONG is available at all Discovery Channel Stores and on Discoverystore.com beginning September 27. Discovery will donate 10 percent of the proceeds from the sale of LIVE STRONG to the Lance Armstrong Foundation throughout the month of October.

In addition to LANCE ARMSTRONG: STORIES OF SURVIVAL, programming for SURVIVORS WEEK includes the following specials (all air times are 8 PM ET/PT):

INSPIRED BY LANCE Encore Presentation with All-new Footage: Monday, October 10

This one-hour special tells the stories of four cancer survivors transformed by their battles with the disease, including the story of seven- time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong. INSPIRED BY LANCE chronicles the epic battles against cancer waged by these four heroes and their actions today that inspire others. Through the phenomenal story of Lance's cancer battle and his ultimate triumph, this special unveils how he has remains an inspiration to millions of cancer victims with his unparalleled physical recovery and his dedication to cancer awareness.

MYSTERY DIAGNOSIS: SURVIVORS World Premiere: Tuesday, October 11

Every year, millions of Americans fall prey to real-life medical mysteries -- ailments that remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years. Their lives are thrown into turmoil, and sometimes their sanity is called into question as medical professionals struggle to understand their baffling conditions. This special explores the stories of three amazing survivors who lived through years of unexplained medical diagnoses and relates how those afflictions changed their lives forever.

BIG JOHN: ONE YEAR LATER Encore Presentation with All-new Footage: Wednesday, October 12

At 5'6" and 400 pounds, 17-year-old John Edgar puts his health in serious jeopardy. John has tried, without success, to lose weight through diet and exercise. He is now faced with the decision to continue to live with morbid obesity or undergo a risky gastrointestinal bypass operation that could save his life. John opts for the surgery, which is seldom performed on teenagers, and he emerges from it with a reduced stomach, re-routed intestines and a whole new relationship with food. Nine months later, John has shed more than 150 pounds and looks and feels like a different person. But, no one knows the long-term effects this kind of operation produces on patients as young as John; only time will tell.

CONJOINED TWINS: SEPARATE STEPS Encore Presentation with All-new Footage: Thursday, October 13

Thirty-year-old Emily Stark of Denver, Colorado, always dreamed of having twins. When she became pregnant in 2000, her dream came true. However, an ultrasound revealed the twins were conjoined, and doctors recommended a risky separation procedure to help save the twins lives. In this special, follow Emily and her husband, Jim, through the entire surgical and post-surgical process that, at one point, would involve nearly 60 doctors and surgeons and state-of-the-art medical technology.

About Discovery Health Channel

Discovery Health Channel takes viewers inside the fascinating and informative world of health and medicine to experience firsthand, compelling, real-life stories of medical breakthroughs and human triumphs. Currently in 59 million homes, Discovery Health Channel is the only 24-hour network and Web site -- discoveryhealth.com -- devoted to what matters most -- health.

About the Lance Armstrong Foundation

The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) believes that in your battle with cancer, unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything. From the moment of diagnosis we provide the practical information and tools you need to live strong. The LAF serves its mission through public health, advocacy, research and education, including the LIVESTRONG(TM) Resource for Cancer Survivors. The LAF was founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong and is located in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit http://www.livestrong.org/.

Source: Discovery Health Channel

CONTACT: Reenie Kuhlman, +1-240-662-2937, reenie_kuhlman@discovery.com, or Shannon Martin, +1-240-662-2245, shannon_martin@discovery.com, both of Discovery Health Channel

Web site: http://www.discovery.com/ http://www.livestrong.org/

NOTE TO EDITORS: To download photos for LANCE ARMSTRONG: STORIES OF SURVIVAL or other SURVIVORS WEEK programming, go to www.press.discovery.com. Log in or register and click on US; Discovery Health Channel; SURVIVORS WEEK.

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