Brian Blum
Brian Blum is a freelance writer, journalist and editor. He works for an eclectic mix of newspapers, online magazines, universities, non-profit organizations and public companies. "This Normal Life," his personal blog, has appeared weekly since 2002. A former hi-tech entrepreneur, Brian moved to Jerusalem from the San Francisco Bay Area in 1994 with his wife and three children. More at Blum Interactive Media
'A coma of denial: A cancer patient's struggle with facing mortality - opinion
Cloudy with a chance of missiles: A cancer patient's bad diagnosis during war - opinion
This is your brain on magic mushrooms: My first experience with psilocybin - opinion
Could consciousness last forever? - opinion
Compare consciousness to a radio. You can smash the radio and the music stops, but that doesn’t mean the music came from the radio.
Words matter: How we speak about cancer can hinder healing - opinion
"Nearly every conversation – be it in person, via WhatsApp, or other types of Internet communication – is not really about me. It’s about consoling you."
The full Monty: When dog and owner are both battling cancer - opinion
For both of us, a sinister countdown had started.
To pee or not to pee: A cancer patient's experience with a nephrostomy - opinion
I’m looking forward to when my cancer is entirely gone, the nephrostomy is no longer needed, and I can pee like the rest of humanity again.
Indulging in TV: A cancer patient's escape - opinion
I’d much rather be outdoors hiking or having fun beyond the telly – I hope that will come back. In the meantime, TV it is.
Fighting cancer: How a hospital stay at Hadassah feels like an international flight - opinion
I envisioned hospitalization as being somewhat akin to taking an international flight to an exotic location.
When cancer treatment goes wrong: An irreversibly damaged kidney and worsened lymphoma - opinion
The stent hadn’t helped after all; the impacted kidney had, in fact, been irreversibly damaged and was now functioning at a paltry 20%. Why? The cancer was back, and worse.
My first fentanyl: What it was like being sedated by the infamous narcotic - opinion
Fentanyl has long been used for pain reduction and sedation in medical settings.
Horrors and heroes: Reasons to bless the bad that came from Oct. 7 - opinion
The Mishna suggests that even the most personal of tragedies can and should receive a blessing.
8 essential English-language podcasts to understand Israel's war - opinion
Here are eight essential English-language podcasts that have kept me in the know.