MSI Press Blog

  The Financial Aspects of Dying: Responsibilities, Expenses, and Emotional Decisions Facing the end of life brings a unique set of emotional and financial challenges. For many, managing expenses during this time can become overwhelming, as the responsibilities of ensuring comfort and care often clash with the reality of dwindling resources. The emotional weight of this period can lead to decisions that, though comforting in the moment, may not always be financially logical. Understanding the costs and responsibilities involved in this stage of life is essential for navigating it with clarity. One of the first financial responsibilities is the cost of adapting a home to accommodate the needs of a person who is ill or elderly. These adaptations can range from simple, affordable fixes—like purchasing a towel for extra grip—to more expensive, long-term investments such as a chair lift. A towel, for example, might be used cleverly to help someone pull themselves up from a seated positi...

  Today’s entry is for those whose cancer journeys don’t end with one diagnosis—or even one kind of cancer. My friend has been battling breast cancer for over five years. She’s endured a double mastectomy and the removal of all reproductive organs. Now, she faces surgery for melanoma. I, too, have had cancer—adenocarcinoma removed from my face. But our paths, while both marked by courage, stress, and trepidation, differ in ways that matter. 🔍 Understanding the Differences Type of Cancer : Breast cancer and melanoma are biologically distinct. Breast cancer originates in breast tissue, often hormone-sensitive. Melanoma begins in pigment-producing skin cells and is known for its potential to spread quickly. Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that forms in mucus-secreting glands. Mine was localized and removed surgically. Extent of Disease : My cancer was caught early and treated definitively. My friend’s experience is systemic and ongoing. Her body has endured multiple ...

  When Carl was dying, it seemed like we were very much alone. We begged the hospital to hook us up with various kinds of support. They said they were trying, but nothing ever happened, not before Carl died. The leftover "bruises" pushed me to continue thinking about the question of support systems, to set up Carl's Cancer Consortium and the Cancer Diary Monday blog posts. Here is the latest in my knowledge and thinking: Support Systems for Cancer Patients: Existence and Accessibility Support systems for cancer patients do exist, but their availability largely depends on where you live and how well you know the resources available to you. In some areas, robust networks of support—ranging from medical teams to social services, community groups, and patient advocacy organizations—are readily accessible. However, in other places, these resources may be sparse or difficult to locate. Finding them often takes time, something cancer patients and their families may not have. The...

  Emergencies don’t always come with flashing lights. Sometimes, they come with silence. My son—45, living with CHARGE Syndrome—was eating in a booth at Fosters Freeze when he began choking. He stopped talking and sat perfectly still, rigid. A super example of hyperactivity, he does not know to sit still; this was not normal. Then, his body turned rubbery. His skin changed color. His eyes locked and rolled back. He wasn’t breathing. We were the only customers. I asked twice— please call 911 . No one moved. And so, I stopped speaking. I stopped asking. I did what decades of caring for him trained me to do. I tried to save him. He was wedged into the booth. I couldn’t lift him out—I couldn’t fully lift him at all. I managed to pull him partway out, enough to get his head hanging down over the bench. I hit his back, again and again, and waited for breath to return. It took minutes. I’m not sure how many—time doesn’t tick normally when your child is blue. Eventually, his lungs be...