WHO IS CATHY JAMISON?

Mild, conservative Minneapolis wife and mother Cathy Jamison's life got a major shock when she received a terminal cancer diagnosis. She let her freak flag fly, then got serious about checking things off her bucket list and fighting the disease with everything she's got. Now that she's in remission, Cathy's lease on life changes for good. But will her family and friends be able to keep up with her?

To learn more about Cathy and the people in her life, check out the show's cast and characters.

What Have I Missed So Far?

Upon learning about her illness, Cathy decides it is her turn to act up, confronting her immature husband, spoiled son, and her selectively homeless and wildly outspoken brother. She forms new, unlikely bonds with her grouchy neighbor Marlene, saucy student Andrea, and neurotic friend Rebecca. She also decides to forgo treatment and live her life to the fullest each day. But once the truth comes out about her diagnosis and Marlene suddenly takes her own life, Cathy changes her mind. The first season ends with Cathy submitting to a grueling experimental treatment whose outcome is far from certain.

In Season 2, Cathy enters the clinical trial conducted by a charismatic doctor (Alan Alda) and becomes extremely close friends with a fellow patient named Lee (Hugh Dancy); suffering from career problems, Paul conceals that he is becoming addicted to cocaine; Adam's shameful behavior with a girl he's interested in has negative consequences for his whole family; Rebecca and Sean are expecting a baby but Sean's eccentricity is revealed to be a serious mental illness; and Andrea meets a Ukrainian immigrant who romances her in hopes of securing a green card.

Want to know what is in store for Season 3? Watch this video and find out. Need more? Catch up on all the storylines with episode summaries and show scenes.

When Can I Watch The Show?

The 3rd season of THE BIG C premieres Sunday, April 8 at 9:30 PM ET/PT, right after the Season 4 premiere of NURSE JACKIE. Catch encore episodes throughout the week, On Demand and on Showtime Anytime®. Order SHOWTIME® now and you can get $25 cash back!* For complete program information, including On Demand info, visit the series schedule page. To sample the best of Showtime, watch a full episode of The Big C now.

*All qualified $25 claims will be paid in the form of a $25 Visa prepaid debit card. Offer expires 12/31/12. Available to new Showtime subscribers only.