Category Archives: So, You Got the News

Terminal Sedation at the End of Life

When a person is dying, sedation is sometimes the only way to ease unbearable suffering

“Be calm. God awaits you at the door.” ― Gabriel García Márquez, “Love in the Time of Cholera” Margaret was what I like to refer to as a “feisty” woman. Born in the United States of German-born parents, she held strong … Continue reading

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Is It Grief or Depression? A Terminal Illness Can Lead to Both

It can be very hard to pinpoint the source of psychological distress

Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help … Continue reading

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Alex Trebek, Cancer, and the Language of Life-Limiting Illness

Who decides how a man who’s just been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer "should" behave?

“Living with a terminal disease is like walking on a tightrope over an insanely scary abyss. But then living without disease is also like walking on a tightrope over an insanely scary abyss, only with some fog or cloud cover … Continue reading

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When Is the Right Time for Hospice Care?

Many patients living with serious illnesses wait far too long to ask for help

“Queenie Hennessy – ‘I am here to die.’ Sister Mary Inconnue – ‘Pardon me but you are here to live until you die. There is a significant difference.”’ ― Rachel Joyce, The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy In an … Continue reading

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When You Can’t Afford the Care You Need

What happens to the people who are falling through the holes in our safety net

In poverty and other misfortunes of life, true friends are a sure refuge. ~ Aristotle Today, the term “terminal illness” is something of a misnomer for many once fatal illnesses. While it’s true that many people with life-limiting illnesses like … Continue reading

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Palliative Care Is Not Giving Up

Helping patients live the best life possible should always be the goal of care

While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die ~Leonardo da Vinci Recently, I read an op-ed in the Washington Post written by Dr. Isaac Chan, a medical oncology fellow at the … Continue reading

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