MSI Press Blog

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is life-altering. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed, scared, and uncertain about the road ahead. While every journey is unique, there are several immediate steps you can take to prepare for the challenges and decisions that lie ahead. Here are some key actions to consider: 1. Understand Your Diagnosis Knowledge is power. Make sure you fully understand your diagnosis, including the type of cancer, stage, and potential treatment options. Ask your doctor questions such as: What type of cancer do I have? What stage is it, and what does that mean for my treatment? What treatment options are available to me? What are the potential side effects and risks? What is the expected timeline for treatment? Consider bringing a trusted friend or family member to appointments to help take notes and ask additional questions. 2. Find the Right Medical Team Choosing the right oncologist and medical team is crucial. Seek second opinions if necessary and look for a hospital or tr...

  With the rumors floating about these days, especially inside Russia, about Putin's health and a visiting oncologist, thyroid cancer is in the news. While I have no inside information (thyroid cancer? Parkinson's, growing old? all in the minds of the rumor mongers?) and therefore will not comment on Putin's state of health, I will note that Carl's Cancer Compendium recently fleshed out a fair amount of information related to thyroid cancer (which just might be helpful to people other than Putin who may be exhibiting some symptoms of one of the more treatable, if caught early, cancers). From the site: Thyroid cancer Definition : A cancer that develops in the cells of thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped gland located just below adam’s apple in the neck. It causes difficulty swallowing hoarseness, lump on the neck, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck.  Types  include Papillary  Thyroid Cancer Follicular  Thyroid Cancer Medullary  Thyroid Cancer Anaplastic ...

  Choosing hospice is choosing to die. That may sound like a stark statement, but it is, in my experience, a true one. Now, when confronted with cancer, one can choose to live at home, not receive treatment, and not be in hospice--at least, for most of the course of the disease. That is what my sister-in-law did. She chose to die naturally and not fight nature, in part because she had no insurance (and did not want to rack up major debt for her husband or jeopardize their life savings and house) and in as much part due to her religious beliefs. She did go on hospice during the last six weeks of her life; she needed medical attention, and the hospital, to which she was ambulanced, moved her to in-patient hospice as a compromise. She was placed in a very nice New Hampshire hospice, Hyder Family Hospice House , known simply as Hyder House. Not all hospices are this attentive, gentle with the family, well-appointed in interior ambience and amenities, or surrounded by such beautifu...

  You always hear about Stage 4 cancer...the scary stuff. Sometimes Stage 3. Rarely the other stages of cancer . Stage 4 is when we learned about Carl 's Cancer of Unknown Primary ; we hoped...while there really was no hope. What about Stage 1, though? Our neighbor just learned of a Stage 1 diagnosis, and her first response is to run away, ignore it, and, alternatively, to panic and tremble. So, I asked AI how should she respond? Here is what I got in response: While it's definitely concerning, stage 1 cancer is considered early-stage and highly treatable . The prognosis is generally very good, and many people go on to live healthy lives after treatment. Treatment options for stage 1 cancer typically include: Surgery : This is often the first line of treatment to remove the tumor. Depending on the type of cancer, a lumpectomy (removal of the tumor) or a more extensive surgery might be recommended. Radiation Therapy : This may be used after surgery to eliminate any remaining ca...

  This is a slightly different kind of Cancer Diary post. It is not sharing information but rather asking for it.  One of the MSI Press staff, who lives in Nigeria, sent a note yesterday: "Sadly, I have some bad news to share with you. My mother has been diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer that has now spread to the bone to cause  Spinal Metastasis ,  resulting in   a   fracture of the right femoral neck with the femoral head tilting into varus position and surrounding bone marrow and joint effusion. I was wondering if you know of any US-based not-for-profit organisation that helps women in Africa (especially in Nigeria) in this kind of condition with medical, counselling or financial assistance?  We are in need of medical assistance to manage my mother's condition. I was hoping that you can connect me with any such organisation to provide us with the best treatment options available. The medical expenses associated with ...

  check the American Cancer Society website for a ton of information about bone cancer Carl had bone cancer, one of the five cancers that took him out of this life. It was the bone cancer that caused him some of his greatest daily living problems because it caused frequent eruptions of hypercalcemia . One does not hear about bone cancer as often as some other cancers, but while probably the liver cancer was the most lethal (of Carl's cancers), bone cancer caused him the most anguish. Now, there appears to be some new treatment that is highly successful.  Read about it here:  Groundbreaking bone cancer treatment achieves 99% success rate (msn.com) . 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 c...