“When I was first diagnosed, I went out, as a book person, and got some books on cancer and looked up my version of the disease. It said that I had about a 5 percent chance of survival. I said, 'Gosh, well, it's been a good run.' What I didn't realize is that in the two years since those books were published, things had shifted dramatically.”

American newspaper columnist, author, and political commentator

Molly Ivins was an American newspaper columnist, author, and political commentator. She was known for sharp, humorous writing that used satire and wit to take on political figures and public policy. Her work combined insight with a comic edge, and she built a reputation for saying difficult things clearly and with style. Her commentary often focused on politics, where she used humor as a way to expose folly and press her point.