Resources and support for families dealing with cancer and serious illness

Huge thanks to @ Angela Wright for the quick reply and the PM! 🙂
I know I should be acting as normal as possible, but it’s really bugging me because my schedule is just so wonky right now. Due to some stuff going on, I’m barely home—usually only after 9 PM, sometimes even later, and then I’m out the door by 8 AM. I know he really loves it when I'm actually around so we can just hang out and talk... 😢 He’s being super calm lately. I don't know if "normal" is the right word, since he's way more chill than usual, which is pretty weird because he's naturally a bit of a high-strung guy...
Anyway, thanks again! I'll reach out as soon as I catch a break...
Hey everyone!

Carol Edwards81, we went through something very similar with my mother. They actually found some spots on her liver, and when they went to perform the CT scan, she suffered a horrific anaphylactic shock from the iodine contrast... please, be extremely careful during any diagnostic testing. We opted to handle everything privately—both the colonoscopy and the CT—so we could move faster. Once the pathology results came back and they pinpointed exactly where the issue was, she was in surgery within two weeks. Your father really needs to get onto that operating table as soon as possible. Just stay strong... if they see anything at all on the liver (my mom just has cysts and a hemangioma), they won't rule out the possibility of metastasis until he is actually "on the table" and they can examine everything thoroughly. Fortunately, it wasn't more than a bowel resection, which is, let's say, a relatively routine procedure. However, the postoperative complications were absolutely brutal; I was already losing my mind from the stress, and she had lost twenty pounds while stuck in bed. The recovery process was incredibly grueling for both of us, but here she is now—she's practically jumping around the house 😁. Truthfully, God willing, she isn't quite her old self yet, but recovery for something like this is a massive undertaking that takes about a year and a half. Her prognosis was initially very grim, but in the end, she didn't even need chemotherapy, so you truly never know with these things. Just take it one step at a time and stay brave!!! Please, give him all the support you can and try to be by his side as much as possible; it means the world to them, and honestly, I think that’s the most important part of the whole journey. Wishing you the best!

It's honestly so great that your mom is feeling energized and bouncing around right now😁
Doesn't matter how long it takes, as long as everything turns out perfect in the end...
Dad already set up an appointment with the surgeon for Monday, so we're really hoping things move fast...

If everything keeps acting up and giving us all a hard time like it used to 😁 . Everything is going to turn out fine, no matter what happens, we just have to take it one day at a time. Keeping my fingers crossed... 🙂

It appears that there is nothing of substance to convey at this moment... says:
😢

It is one thing to find a certain grim amusement when reading about someone else's predicament, but when I stop to consider that we might be facing the exact same fate... well, it truly leaves me feeling quite nauseous...
The absolute worst part of my day is when we’re on the phone and he spends half an hour just spinning his wheels in circles... repeating the exact same points over and over again, all while drifting into completely irrelevant tangents and conveniently forgetting the most critical details, leaving me to sit there pretending I follow every single word and that everything he's saying is actually brilliant...🙄
God, please grant us patience...🙏

Believe me when I say that as the date approaches for Mom to head back to Austin for her testing, I am gripped by this creeping dread... a fear that after three months since her last visit, they might discover some kind of recurrence, effectively forcing us to start this entire grueling battle from square one. It’s also quite selfish of me to admit how much easier it feels to read about everyone else's struggles while... well, I look at Mom and see how fragile and disoriented she still is, struggling even to hold a coherent conversation over the phone or in person like this. We just have to keep believing and keep fighting... kisses.

Hello again. I’ve spent quite a bit of time scouring the internet, trying to digest everything I could find, but things have taken a rather serious turn, and the situation has become significantly more complicated. My father managed to pull through his initial brain aneurysm surgery quite successfully, and for a while, his recovery seemed relatively swift. However, about a week ago, he had to undergo a second procedure—this one was purely a life-saving measure because the initial repair on the aneurysm wasn't quite sufficient. During this second operation, they had to remove a clot that had formed following the rupture of that same aneurysm. He is in much worse shape now, though he is attempting a slow recovery. The doctors are already anticipating yet another surgery—a reoperation—on that very same aneurysm. I suppose I wanted to reach out and ask if anyone here might know what the odds are of him pulling through this, or if there is any hope that he might see some semblance of normalcy afterward, or if we should be bracing for significant lasting consequences. I am mostly just asking because I wondered if anyone had dealt with something similar within their own family; the medical staff here have been incredibly guarded, providing almost no information at all. I realize I'm asking a great deal, but thank you all in advance.

Timothy Perez86 said:Hey, it's me again. I've read everything I could find online, following it to a T. But things have taken a serious turn because everything just got so complicated. My dad survived his first brain aneurysm surgery and recovered pretty quickly. However, about a week ago, they took him back in for another procedure—it was purely a life-saving measure because the initial repair on that aneurysm wasn't done correctly. During this second surgery, they had to remove a clot that formed during the initial rupture. He’s in much worse shape now, though he is slowly recovering. They’re predicting he’ll need yet another re-operation on that same aneurysm. I wanted to ask if anyone knows what his chances are of pulling through, and if he’ll be able to normalize at least a little bit afterward, or if there might be major lasting consequences. I'm just asking because if anyone has dealt with this in their family, please let me know; the doctors are being very guarded and aren't giving us much information. I know I'm asking a lot, but thanks in advance.

Man. 😢 It sounds like they really put him through the wringer. Personally, my experiences have been quite positive. When my mom had surgery for her glioblastoma, she shared a room with three other women who were all there for aneurysm surgeries. One of them actually lost her sight because the aneurysm was positioned right against the optic nerve. Her doctor gave her a choice: go in immediately knowing those risks, or wait a few months for the hospital to get new equipment for a newer type of procedure that carried fewer complications. That woman had three young kids with no one else to look after them, so she chose to get it over with right away—and it looks like she missed the mark, because she ended up spending another month in a rehabilitation facility after the surgery.
All the other women handled their surgeries beautifully without any complications.
Ivanna, there are so many variables at play here. No two people are the same, and no two aneurysms are in the same spot. On top of that, the skill level and experience of the surgeons make a massive difference.
My advice? Get hold of all his medical records and seek a second opinion before they cut him open again.
Opening the skull is inherently high-risk; any time you're messing with the brain, you're playing with life itself. I've always gotten the impression that neurosurgeons try to fix as much as possible during a single opening.
If your dad pulls through all of this, he’ll likely need some serious recovery time and rehab at a specialized center, because it seems inevitable that all this tinkering with the brain will cause some neurological glitches. Plenty of people have to relearn how to walk, talk, read, or do basic math... anything can happen (though my mom didn't end up with any issues, for instance), but modern rehabilitation is actually quite effective.
Don't panic and go running around asking people if he'll survive or not, because only God knows the answer to that. What you *can* do is ensure that your dad is under the care of the best possible doctor available.

Hey everyone,

So, I finally decided to sign up for this forum... I've been scouring the internet looking for info, help, advice, or just some shred of hope, and somehow I ended up here...
Basically, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer just under a year ago. They had to do a full mastectomy, but unfortunately, it spread to the nearby lymph nodes... which put her at Stage III. She’s already been through chemo and radiation, but during a checkup about a month ago, her markers shot through the roof. After running all the tests, it turns out the cancer has metastasized to her liver. She starts a new round of chemo this Thursday—Taxotere combined with Xeloda. I’ve done my homework on it, and people say Xeloda is a "smart, effective drug," but while digging around, I stumbled upon the stuff you really don't want to read... things like 5-year survival rates and all that grim stuff...
Trying to wrap my head around all of this is exhausting. Since there isn't a cure and the goal is really just improving or maybe slightly extending her quality of life, I came across Biobran (I've seen it online, and honestly, I've heard whispers about it over the last year while Mom's been fighting this)...
I wanted to ask if anyone here actually has experience using Biobran? Specifically, does anyone know if she can take it while she's undergoing chemo, or should she wait until the cycle is finished? (The doctor mentioned 10 rounds for now, so one full cycle). And obviously, I’d be incredibly grateful for any advice, experiences, or just any kind of help you can offer...
Thanks a million, everyone!
Hang in there,
Jane Doe

Angela Wright said:Goodness. 😢 It seems they might have handled things a bit haphazardly. Personally, my own experiences have been quite positive. When my mother underwent surgery for her glioblastoma, she shared a room with three other women who were being treated for aneurysms. One of those women actually lost her sight because the aneurysm was positioned right against the optic nerve. Her doctor gave her a difficult choice: proceed immediately with the risk of that specific complication, or wait a few months for the hospital to acquire new equipment and perform a newer type of procedure designed to minimize such side effects. Given she had three small children and no one else to step in and care for them, she opted for the immediate surgery, which, looking back, seems like it might have been the wrong call, especially since she ended up spending an extra month recovering at a medical spa.
The other women handled their surgeries quite well, without any complications.
Ivanna, there are just so many variables at play here. No two people are identical, and an aneurysm isn't going to be in the exact same spot twice; however, the skill and experience of the surgeons also play a massive role.
If I may offer some advice, I would suggest gathering all his medical records and seeking a second opinion before they decide to open him up again.
Craniotomy inherently carries significant risks, and any manipulation of the brain feels like playing with life itself. I’ve always gotten the impression that neurosurgeons try to resolve as much as possible during a single opening.
If your father manages to pull through this, he will likely need some form of recovery period or rehabilitation at a specialized facility, as it seems almost inevitable that this much intervention in the brain could lead to neurological issues. Many people find themselves relearning how to walk, talk, read, or even do basic math... anything is possible (though, like my mother, it doesn't necessarily happen), but these things are treated fairly effectively in modern rehabilitation programs nowadays.
Try not to panic or go around asking everyone if he’s going to make it; honestly, only God can tell you that. What you can control is ensuring that your father is under the care of the best possible physician available.

I just want to thank you; everything else is in Barbara's hands. All our relatives and friends are praying for him, and everything will unfold according to what He wills. All we can do is continue to pray every single day. 🙏 .

Hey there, my favorites!!!
Finally got my surgery date scheduled for January 18th. (Before this, they couldn't even get a surgical team together—can you believe that?) But honestly, whatever, I just want this thing to go smoothly! On a brighter note, I’ve got some great news—that immunotherapy I was doing in Germany after chemo is still working wonders 😍 aside from keeping the cancer stable, I actually gained 5.5 lbs in just four weeks, oh my god!!!! 👍 So, I’m feeling way stronger now and totally ready to go head-to-head with this "beast."

p.s. Jessica Booth35
Honey, I am so incredibly sorry about your mom and everything you guys are going through right now. Back in the day, I used Biobran (taking 16 capsules a day) and I didn't have any bad experiences, though I have to admit I didn't see anything life-changing either. I really believe that any supplement with a natural base meant to boost the immune system is a good idea, but everyone reacts differently, I guess. I'm crossing my fingers hard that everything turns out okay.
Sincere regards, Grace Fowler 🙂

@ Nancy Hernandez43>

I actually stumbled upon an explanation for the parameter you mentioned, even though bibobu had already laid it out quite clearly.

SHBG>
Most testosterone circulating in your body is actually bound to transport proteins; in fact, the free fraction of testosterone makes up less than 1% of the total. The heavy lifter here is Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG), while other proteins like albumin and corticosteroid-binding globulin (CGB) handle the rest. It’s interesting to note that estrogens can bump up both the concentration of SHBG and its affinity for binding testosterone, which essentially drives down the amount of free testosterone available in the bloodstream—something often seen during pregnancy or when using oral contraceptives.
While doctors typically use total testosterone as a screening tool for hirsutism, free testosterone levels tend to correlate much more closely with the actual severity of the condition. You'll also frequently see elevated free testosterone levels in cases involving certain types of acne, androgenetic alopecia, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).

Warm regards! 🙂

Hey everyone! I see there are both beautiful and tough moments happening for all of you. Oh well, that's just life—it can be pretty wild and unpredictable... Things are getting a little less hairy on my end thanks to the chemo... 🙂 Well, that's just about it...
Grace Fowler, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes perfectly for you! You're honestly such an unstoppable woman and everything is going to be just fine. We aren't backing down...

Angela Wright said:Listen, that high blood sugar is happening because of the dexamethasone. It’s driving those numbers up. A sugar level of 30 is incredibly high—we're talking coma territory here. You absolutely need to ask them to give her some glucose tablets, even if 30 is already high enough to warrant insulin. Give Vuk Vrhovec a call and get some advice on how to handle patients like this whose blood sugar is totally haywire.

And here I was thinking my mom's 17 was way too high.🙄 She was taking Eglukon.

Look, we all know dexamethasone spikes your sugar, but there were times when Mom was on a higher dose and her levels stayed lower just because she was being more sensible and staying away from the junk. Now? We can't win. Food has become an obsession for her. If we try to step in, we end up looking like the big bad bullies, like we're literally taking away her oxygen. That's how she perceives it.
She’s on insulin three times a day, and regardless, she still manages to push her sugar up to 30...
It’s just this endless battle with her, and honestly, there’s no way for us to come out on top.🤷

Hey everyone, welcome to the forum! To all our new members, welcome aboard! This place is just wonderful and so full of warmth for everyone...

Grace Fowler, honestly, gaining a little weight is such a great sign, and you know it too!
Being physically and mentally prepared is huge for the surgery you have coming up, and you’re radiating so much positive energy that it HAS to go well. We're all rooting for you!

DANDELION SEED, I am so happy about the baby! I know that wasn't an easy decision to make, but I truly believe it's going to be so good for your partner's health and for both of you in general because... a whole new chapter is starting, and beautiful things are finally happening!

As for me, I actually had to go back for another breast biopsy because they didn't get quite enough material for the analysis.
But hey, luckily it wasn't painful. The absolute worst part is just this waiting for the results! Ugh!
I should have them by the middle of next week, and then the following week I have a follow-up regarding my ovarian cancer. I'm really hoping everything turns out okay because I feel so good right now that I don't even want to think about anything bad happening.
Best,

Grace Fowler said:Hey everyone!!!
I finally got my surgery date set for January 18th (they couldn't even get a surgical team together before then, but whatever), so no biggie, just hoping everything goes smoothly! On a brighter note, that immunotherapy I was doing in Germany after chemo is still working wonders 😍 besides keeping things stable, I’ve actually gained 5.5 kg in just four weeks, yay!!!!👍 I'm feeling way stronger now and ready to go toe-to-toe with this "bastard."

p.s. Jessica Booth35
Honey, I am so sorry about your mom and everything you guys are going through right now. A while back, I was taking Biobran (16 capsules a day) and didn't have any bad experiences, though I can't say they were life-changing either. Honestly, I think any supplement with a natural base meant to boost the immune system is worth a shot, but everyone's body reacts differently. Keeping my fingers crossed that everything turns out okay.
Sincere regards, Grace🙂

Grace,

Thanks for the update and the support. 🙂
Hang in there and give that "bastard" hell!
Jessica

My sincere thanks to everyone for responding to my inquiry! I found myself momentarily lost in the vastness of the internet, and asking here simply felt like the most straightforward path...

Grace Fowler — I am truly happy for you, and please believe me when I say that your surgery will go perfectly well. You will be in my thoughts every single day, and I shall be eagerly awaiting your update once everything concludes with a positive outcome. Stay strong, as you always are... kisses

Jessica Booth35 said:Hi everyone,

I just signed up for this forum today... I was searching the internet for information, help, advice, or maybe just a little bit of hope, and that’s how I stumbled upon all of you...
Basically, my mom was diagnosed with breast carcinoma just under a year ago... she had her entire breast removed, but unfortunately, the cancer spread to the nearby lymph nodes... which meant Stage III... she’s already gone through chemo and radiation... then about a month ago, during a routine checkup, her markers spiked, and after running all the tests, they found out the cancer has metastasized to her liver... She starts a new round of chemo this Thursday... Taxotere plus Xeloda... I’ve researched everything about it, and people say Xeloda is a "good, smart drug"... but unfortunately, while digging around, I ran into things I really didn't want to read... stuff like 5% five-year survival rates and things like that...
Trying to wrap my head around all of this... since there isn't a "cure" but rather ways to improve (and maybe slightly extend) the quality of life, I came across Biobran (I saw it online, but I've actually heard mentions of it over this past year while Mom has been fighting)...
I wanted to ask you all if anyone has experience with Biobran? Do you know if she can take it while she's undergoing chemo, or should she wait until the cycle is over? (I don't know how many cycles she'll need yet; for now, the doctor said 10, which would mean one full cycle)... and of course, I would be so incredibly grateful for any advice, experiences, or help you can offer...
Thank you so much, everyone!
Best wishes and hang in there,
Martina

Sweetie, my mother also has Stage III B breast cancer, and her lymph nodes were involved too. She went through Taxotere chemotherapy (which they say is the best option available right now) and is heading into radiation next. During her chemo, she had some minor issues with her blood counts, so she decided to try taking Beta-glucan, and it really helped her! Once she started on the Beta-glucan, she didn't have to delay her chemo sessions anymore. I haven't personally heard of Biobran, though what Grace Fowler mentioned sounds good... any supplement that has a natural base and aims to boost the immune system is a good thing, but everyone reacts to them differently.

How is your mom doing? How is she holding up? Mine is doing very well; she handled the treatments quite well, and we'll see what the results show!!! No giving up!

Grace Fowler - Good luck! Hang in there! We are all thinking of you!

Carol Sanchez2 said:Hey, my mom is also dealing with Stage IIIb breast cancer, and the lymph nodes are involved too. She went through Taxotere chemo—which they say is about the best thing out there right now—and she’s heading into radiation next. Her blood counts took a hit during chemo, so she decided to try Beta-glucan, and honestly, it really helped her out. Once she started the Beta-glucan, she didn't have to keep pushing back her chemo appointments anymore. I haven't heard much about Biobran, but Grace Fowler makes a good point... any supplement with a natural base meant to boost immunity is a win in my book, though everyone reacts to them differently.

How’s your mom holding up? Mine is doing pretty well; she handled the treatments okay, and now we just wait and see what the results look like. We aren't giving up!

Grace - Good luck! Hang in there! We're all thinking of you!

Ivanna,
thanks for reaching out... my mom had some real issues with her blood work; she actually had to delay therapy twice, and even now, things aren't looking much better... honestly, I don't even know if she'll be able to start this second round. She wasn't on Taxotere during the first round, but they've prescribed it along with Xeloda now, which they say is incredibly effective. My mom is a fighter, though; she actually cruised through the first round of treatment fairly well... maybe just feeling rough for those first two or three days, but she managed to sleep a lot, which is a plus. Now she's just kind of "crashing"... we found out on Friday that there are metastases in the liver... I guess we're just processing it all right now. One thing about my folks is that they're able to take everything in stride, even this, and having a supportive family behind us helps more than I can say.
I've heard of Beta-glucan too, but Biobran sounded like it might be more "targeted"... here is what they say about Biobran:
"The human immune system is made up of over 130 subgroups of white blood cells. The heavy hitters for defending against disease are lymphocytes, which split into: NK cells (natural killers), T-cells, and B-cells. They circulate through our bodies, picking off malicious microbes that attack from the outside, as well as thousands of our own cells that have become infected or degenerate. Natural killer (NK) cells make up about 15% of all white blood cells. They act as the first line of defense against any kind of bodily assault. Each of these cells carries several tiny granules that function like "ammunition."
Once an NK cell identifies something like a cancer cell, it latches onto the outer membrane and injects these granules directly into the degenerate cell. The granules then "explode," wiping out the cancer cell in just five minutes. The undamaged NK cell then moves on to the next target and repeats the process. A single NK cell, for instance, can destroy up to 27 degenerate cells in its lifetime. As long as the NK cells stay active, everything stays under control. If the cells lose their ability to recognize or kill degenerate cells, things can go south fast. People with low NK cell activity are extremely vulnerable to chronic fatigue syndrome, viral infections, and the development of tumors.

We'll just have to see what works best... Mom is open to anything at this point. Right now, she's applying compresses made from Swedish twigs to the affected area... she was talking to someone who swears by the whole Swedish twig thing... anyway... the main thing is that she wants to fight... and that she still has the energy to do it.
Thanks again, and cheers,
Martin

...Well, we'll just have to wait and see what actually works best... right now, Mom is totally open to exploring every single option on the table... at this very moment, she’s applying some sort of Swedish twig compresses to the affected area... she actually had a chat with a woman who absolutely swears by those Swedish twigs... you know... the most important thing is that she has this incredible will to fight... and that she still has the energy to go after it...
Thanks again and all my best,
Jessica Booth35

She should definitely stick with whatever she truly believes in. What matters most is that she doesn't lose hope and that you all keep a positive outlook through all of this. It's the exact same way with my own family; we find ourselves laughing and joking around constantly, even though, if we're being honest, there are moments where we all feel that heavy lump in our throats.
After her radiation treatments are finished, my mother is planning to visit a specialist who prepares herbal remedies. To me, that feels like a much more solid plan compared to that whole bio-region thing we haven't decided on yet—and honestly, I don't think Mom ever will...

Sending kisses! Hang in there!

I thought this was pretty interesting, so I wanted to share it with you all. Most of the info comes from this page:

SELECTIVE EFFECTS OF PROPOLIS AND ITS POLYPHENOLIC
COMPONENTS ON PRIMARY CULTURES OF HUMAN BLADDER CANCER CELLS
AND NORMAL EPITHELIAL CELLS

1 2 3 4 5 6 1
N. Oršolić, D. Štajcar, L. Šver, I. Kosalec, M. Bakmaz, S. Terzić, and I. Bašić
244 Introductory thematic lectures collection of papers_Rovinj OK 2006.indd 244 collection of papers_Rovinj OK 2006.indd 244 113.9.2006 12:3.9.2006 12: 1

Institute of Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science,
University of Chicago, 6 Roosevelt Square, Chicago, USA
2 (norsolic@yahoo.com), General Hospital, Department of Urology, 3 Meštrović
Street, Varaždin, USA, Laboratory of Microbiology and Genetics,
Faculty of Food Technology, University of Chicago,
4 25 Kršnjavog Street, Chicago, USA, Institute of Microbiology,
Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Chicago, 39 Schrott Street,
5 Chicago, USA, Analytical Laboratory, Chicago City Pharmacy
6 271 Karlovac Road, Rakov Potok, USA, Veterinary Institute,
143 Savska Road, Chicago, USA

A lot of epidemiological data supports the idea that eating more
fruits and vegetables helps reduce cancer occurrence. The flavonoids found in propolis
are a significant source of chemotherapeutic substances because they have many biological
activities. In this study, we wanted to see if propolis and its
polyphenolic/flavonoid components could cause a cytotoxic effect on
primary cultures of human bladder tumor cells. In our research, we used
bladder tumor tissue at various histological
stages (stages G1, G2, G3) alongside normal bladder wall epithelial tissue.
We prepared individual cells using standard lab procedures
and cultured them in RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with 20% FCS, incubating at 37°C
with or without different concentrations (75, 150, and
300 µg/ml) of propolis (aqueous and alcoholic propolis solutions; WSDP, EEP)
and/or polyphenolic components (caffeic acid, naringin, chrysin, and quercetin).
The results show that the alcoholic propolis solution was the most effective at
inhibiting the proliferation of human bladder tumor cells compared to
individual polyphenolic components found in propolis. Propolis preparations
and their polyphenolic components did not cause any cytotoxic effects on
normal epithelial cells in culture, which suggests a selective effect
of the substance on bladder tumor cells versus normal cells. These
results point toward the potential use of EEP in suppressing bladder tumor
occurrence after surgery and potentially controlling tumor growth. Since
using BCG can improve post-surgery outcomes, we believe that treatment with EEP
could be a good alternative to mycobacterial treatment, especially since propolis doesn't
show any harmful side effects. We should still investigate the exact
mechanisms behind this chemoprevention and the overall effectiveness of propolis.

Take care!!!