True Health Is True Wealth!!: Valerie Harper in Remission… Valerie, Snooki, Leah Remini and 9 more join 'Dancing With the Stars' Cast for Season 17

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Valerie Harper in Remission… Valerie, Snooki, Leah Remini and 9 more join 'Dancing With the Stars' Cast for Season 17

If there was ever an argument for positive thinking and determination as a cure, or at least a slowdown, for Cancer… Valerie Harper is it!!

Valerie Harper appears to be beating cancer and the actress has also made a decision to appear on Dancing with the Stars for 2013.

Valerie was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer earlier this year and given only a short time to live. But she fought back and is winning the battle, her cancer is close to remission.

So - why risk that and compete?

In an interview with AARP The Magazine over two days in July, Harper, 74, said, "As long as you’re alive, you can do something."

Many fans are anxious to see Valerie dance and expect a lot of tears and cheers for Harper as she competes on ABC's season 17 of DWTS.

The entire cast was revealed Wednesday on ABC's "Good Morning America."

© AP / Valerie Harper

Sept. 4, 2013, 9:08 AM EST

NEW YORK (AP) -- Busy cancer patient Valerie Harper leads a class of 12 amateur hoofers in the upcoming 17th season of "Dancing With the Stars."

The cast was revealed Wednesday on ABC's "Good Morning America." For the reality show that has reached an increasingly older audience, ABC added an injection of youth with reality stars Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi of "Jersey Shore" and Sharon and Ozzy's son, Jack Osbourne.

Harper has defied odds with her survival since being diagnosed earlier this year with brain cancer. She recently filmed a movie role and joined a Nick at Nite reunion of "The Mary Tyler Moore" cast.

Other contestants are singer actress Christina Milian; actress Elizabeth Berkley "Glee" actress Amber Riley; and "King of Queens" actress Leah Remini.