MSI Press Blog

  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...

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...

  🦴 How Bone Cancer Triggers Hypercalcemia Hypercalcemia in cancer is often caused by bone metastases —when cancer cells invade bone tissue and stimulate osteoclasts , the cells that break down bone. This breakdown releases calcium stored in the bones into the blood. The more aggressive or widespread the bone involvement, the higher the risk. There are two main pathways: Direct bone destruction : Seen in cancers like multiple myeloma, breast, lung, and prostate cancer that metastasize to bone. Paraneoplastic hormone production : Some tumors produce parathyroid hormone–related peptide (PTHrP) or excess calcitriol (vitamin D) , which also increase calcium levels. 🧬 Cancers Most Likely to Cause Hypercalcemia via Bone Involvement Multiple myeloma : Directly affects bone marrow and causes extensive bone breakdown. Breast cancer : Frequently metastasizes to bone. Lung cancer : Can cause hypercalcemia through both bone metastases and PTHrP production. Prostate cancer : Often...