Remembering Revolutionary Jazz Musician John Coltrane Who Passed from Liver Cancer 54 Years Ago; What Are the Symptoms of This Disease?

Coltrane was just 40 years old when he passed of this disease. The North Carolina native carved out an incredible body of work in his short time on earth. The saxophonist and composer not only put out his own work, but he also appeared on many albums by fellow jazz musicians like the great Miles Davis and Thelonius Monk.

Coltrane was a renaissance man; his acclaimed 1960s albums A Love Supreme and Ascension put him on the music map in a big way, and he hasn’t left it since, even after his death. Coltrane received a posthumous Pulitzer Prize in 2007, and his work is still heard and played throughout popular culture today.

Understanding Liver Cancer

Liver cancer affects approximately 42,000 Americans per year, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Causes of this disease may include excessive alcohol consumption or a family history of liver cancer.

Related: Remembering Allen Ginsberg, The Groundbreaking Poet Who Died at Age 70 Shortly after Being Diagnosed with Liver Cancer

Several different types of liver cancer exist, and the most common is hepatocellular carcinoma. Symptoms of this disease may include abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, decrease or loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea and jaundice.

What To Do When Colon Cancer Spreads to the Liver

Coping with the Loss of a Loved One

Whether it’s your favorite musician, or a close family member, losing a loved one to cancer is never easy. Many people find comfort in formal support resources such as therapy or support groups.

Camila Legaspi lost her mom when she was in high school, and she credits therapy with helping her through that difficult time. “Therapy saved my life,” says Legaspi in an earlier interview. “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.”

Therapy allowed Legaspi to keep things in perspective. “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,” she says. “The reality is, is when you lose someone, it’s really, really, really hard. And it’s totally OK to talk to someone.”

"Therapy Saved My Life": After Losing A Loved One, Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help

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