MSI Press Blog

Most people think of cancer as something dramatic — a lump, a sudden collapse, a terrifying scan. But cancer rarely begins with drama. It begins with whispers. And one of the quietest, most easily dismissed places the body whispers is the urinary tract. We are trained, culturally, to ignore urinary problems. We blame dehydration, aging, “a little infection,” stress, or simply being busy. We wait. We hope it will go away. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn’t. And sometimes those early urinary changes are the first hints of something deeper. This post is about those hints — not to frighten, but to illuminate. 1. Blood in the urine: the most important sign we ignore If there is one urinary symptom that should never be brushed aside, it is hematuria — blood in the urine, visible or microscopic. Blood in the urine can signal: Bladder cancer Kidney cancer Ureteral cancer Prostate cancer (less commonly as the first sign) Advanced cervical or uterine cancer (when they invade nearby stru...

  Hypercalcemia is a serious but treatable complication of cancer. It occurs when calcium levels in the blood rise too high, often signaling advanced disease. Recognizing its symptoms and understanding its causes can help patients and caregivers respond quickly. 🩺 What is Hypercalcemia? Hypercalcemia means higher-than-normal calcium levels in the blood . Calcium is essential for strong bones, muscle movement, nerve signaling, and heart rhythm. But when levels climb too high, the body’s systems are disrupted, leading to dangerous complications. 🎯 Which Cancers Are Linked to Hypercalcemia? Hypercalcemia is most often seen in advanced cancers . The cancers most commonly associated include: Breast cancer Bone cancer Lung cancer Kidney cancer Prostate cancer Multiple myeloma Leukemia and lymphoma Head and neck cancers Gastrointestinal cancers 🔬 How Does It Happen? Cancer can cause hypercalcemia through several mechanisms: Bone metastases : Tumors spread to bone, re...

  Cancer Diary: The Quiet Cancer There’s been a surge of interest lately in prostate cancer, due in part to the news about President Joe Biden’s health. I don’t know much about the specifics of his case, but the topic itself is an important one—and very often a quietly handled one, sometimes too quietly. Years ago, our parish priest confided in me—somewhat accidentally—that he had prostate cancer. What struck me most wasn’t the diagnosis, but the emotion attached to it: he was embarrassed . He didn’t want the congregation to know. I suppose he feared it was too private, too bodily, or too undignified to talk about. But I urged him to tell people. Not only did they have a right to know, they would want to know. They’d want to support him. He ended up doing just that. And I think, in the end, he was glad he did. People came out of the woodwork—not only to offer encouragement, but to share their own stories of prostate cancer and survival. Two parishioners even volunteered to drive h...