The Late Eddie Money's Estate Files Suit
- Singer Eddie Money passed of esophageal cancer in 2019 and his estate has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.
- This year, there will be approximately 18,440 new esophageal cancer cases diagnosed in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
- Coping with the loss of a loved one to cancer can be made easier by taking advantage of tools like therapy and support groups.
Understanding Esophageal Cancer
Money discovered his cancer during a routine check-up at the doctor when he was 70 years old. His esophageal cancer had spread to his liver and his lymph nodes, which meant it had metastasized and advanced to stage 4 esophageal cancer. When he was first diagnosed he was optimistic, but also realistic. The singer talked about his diagnosis on video and said, “What I don't want to do is I don't want to keep the fact that I have cancer from everybody. It's not honest,” said Money. “I want to be honest with everybody. I want people to know that cancer has come a long way and not everybody dies from cancer like they did in the Fifties and Sixties. Am I going to live a long time? Who knows? It's in God's hands."Esophageal cancer is more common among men than women. The risk of esophageal cancer for men in the U.S. is 1 in 125, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). In 2020, there will be approximately 18,440 new esophageal cancer cases diagnosed in the U.S.
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This cancer makes up only 1% of cancers diagnosed in the U.S., and it’s more common in other parts of the world, such as China and India. Survival rates for esophageal cancer have improved over the years as treatments for the disease have improved.
Some people confuse esophageal cancer and throat cancer. The ACS reports that the cause of most esophageal cancers is unknown (though some risk factors, like tobacco use, can increase the likelihood of getting this cancer). Whereas human papillomavirus (HPV) is a known cause of throat cancer.
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Coping with Cancer Loss
Losing a loved one to cancer is earth-shattering, and grief-filled. It’s important to be gentle with yourself as you grieve this loss. Everyone grieves at their own pace, and these things take time. Coping with loss can be made easier with resources like therapy and support groups.
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Camila Legaspi was in high school when she lost her mom to breast cancer. To cope with this tragic loss, Legaspi decided to seek the help of a therapist. In an earlier interview, Legaspi told us, “Therapy saved my life. I was dealing with some really intense anxiety and depression at that point. It just changed my life, because I was so drained by all the negativity that was going on. Going to a therapist helped me realize that there was still so much out there for me, that I still had my family, that I still had my siblings. The reality is, is when you lose someone, it’s really, really, really hard. And it’s totally OK to talk to someone. And I’m so happy that I talked to my therapist.”
Related: A Major Step in the Cancer Journey: Learning to Deal With Vulnerability
Legaspi urges other to try to stay positive in the face of pain. She said, “Keep your chin up, and it’s going to be OK. No matter what happens, it’s going to be OK. There are so many of us that have gone through the same thing that you’re going through. And, together, we’re all going to get through it.”
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