MSI Press Blog

  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...

There is a growing number of blogs for patients of cancers and their caregivers. A number of them are listed on the webpage for Carl's Cancer Compendium (link below). Here is one of my favorites: Cancer Support Community  ( logo above)). While not focused in particular on cancer, Barbara Karnes blog on end-of-life issues is particularly relevant and very good:  Something to Think About: a blog on end of life – BK Books For other Cancer Diary posts, click  HERE . Blog editor's note: As a memorial to Carl, and simply because it is truly needed, MSI Press is now hosting a web page,  Carl's Cancer Compendium , as a one-stop starting point for all things cancer, to make it easier for those with cancer to find answers to questions that can otherwise take hours to track down on the Internet and/or from professionals. The CCC is expanded and updated weekly. As part of this effort, each week, on Monday, this blog will carry an informative, cancer-related story -- and be open ...

 So often there is complete shock after getting a cancer diagnosis, especially one in late stage 4. There is simply not enough time to learn everything you need to know while simultaneously coping with managing the medical, daily requirements just to stay alive. You need help! To learn about the disease, funding the fight, emotional matters, physical support, and so much more. It is out there -- by the time I found it, Carl had died (his fight was brief), but others do not have to struggle with finding support. Not only are there support groups, but there are whole support organizations with all kinds of information and resources. Cancer Support Community (logo above) and others are listed at Carl's Cancer Compendium (see link below). Here, as well, is some help caregivers:  Caregivers Guide to Cancer For other Cancer Diary posts, click  HERE . Blog editor's note: As a memorial to Carl, and simply because it is truly needed, MSI Press is now hosting a web page,  Carl...