MSI Press Blog

  When Carl was diagnosed with cancer of unknown primary (CUP), we didn't know yet what that meant. We had never heard of it before. Even after we learned more, we still clung to hope—because that’s what the doctors appeared to be offering. But their actions told a different story. CUP is brutal. It's rare and aggressive, and statistically, not many people survive it. The median survival rate hovers around 6 to 12 months. Fewer than 20% of patients live longer than a year. And Carl didn’t have just one form of cancer—he had five types present. They still couldn’t tell where the cancer began. Now, looking back, I understand what the oncologist must have seen in those test results. I also understand why they still tried to sound hopeful. The treatment plans were delivered with upbeat tones: targeted therapies, potential clinical trials, aggressive chemo. But there were moments—small, seemingly innocuous moments—when the mask of optimism slipped. One doctor handed Carl an advance ...

  Memorial Day is more than a holiday for me—it’s a deeply personal day of remembrance, reflection, and gratitude. It holds significance for me in three ways, each carrying its own weight of emotion and meaning. First, as a veteran who served during the Vietnam Conflict, I take this day to honor those I knew—those who fought, those who sacrificed, and those whose lives were forever altered by their service. Some of my military friends never returned home, and others carried the burdens of war long after leaving the battlefield. Today, I remember them. Memorial Day, traditionally observed by visiting cemeteries, is an opportunity for all of us to pause and recognize their courage. That brings me to Carl. His grave is another stop I will make today—not for military service, but because he, too, was taken far too soon. Cancer of Unknown Primary was his battle, and although his illness wasn’t linked to war, I can’t help but think of the veterans—especially those who served during Vie...

  This being Veterans Day, it seemed like a good research question to find out what resources exist for vets with cancer. Here is the answer: 1. VA National Oncology Program (NOP) The VA NOP provides comprehensive cancer care for veterans, including diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship support. They offer various services such as precision oncology, teleoncology, and clinical trials 2 . 2. CancerCare CancerCare offers support services for veterans, including financial assistance, counseling, and support groups. They also provide information on health care services and resources tailored for veterans 1 . 3. American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society provides resources specifically for veterans, including information on cancer risks, health care services, support groups, and financial assistance. They also offer a 24/7 helpline for cancer-related questions and support 3 . 4. Disabled American Veterans (DAV) DAV helps veterans connect with health care, disability, employmen...

Carl always fought obesity. He was at the very limit for body donation (his desire) when he died. A few months before being diagnosed with five kinds of cancer (aggregately known as cancer of unknown primary), Carl lost 50 pounds. As can be seen in the photo above, he was pretty proud of that. He always wished he could weigh less but was never willing to put in the effort to lose weight. Our daughter-in-law's antennae went up when she asked him what he had done to lose the weight, and he responded, "Nothing." That indeed should have tipped us off to a massive problem. But it was covid, and celebrating small things, like losing weight (even without effort) seemed a good thing, not a bad thing. Two months after that picture was taken, Carl fell, was taken to the hospital, and got the cancer diagnosis -- way too late to do anything about it. It is no surprise, then, that my doctor (Carl's former doctor) was concerned when between two visits (four months apart), I had los...