something extraordinary in bloomington, indiana jennifer and jessica paterson. they're twins, but it just so happened the two twins gave birth on the same day. they say, of course, they didn't plan this out. don't know how you would. it just happened to happen that way. twin sisters giving birth on the same day. congratulations to them both. appreciate you being here with us for this cnn saturday morning. i'll be back with you as we continue at the top of the hour with more live news. hello, thanks for joining us. i'm dr. sanjay gupta. this morning, a cnn exclusive. two doctors, brothers, internationally acclaimed and then imprisoned for their work with aids. they're finally free and here telling their story. plus the not so skinny on lunches. we'll check in with my school back in michigan to see what's on the menu. and a healthy goes of inspiration. a young man who overcame

obesity, lost half his body weight in the process. we begin with health care. highlights from the cnn western republican debate this week. moderator anderson cooper continued to press massachusetts governor mitt romney on his state-mandated health care law. >> i was in interviews in this debate stage with you four years ago. i was asked about the massachusetts plan. was it something i would impose on the nation? the answer is absolutely not it was something crafted for a state. i've said time and again, obamacare is bad news. it's unconstitutional, it costs way too much money a trillion dollars, if i'm president of the united states, i will repeal it for the american people. >> mr. romney also said the people of massachusetts favor his state-mandated health care by a 3-1 margin. it's true. polling shows it is popular. our most recent cnn poll, which i should note was conducted before las vegas debate

shows mitt romney and herman cain in a dead heat. while romney's numbers have climbed slightly, cain's numbers have tripled nearly since september. it's herman cain's 9-9-9 plan that has the most media attention, but this morning i want to shine the spotlight on something else, his battle with cain. >> there's a reason, i think, you are seen as a fighter, that is the extraordinary battle you waged with cancer. >> yes. >> tell me about the moment you found that you had -- not just mild cancer, you were hit full on. >> stage four. when i first got my first c.a.t. scan, i thought it was just in my colon. and after the doctor did the colonosco colonoscopy, he said there's something called resection, they could take part of it out. the incidence of success is high. i said, okay, let's get this done. what's the game plan, et cetera.

it wasn't until i went to the surgeon with all of the test results and had a discussion with her, and she said near the end of the discussion, well, you have stage four cancer. i said what is that? she said that's as bad as it gets. >> mr. cain said he was given just a 30% chance of survival. dr. kathy yang is one of his doctors, and she joins me this morning from washington. good morning. thanks so much for joining us. kathy, i know you can't speak specifically to herman cain's case due to privacy laws, he's written about this. generally speaking, colon cancer is the third most common cancer. he had stage four specifically. when you first heard that what are the odds for someone like him? what makes a difference in his survival? >> well what really makes a difference here is, number one, how extensive the disease is. in his case, as well as in other

patients, there are those individuals that can undergo surgical resection. and that's a decision made between a group of doctors. usually a medical oncologist, a surgical oncologist, and sometimes if the tumor is still intact in the colon and rectum, a colorectal surgery. so it's looking at ct scans, x-rays, everything else, looking at the patient as a whole and making a decision upon whether or not they can or cannot be surgical resected. that's really the way to cure the patient. >> my understanding is that he had chemotherapy, then he his operation to remove the cancer from his colon and his liver, then he had more chemotherapy, all of this five years ago what can we say about his status now? no one has used the word cured. they have said they don't see any cancer in his body. how do you describe it? >> well, not necessarily pertaining to his case per se, but for any individual that has stage four disease, meaning that

it's -- it has spread to other -- another organ outside the colon or rectum, they can be cured with surgery, and that's what is the most important thing, i think, to keep in mind. the odds for an individual that cannot go to surgery are not as favorable as someone who goes to surgery. it is all favorable. within two years from surgical resection, that's the highest risk of recurrence. most individuals, we follow them out for at least five years, at that time point, you know, they may follow up with their own primary care doctor or come see us annually. so the risk of recurrence is extremely low usually at five years out. those patients who can't undergo surgery we follow on a regular basis. >> there's been a lot made of screening lately, some americans who should be screened for colon

cancer still aren't. we talk about this all the time on the program what would you say as someone who specializes in this area. obviously we know colon cancer doesn't have to be diagnosed at such an advanced stage as it was with mr. cain, for example, what do you tell people about early detection and prevention in general? >> okay. so, the one thing i want people to keep in mind, number one, colon cancer is a very common cancer. it's the third most common cancer here in the u.s. it's actually even a global problem. the average age of the individual is 70 this all starts off with a polyp which is a noncancerous growth, it takes about five to ten years to become a tumor or cancer. the best way to prevent this is screening. that's usually with the colonoscopy. people tend to forget that 70% of all colorectal cancers are due to something that happens sporadically and it's important to get screened if they get the

colonoscopy or any other test to diagnose this early on t can save their lives. this is a preventable cancer compared to other cancers, such as breast cancer and prostate cancer. colon cancer is probably the most curable cancer. >> dr. cathy eng, thank you very much. >> thank you so much for having me here. >> thank you. coming up, true courage. against all odds these two brothers built one of the world's most successful programs to fight aids. they did it in iran. it got them sent to prison and it became a worldwide cause. we'll explain. a cnn exclusive. that's next. my name is robin.

i'm a wife, i'm a mom... and chantix worked for me. it's a medication i could take and still smoke,

while it built up in my system. [ male announcer ] along with support, chantix is proven to help people quit smoking. it reduces the urge to smoke. some people had changes in behavior, thinking or mood, hostility, agitation, depressed mood and suicidal thoughts or actions while taking or after stopping chantix. if you notice any of these, stop taking chantix and call your doctor right away. tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems, which could get worse while taking chantix. don't take chantix if you've had a serious allergic or skin reaction to it. if you develop these, stop taking chantix and see your doctor right away as some can be life-threatening. if you have a history of heart or blood vessel problems, tell your doctor if you have new or worse symptoms. get medical help right away if you have symptoms of a heart attack. use caution when driving or operating machinery. common side effects include nausea, trouble sleeping and unusual dreams. my inspiration for quitting were my sons. they were my little cheering squad. [ laughs ] [ male announcer ] ask your doctor if chantix is right for you. [ guy ] ring, ring. progresso... i love your new loaded potato with bacon. that's what we like to hear.

ring, ring. progresso... ...switch our phone service? ...no, i think we're pretty happy with our phones. [ male announcer ] progresso. you gotta taste this soup. you know, i like to talk with doctors who work in some tough places. two brothers, kamiar and arash alaei worked on aids and three years ago it got them sent to prison. first kamiar was sent free and then arash who finally made it

to the united states just this week. you literally are seeing each other for the first time in over three years. you were imprisoned. you got out about three years ago, right, kamiar? you are just flying back to the states now. it's a strict society. i think that's safe to say, right? a lot of people watching now have never been to iran. they don't know what it's like. you both do. how -- we're going to talk about what specifically led to imprisonment, but how strict was it? if you say, look, i'm a doctor i want to take care of patients with hiv/aids, i want to do need needle exchange programs because it can save lives, what do you do? >> we wanted to clarify this was not due to inappropriate programs. we rephrased when they said are you working with the sex workers? we said, no, we are working with women -- >> some was the presentation of language?

>> and the rephrasing. alcohol is prohibited, you can drink water but alcohol to save your life. condom is bad, but hiv is worse, so let's have condom. >> did you say i will go to prison for the work i want to do? did that cross your mind? >> maybe. >> because you -- >> maybe, because, you know, at that time they didn't like to accept any activity with hiv/aids from religious people and government site. when were in prison, we saw different response from prisoner and imprisonment. so maybe. >> what is the reaction from the government now? >> as you know, at the beginning when we started, there were more programs there was an opportunity that we could do a community-based.

when the new administration came and said we don't have high-risk behaviors, we don't have gays, other high-risk behaviors, the people who felt they were at risk, this was less likely they go to the clinics. >> when we started the program, it was reformist party duration, so they accept our program and they gave us the atmosphere to present our program and we have been in schools and universities to present and to expanding education in the field of hiv and aids. when it shifts from reformist to conservative, they close all programs in universities and students. so by this way i think step by step they are going to go to close program for aids, not only for hiv/aids but for open societies. >> what was the specific charge, though, against you? if you are doctors, still

ultimately trying to take care of your patients what do they say you're being charged with? >> that was the issue. they said communication. >> what does that mean? >> they call it article 508, which they can say if you have any communication with enemy governments to overthrow. but it's -- you know there is a way -- >> was there any truth to any of that? >> no. all we did was help raise the issues, and make it transparent that was the issue. we got shocked, after eight months, investigation, in solitaire for months, we went to court, they said you had this? i said all we did was transparent. but, you know, we had only ten minutes in the trial. >> what was the experience like? >> this is the thing between the prison staff and the -- some officials that they put prisoners under pressure. so we are suffering a lot for eight months. two months in solitaire, six months living with drug dealers.

but inside the prison we try to help and motivate prisoners to wash their hands after using bathroom, have morning exercise. we encourage them to, you know -- some prisoners who knew other languages, educate english. i learned spanish in prison. >> that right? >> because i wanted to help latinos. we wanted to motivate the prisoners not have another prison inside the prisoners. we had a line for smoking and nonsmoking in the yard. >> these are things -- >> yeah. after eight months, minister of interior got fed up so they moved us to bakery, so i work on the chicken and bakery. so i realized bread, let's have healthier bread. we motivated prisoners to wash the walls, wash the grounds, to clean, no smoking there. we continue. this is the message. >> even in prison you were

giving out these messages. >> if you believe in your work, if it's believed by the government or not, keep going to the end of your life. >> that's an incredible message. >> they cannot change the mind of the people. maybe they can put us in prison, but they cannot change the mind of people. >> the first thing in prison, you think you're forgotten, especially your family. when you see thousands of e-mails and message s come, it hut touches your heart. >> that gies me goosebumps. doctor, doctor u y, you guys ar doing some very good work. very inspiring. >> we'll have more on iran this weekend. "fareed zakaria gps" will interview mahmoud ahmadinejad. that will be from tehran that is sunday at 10:00 a.m. eastern. still ahead here, take a look at this kid. any guesses on who it might be? the answer when we come back.

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♪ recognize those guys? some classic "saturday night live there" lunch lady land. we will have much more on school lunches in a second. first the answer to that question i 57 ygive you the anso the question i asked before the break. recognize this little guy? that's me back in elementary school in michigan. i'm sharing this picture to have a little fun and because i really do want to talk about the school lunches and how important they are for so many american kids. a topic important to us. the school lunch program began during the great depression. during that time the government bought food from farmers to help keep them afloat during the tough economic times. it also helped feed kids who weren't getting enough to eat. it all made perfect sense. but we all know what happened to our kids' lunchrooms now addaes, pizza, fries, soda, sweets, way

too often. the outside vendors coming in the school budgets could no longer keep up. i wanted to know what they were serving at my old high school, buchanan elementary. on monday they'll be serving popcorn chicken with carrot coins on are a chef salad with a muffin, but part of the problem is how many kids will go for the salad? there's also a nutrition card incidentally available every day with each entree, you get a choice of fresh fruits, veggies, and take a look at this, full lunch price, still pretty low, not quite as low as i remember at $3.25, a reduced lunch only cost 40 cents. lots to talk about. joining me is someone who is trying to make choice for our schoolchildren all across the country, the founder of the group called urban farming they build garden in urban areas where fresh produce is not available. this is something we've been

beating a drum on for some time. i'm so glad you are doing this. you're a recording artist, how did you get started in this area? >> well, i was recording a cd for sony in detroit, michigan, and i started to become acquainted with all the job loss in that city and the vast amounts of unused land in the city and i put my music career on the back burner, and i started an organization called urban farming. in 2005. and what we do is we plant food on unused land and space and we give it to people and we encourage others to plant food as well. >> that's good. >> so, we started in 2005 with three gardens, you know, a pamphlet and $5,000 and now we have over 50,000 residential and community gardens across the country and abroad. >> and they're not just for schoolchildren, right? i mean, you're trying to use the gardens in a way to help the entire community? >> absolutely. i mean, our goal is to get rid of hunger in our generation and

there are many things that we do to achieve that goal. but certainly putting gardens at schools and after-school facilities is a big thing, and we intersect with the childhood obesity issue and so, you know, our gardens are a learning experience for the children and for adults. and it's really interesting to see what happens on these gardens when the youth become, you know, they come out to the garden and become familiar with planting, and, you know, i mean, i've seen a lot. we've actually had students particularly students that are from the city that have never really had a chance to see where their food comes from. you know, it's sort of an interesting responses. we had one 17-year-old who asked her teacher, she pointed to an eggplant and said, what's that? and the teacher said that's an eggplant. and she said, is that where eggs come from? and so it's -- you know, it's

bittersweet, it's sad, you know, but at least she learned that day where eggs come from and where they don't come from. >> again, i'm glad you're doing this. i hope we can catch up with you again. wish you the best of luck. thanks. >> thank you so much. thank you. and up next i'll introduce you to a young man who literally cuts himself in half. his weight that is. we'll see how he overcame obesity, shed half his body weight and we can all learn from this. ills. the afternoon tour begins with more pain and more pills. the evening guests arrive. back to sore knees. back to more pills. the day is done but hang on... her doctor recommended aleve. just 2 pills can keep arthritis pain away all day with fewer pills than tylenol. this is lara who chose 2 aleve and fewer pills for a day free of pain. [ female announcer ] get an aleve coupon in this sunday's paper.

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just having some tender chicken and some tasty noodles. let's see...south western vegetables...60 calories. ya' know those jeans look nice. they do? yup. so you were checking me out? yup. [ male announcer ] progresso. 40 soups 100 calories or less. welcome back. this morning i want to introduce you to a teenager who through sheer will and the support of his family overcame morbid obesity. he lost half his body weight. he's now on a mission to help others.

>> reporter: at 18 taylor lebaron is already an accomplished author. last year he wrote a book called "cutting myself in half." it's about his battle with childhood obesity. you see, he was always a chubby kid. in grade school he was constantly teased and picked on. >> people just they put me down for, you know, no reason other than the fact that i have a weight issue. >> reporter: as a teen a walk to the mailbox left him short of breath, lightheaded. he already had high blood pressure. one day he stepped on a scale and got what he says was the shock of his life. >> and the number was 297 pounds and i'm 14 years old and i'm alone in this room and i'm, like, oh, my goodness, i'm not even an adult and i weigh more than 300 pounds. >> reporter: frightened, he immediately stopped eating junk food and he began to count his calories. he started exercising at home, taking long walks.

an avid video gamer, he made up a game to track how much he was eating and how much he was exercising. four months later unhappy with his progress, he started going to the ymca to work out. eventually the weight started coming off. >> the gym membership is really what made everything click together and that was the other half of what i needed to do in order to change. >> reporter: and the payoff was big. in 18 months, taylor shed 150 pounds. >> i did a pretty good job. >> okay. >> reporter: today taylor is a freshman at washington college in maryland. he's healthy. he's fit. it was a long, hard-fought battle, one that he now shares with kids when speaking at schools about obesity. >> my goal is to be able to help on other kids get their weight under control. everyone deserves to be amazingly amazing and i really think that if you believe in