Former Weyburn resident Darren (Red) Neuberger will be returning to his home town on Thursday, May 13. He will host a book signing at the Weyburn Co-op Food Store between 4-6 p.m. The author will be signing his book, "let's Talk! about it: inspiring stories from young adult cancer survivors", which includes roughly 40 survivor stories including his own.Neuberger was born and raised in Weyburn, living here from 1968 to 1999. Then in 2003, at the age of 34, he was diagnosed with acute lymphocyte leukemia."My wife Jaylene and I weren't quite married for three years when I was diagnosed," explained Neuberger. "My treatment protocol had me in treatments for two years straight. I spent the first five months as an inpatient with the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, at the Foothills Hospital Unit 57. After my five month 'tour' was up I spent the remaining 17 months as an outpatient."When my treatments were completed I had received over 600 chemotherapy treatments, two weeks of brain radiation and over 34 units of blood or platelets transfused into me.Jaylene and I are delighted to say that my hematologist officially discharged me as a patient this past March.This August I will be celebrating five years post treatment and loving my new life cancer-free."The inspiration to write a collection of stories came to Neuberger during his own treatments. "I noticed a lack of support for young adults and decided that I want to do something to give back to other young adults that are facing their own cancer journeys. I decided to put together a book of other young adult cancer survivors who were diagnosed between the ages of 15-45."It took Neuberger two years to complete his book and it was published January 2010. "Post cancer I have become a very strong voice for young adult cancer. I am an inspirational speaker, an advocate for awareness or prevention and I host an Internet radio show every Wednesday evening called Let's Talk About It."
