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Resources and support for families dealing with cancer and serious illness

Started by Angela Wright · · 👁 190 views · 3K replies

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Participants Angela WrightChristian Wilson16Morgan Williams4Jeremy Nelson3John Chase6steelbadger83hiddentiger80urbanjackal3silentviper30mistyranger4ruggednomad182placidfalconJerry Morales4frozenviper492velvetgull9Joshua Flores48Frank Ramirez23Roger Hall15Walter Cox5mellowlynx8boldjackal70northernfox9ALaura Gomez10 …
Karen Fox36 Karen Fox36 Member
19 messages
joined Oct 2007
#1321 ·
Angela Wright;10680387 said:Is it like some kind of dark green liquid, and does it specifically drink like a milky liquid?
Well, we actually reached out to this herbalist from Mexico and bought his specific preparation—it's one of those things where you just hope for the best, right? My mom only managed two doses before she had these absolutely brutal reactions—we're talking intense vomiting and a fever. It honestly felt like a sort of natural chemotherapy. She got so spooked by it that she refused to take any more, especially since she still had her actual course of Chemotherapy ahead of her... she was terrified of any nasty contraindications or drug interactions.

I'm not entirely sure if it's the exact same remedy—here, they brew this incredibly concentrated St. John's Wort tea, and in the morning, they add seven white drops to it, then in the evening, they mix in 25 ml of this green liquid that smells and tastes absolutely revolting into the tea. But here's the thing—Mom hasn't had any adverse reactions at all to this stuff. The only thing is, she gets a bit flushed in the face, but that stops as soon as she eats something—it seems like there might be some strong alcohol base in there. I’ll admit, I was pretty anxious when she first started—constantly worrying about how her body would react—but thank God, she’s handling it beautifully. This coming Friday marks 30 days since she started, and we're actually heading out to pick up the next batch tomorrow. Anyway, I'll be sure to check back in a month and let you all know if we see any real improvement.

As for the radiation treatments, my mom only undergoes about two minutes of it every day—which is probably why she isn't dealing with any burns or nausea. From what I understand, she's scheduled for 20 sessions in total; at least, that’s the current plan her oncologist laid out.
Angela Wright Angela Wright RegularOP
731 messages
joined Feb 2007
#1322 ·
Karen Fox36 said:I’m not sure if we’re talking about the exact same medication, but here’s our routine: we brew a super concentrated St. John’s Wort tea, then drop 7 white drops into it every morning. In the evening, we mix 25 ml of this green liquid—which honestly tastes and smells absolutely revolting—into the tea as well. My mom hasn't had any side effects at all from the Medication; the only thing is she gets a bit flushed, but that clears up as soon as she eats, so it seems like some kind of high-proof alcohol effect. I was pretty terrified when she first started the treatment, constantly worrying about how her body would react, but thank God she’s handling it beautifully. This Friday marks 30 days on this regimen, and we’re already heading out tomorrow to pick up the next round. I’ll check back in with everyone in a month to let you know if there’s any actual improvement.

As for the radiation, my mom only does two minutes every single day, which is probably why she isn't dealing with burns or nausea. From what I understand, her oncologist has scheduled her for 20 sessions total, at least for now.

That's it—those drops go right into the St. John’s Wort tea.
brightgardener8 brightgardener8 Active Member
157 messages
joined Jul 2007
#1323 ·
Anonymous said:I was actually up in New York City visiting my aunt when we made that call. He already had someone lined up there who could get it delivered by tomorrow. It cost me about $160, if I recall correctly. Honestly, just give it a shot—since he ships to Canada, Germany, and all over the place abroad, getting it delivered here to the States shouldn't be an issue. Good luck.
Mexico
Mexico,
owner Mexico
+1 212 555 0198;
+1 212 555 0122;
www.biocil.com

Is this the specific medication you guys are talking about? I saw some posts about it about four months back (page 28).
Karen Fox36, radiation doesn't really cause nausea. They usually bundle those things together with chemotherapy.
As for burns, my mom went through all 30 sessions without any major issues. Her ears peeled a little bit, but that cleared up fast once she finished treatment. She lost her hair about halfway through the process.
Angela Wright Angela Wright RegularOP
731 messages
joined Feb 2007
#1324 ·
brightgardener8 said:Is this the specific medication you guys were mentioning? I remember seeing posts about it about four months back over on page 28.
Karen Fox36, radiation itself doesn't usually cause nausea. It’s when they bundle it together with chemotherapy that things get rough.
As for skin burns, my mom cruised through all 30 sessions without any major issues. Her ears peeled a little bit, but that cleared up fast once she finished her treatment. She lost her hair about halfway through.

No, this one is straight out of Mexico and they're insisting that either a family member or the patient shows up in person.
Richard Smith31 Richard Smith31 Member
14 messages
joined Oct 2006
#1325 ·
Thanks to everyone...

What’s actually the point of doing ten days of radiation if you're only getting two minutes at a time? It feels like we're just going through the motions.😕
brightgardener8 brightgardener8 Active Member
157 messages
joined Jul 2007
#1326 ·
Angela Wright said:Nah, this guy is straight out of Mexico.

Yeah, my bad. I was just skimming through it and totally missed that we were actually talking about Mexico specifically...
Roger Hall15 Roger Hall15 Active Member
107 messages
joined Jul 2003
#1327 ·
Amy Hayes28 said:Thanks, everyone..

I honestly wonder how much point there actually is in doing ten days of radiation if they're only two minutes at a time.😕

It definitely serves a purpose, even if the sessions feel incredibly brief. My mom had about five-minute sessions, I think, and her last cycle involved six sessions which really messed up the skin on her back quite badly. She never had any issues on the front side before. It’s fine now, just a little blotchy, nothing too major.

Her blood pressure has been staying a bit high lately, and I can't help but hope it's tied to the fact that her sodium levels are dropping. 🙏

Kill me now, but I don't always follow the doctors' orders to the letter. For instance, during the last check-up, her sodium was down to 115; she'd had a bath the day before and was even walking around the hallway. She wasn't feeling great, but it wasn't nearly as dire as it turned out to be when that number dropped so sharply. They ended up hooking her up to IV fluids—three bags in two days—and told us to have her drink more fluids and take her Medication every single day. We’ve already been alternating between every other day and twice a week with that stuff. Well, tomorrow. I haven't given her a single dose yet. She’s sipping on fluids, as per the doctor's instructions, but just enough. Her output is steady. She isn't swollen, or maybe just a tiny bit compared to how she used to be, but she doesn't look bad to me. She’s starting a liquid diet early tomorrow morning before her next appointment on Friday, which certainly isn't helping things, and if she ends up getting diarrhea again on top of that, then we're really in for it.
I'll write back on Friday once we see the results.

These constant ups and downs are just exhausting to deal with. And I'm noticing that I've actually started to feel afraid of her getting better. Strange, right? Or maybe it isn't.🤷
Roger Hall15 Roger Hall15 Active Member
107 messages
joined Jul 2003
#1328 ·
Karen Fox36 said:I haven't noticed anyone here bringing up royal jelly, which is actually incredibly good for you. I heard it’s such a rare find that you can only get about three jars out of three tons of honey, so it’s pretty hard to track down.


I ended up placing an order through www.wholefoodsmarket.com:
http://wholefoodsmarket.com/catalog/natural-propolis/
http://wholefoodsmarket.com/catalog/Microsoft/

Natural propolis is honestly top-tier stuff, and I think I'll give the Microsoft option a shot too. This was my first time ordering straight from them, and it turns out it's way more affordable than picking things up at a local CVS, so it's definitely worth it.
Rachel Phillips9 Rachel Phillips9 Member
12 messages
joined Oct 2007
#1329 ·
Hey everyone, it’s been a minute since I’ve checked in here... please don't judge, I'm just trying my hardest to block out all the absolute garbage from the last two years. We had a routine checkup at Mayo Clinic today and thank God everything looks good... but man, I was totally crushed when I heard news about yet another little soul leaving this world... up until now, I’ve been able to swallow the bitterness and just keep moving, but this one really hit me hard. This is actually the second time someone close to us has ended up like this... it was this little boy, the brother of a girl who went to preschool with my son. We hung out a bit back then, and after a long break, we were finally getting to know each other properly—and then, boom, the ICU. I’m reaching out because I honestly don't know what to say to an 8-year-old right now. How do you even approach that? Especially when this is the 14th friend he's lost.
On top of that, he’s started having these mental blocks lately. School-wise, he’s doing great—total A student—but sometimes he just... freezes. He goes completely silent and won't react to anything for maybe 2 to 5 seconds, especially after he’s been physically active. The doctor mentioned it could be a side effect from the transplant, but it’s still too early to get specific details since it’s only been about a year and a half since the procedure. Has anyone else dealt with stuff like this? Sending love to everyone, fingers crossed.
Angela Wright Angela Wright RegularOP
731 messages
joined Feb 2007
#1330 ·
Rachel Phillips9 said:Hey everyone, I haven’t checked this thread in quite a while... please don't take offense, I've just been trying my best to block out all the ugliness from the last two years. We were at the Mayo Clinic today for a routine checkup and thank God everything looks fine... however, it really hit me hard when I heard that yet another little soul has left this world... up until now, I've managed to swallow most of the bad news and just keep moving, but this one really rattled me. This is actually the second time someone close to us has ended up this way... the boy was the brother of a girl who went to preschool with my son, and we had briefly crossed paths before reconnecting recently, only to find him gone... I'm asking you all for advice on what to say to an 8-year-old and how to handle it... because this is now the 14th friend he's lost life to....
On top of that, he’s started having these mental blocks—school is going great overall, but sometimes he just goes totally silent and doesn't react to anything for a few seconds, especially after physical exertion... the doctor mentioned it could be a side effect of the transplant, but it's still too early to know for sure since it's only been a year and a half since the procedure... has anyone else dealt with similar symptoms? Sending love to everyone and keeping our fingers crossed.

It is absolutely vital for a child to develop a healthy perspective on life, illness, and mortality in general. Death is a natural part of the cycle. People fear dying—specifically the idea of non-existence—because humans are generally terrified of the unknown, and death is the ultimate mystery since no one has ever come back to tell us what actually happens on the other side. That’s why it’s so important that we, as adults, set a healthy example in how we approach death. In my experience, being a person of faith makes explaining this much easier than if we weren't. Even though we all fear our own passing—mostly due to the pain involved—we are raised with the understanding that this world is just a temporary home and that we truly belong somewhere else. When we mourn the dead, we often do so for somewhat selfish reasons; we grieve because they are missing from our lives and because we feel they should have had more time to live...
I strongly suggest that you involve a professional to help navigate this trauma regarding mortality, especially given his young age. You are both shaken up, and if the wrong ideas about death are planted in a child now, they can stay there for a lifetime and potentially evolve into much more complex psychological issues down the road. A specialist can provide him with a healthy model for processing such heavy situations.
Angela Wright Angela Wright RegularOP
731 messages
joined Feb 2007
#1331 ·
Rachel Phillips9 said:Hi everyone, I haven't checked this thread in quite a while... please don't take it personally, we're just trying our best to push past all the negativity from the last two years. We went in for a routine checkup at Mayo Clinic today and thank God everything looks good... however, I was absolutely gutted to hear that yet another little soul has left this world... up until now, I've managed to swallow the bitterness and just keep moving, but this one really hit me hard. This is actually the second time someone close to us has ended up like this... the boy was the brother of a girl who went to preschool with my son, and we had been getting to know each other casually for a bit before reconnecting properly recently, but then he passed away in the ICU... I'm asking you all for advice on what to say to an 8-year-old and how to handle it... because this is now the 14th friend he's lost.
On top of that, he's started having these mental blocks—he's doing great in school, usually straight A's, but sometimes he just freezes up and doesn't react to anything for a few seconds, especially after physical exertion... the doctor mentioned it could be a side effect of the transplant, but it's still too early to get specific details since it's only been a year and a half since the procedure... has anyone else dealt with similar symptoms? Sending love to everyone, fingers crossed.

It is vital for a child to develop a healthy perspective on life, illness, and mortality in general. Nowadays, adults often handle this poorly; there’s a tendency to shy away from teaching children about these realities, often under the guise that they are too young or that we shouldn't burden them, but that's mostly because we ourselves struggle to reconcile with our own mortality and choose to live with that fact on "ignore." Death is a natural part of the cycle, and honestly, I think it's easier for a child to accept than it is for an adult, who suddenly has to face such situations—whether their own or someone else's. People fear death—essentially the concept of non-existence—because humans are generally terrified of the unknown, and death is the ultimate mystery since no one has ever come back to tell us what actually happens next. That’s why it’s crucial that we set a healthy example in how we approach death. Personally, I feel that for those of us with faith, explaining this is much more straightforward than it is for others. Even though we fear our own passing because of the pain involved, we are raised with the understanding that this world is just a temporary home and that we truly belong somewhere else. When we mourn the dead, we often do so out of a certain selfishness; we grieve because we miss them and because we harbor the thought that they should still be here living their lives...
I would strongly suggest that you consult a professional to help navigate this trauma regarding mortality, especially given his age. You are both shaken up, and if any misconceptions are planted in a child's mind now, they can stick for a lifetime and potentially evolve into much deeper psychological issues later on. A specialist can provide him with a framework for processing these heavy situations, giving him tools he can rely on whenever things get tough in the future.
jadetinker42 jadetinker42 Member
22 messages
joined Oct 2007
#1332 ·
Angela Wright said:Welcome to the group. Honestly, thanks for opening up and sharing what you've been going through, even if it’s a total gut punch to read. It’s heavy stuff, really.
Look, if there’s any silver lining here, let it be this: he didn't have to suffer forever. It was bound to happen eventually, but at least he wasn't struggling for an eternity. You guys truly did everything humanly possible—every single thing a family could do to support him. Honestly, it feels like he passed away with a sense of peace and fulfillment, which is everything. I know, I know... it feels like his story was cut short. We all look at it and think, "Man, he still had so much left to give, so much more time to spend with you guys." But he closed his circle. He lived a life surrounded by warmth and genuine love, and honestly, that’s the greatest legacy anyone can leave behind in this world. People raised in homes like yours? They go out and build those same kinds of loving families, passing that light onto the next generation. That kind of ripple effect is what keeps the world spinning.


Thanks, man. And seriously, thanks to everyone else for the condolences too. It really means a lot.

I actually went to pick up the death certificate today, and man, I’m not gonna lie—it took everything I had just to get through the doors. Walking past the ICU where he passed, right by Room 9, then down that long, sterile hospital hallway... it hit me hard. I couldn't even stop myself from breaking down right there. He’s gone. Now, Room 9 is occupied by other patients, probably people fighting their own uphill battles just to see tomorrow. The doctors are still rushing around like headless chickens, exactly like they were when the old man was still here. It feels like this endless, dizzying cycle where one patient leaves and another takes their place, and the machine just keeps grinding on.

Alright, I’m gonna drop my dad's blood work results here because I really need some insight. Specifically, I’m trying to figure out which one of these numbers was actually the dealbreaker for him. I already know his bilirubin, creatinine, and white blood cell count were through the roof, but honestly, looking at the rest of this stuff makes my head spin—I am definitely not an expert on this kind of thing. If anyone here actually knows their way around a lab report and could help me make sense of this, I’d seriously appreciate it.

I can't even begin to explain how much this drives me absolutely insane. It’s like, you think you’re actually getting what you paid for, right? You walk into the store, you see the shiny packaging, you drop your hard-earned cash, and then—BAM—reality hits you in the face. It’s a total joke. It reminds me of that one time I tried to fix my own sink in Chicago—complete disaster, obviously, because I’m not exactly a plumber—but at least with a leaky pipe, you know what you're dealing with. This stuff? It's just deceptive. It feels like every time we get a "new and improved" version of something, it’s really just a way to squeeze more money out of us while providing half the actual value. Honestly, it’s enough to make you want to throw your phone across the room. Is anyone else seeing this pattern, or am I just losing my mind here?

I can't even deal right now. Seriously, someone please tell me I'm not the only one losing my mind over this! It’s like, does anyone actually listen when we talk about these things? It feels like screaming into a void sometimes, honestly. Everything is just... ugh. Just absolute chaos.
Look, I’m no doctor, but staring at these numbers is giving me a massive headache. If you're looking at this lab report, here's the breakdown of what's going on in that bloodwork: Your HGR is sitting at 3.64, which is pretty low—think of it like trying to run a marathon on an empty tank of gas. Your hemoglobin (Hb) is at 111, also dipping below the normal range. Then there's the hematocrit (Htc), which is at 0.321 (basically an iPhone 13 level of outdated if we're talking tech, but in medical terms, it's just low). The rest of the red cell indices—MCV at 88.2, MCH at 30.5, and MCHC at 346—all seem to be hovering in that normal, middle-of-the-road zone. Your platelets (Tr.) are at 182, which is fine, staying within the safe lane. But those white blood cell counts (L) are at 11.6, which is a bit elevated. It’s like your body’s internal security team is on high alert, maybe fighting off a minor glitch or some inflammation. Bottom line? Don't panic, but don't ignore it either. Take this to your actual physician so they can tell you what's really up. Seriously, go talk to a pro!
Alright, let me walk you through these latest lab results because, honestly, looking at this numbers is like watching a chaotic scene from a Michael Bay movie—just total mayhem. I’m sitting here staring at my screen, trying to make sense of this mess, and man, it’s a rollercoaster. First off, let's look at the big picture. My hemoglobin is sitting at 127, which isn't exactly breaking any records, and that hematocrit is at 0.358—basically what you'd see if you were checking an iPhone 14 instead of some outdated tech. The rest of the red blood cell stuff (MCV, MCH, MCHC) looks relatively standard, like a predictable Tuesday morning in Chicago. But then? Then things go completely sideways. It’s like everything was cruising along on a smooth highway and suddenly someone slammed on the brakes in the middle of rush hour. The platelets are dipping down to 139, which is a bit sketchy. And don't even get me started on the glucose—it's sitting at 2.3, which is just... wow. That’s low. Like, "running out of gas on the I-95" low. But the real kicker, the absolute massive red flag that has me losing my mind, is the creatinine. It jumped from 121 to 268. Are you kidding me?! That’s not just a little spike; that’s a vertical climb. It’s like my kidney function decided to take a sudden, unannounced vacation to Florida. Throw in a potassium level of 5.6, and we’ve got ourselves a real situation on our hands. Basically, the vitals are shouting, and I'm just over here trying to figure out why the engine is smoking. This isn't just a minor hiccup; it's a full-blown system error.

Alright, let’s take a look at these lab results, because honestly? This looks like a total mess. If my body were a car, I’d be staring at a smoking engine and a blown transmission right about now. First off, we’ve got glucose sitting at 3.9—not great, but let's look at the bigger picture here. The urea is at 19.7, which is one thing, but that creatinine is sitting at a massive 295. That is a huge red flag for the kidneys. It’s like trying to run a marathon while having sand stuck in your fuel lines. And don't even get me started on the liver stuff. The total bilirubin is through the roof at 576! We're looking at 291 for conjugated and 285 for unconjugated. When you add in an AF of 269, LD of 269, GammaGT at 170, and AST hitting 223 while ALT is at 95... man, that liver is absolutely screaming for help. It’s basically a house on fire at this point. The total protein is low at 49, and the CRP is up to 26.2, which means there's some serious inflammation going on somewhere. Then you see ferritin at 1245—that is sky-high—while iron is down at 9 and TIBC is at 40. It’s such a weird, chaotic imbalance. To top it all off, calcium is at 2.00 and sodium is hanging out at 121, which is definitely low enough to make anyone feel like they're walking through sludge. On the "silver lining" side—if you can even call it that—the serum amylase, CK, uric acid, triglycerides, cholesterol, and UIBC all came back normal. So, everything else is fine, but when the core systems are glitching this hard, those "normal" numbers don't mean much. This is a heavy situation.

Look, I’m staring at these lab results and honestly? It’s a total mess. My stomach is doing flips just looking at these numbers. We're talking serious red flags here. The glucose is sitting at 3.6, which is low, but that creatinine? 568? That is absolutely terrifying. That's not just "off," that's a massive warning sign for the kidneys. And don't even get me started on the bilirubin levels—the total is 546, with the conjugated part at 303 and unconjugated at 243. It’s like a complete breakdown of how everything is supposed to process. Throw in an ALP of 484, LDH at 469, and those liver enzymes (GamaGT at 213, AST at 337, and ALT at 180) being through the roof, and you've got a recipe for a disaster. To top it all off, the electrolytes are completely out of whack. Sodium is down at 116—which is dangerously low—and Potassium is up at 5.7. This isn't just a minor hiccup; this looks like a full-blown systemic crisis. Seriously, if these aren't being monitored by doctors right this second, someone needs to step up. This is heavy stuff.
Alright, let's take a look at these lab results, because honestly, seeing numbers like this without context is enough to give anyone a headache. Here’s the breakdown of what we're looking at: Total Protein is sitting at 49.0, Albumin is 18.2, Alpha-1 is 1.1, Alpha-2 is 4.9, Beta is 6.5, Gamma is 17.6, and that A/G ratio comes in at 0.60. Now, I’m just a guy on a forum, not your doctor, so please don't go treating this like a medical diagnosis from a specialist at the Mayo Clinic. But looking at these figures? That total protein number seems incredibly low—like, way below the standard range you'd expect to see in a healthy American adult. And when that total protein drops that much, it usually drags the albumin down with it, which we see here. The most glaring thing to me is that Gamma fraction. It's sitting at 17.6, which is quite high relative to everything else. When the Gamma is spiked like that while the Albumin is tanking, it's like trying to run a marathon when your fuel tank is empty but your exhaust pipe is clogged—something is definitely out of balance. Usually, a low A/G ratio like 0.60 suggests there might be an issue with how your immune system is handling things or perhaps some kind of protein loss. Seriously though, don't panic, but *do* talk to your physician. You need to get these results interpreted by someone who actually knows your medical history. This isn't just a "wait and see" situation; you should probably get a follow-up appointment scheduled ASAP.
Alright, let's look at the numbers from the latest checkup: PV is sitting at 0.39, APTV is at 55, which puts the APTV ratio at 1.69, and platelets are hanging in at 100.
Alright, let's talk about the absolute nightmare fuel that is *Proteus mirabilis*. Seriously, if you’ve ever dealt with a nasty UTI, this little bug might just be the villain in your horror movie. It’s one of those bacteria that doesn't just show up to the party; it shows up, kicks the door down, and starts rearranging all your furniture. The main thing you gotta know is how much of a chaotic mess this thing makes. It’s got this crazy ability to move around—it uses flagella like tiny little outboard motors to swim through your system like it's cruising down the Florida Keys. But it isn't just swimming for fun. It’s looking for trouble. It loves to play around with the pH levels in your body. It produces an enzyme called urease, which basically turns your urine into an alkaline playground. This is where things get really gross. When the environment becomes that alkaline, the minerals in your system start clumping together like spilled sugar in a coffee cup. That’s how you end up with kidney stones. You’re sitting there thinking you just have a standard infection, and suddenly you're dealing with literal rocks inside you because this bacterium decided to turn your bladder into a chemistry lab. And don't even get me started on how hard it is to kill once it gets settled. Because it creates those stones, it can actually hide inside them, safe from antibiotics. It’s like a tiny, microscopic fortress. You think you've cleared the infection, then boom—it comes back because the "soldiers" were hiding behind the stone walls the whole time. It’s infuriating! Basically, *Proteus mirabilis* isn't just a germ; it's a tactical genius with a vendetta. If you're fighting this one, you aren't just fighting a bacteria; you're fighting a master architect of chaos. Stay vigilant, folks.
Blood culture results came back clear! Everything looks good.
So, I finally went and got that throat and nose swab done, and honestly? Everything came back totally clean. No issues found.
Look, I’m telling you, it’s getting out of hand. We’ve reached a point in modern culture where the skin's physiological flora is basically just staging a full-blown takeover. It’s like everyone is walking around with their own little ecosystem thriving on them, and honestly? It's wild.

Alright, that’s everything right there. So, can someone please break down these results for me? I’m totally lost. Thanks in advance!
Angela Wright Angela Wright RegularOP
731 messages
joined Feb 2007
#1333 ·
jadetinker42 said:I know my bilirubin and creatinine levels were through the roof, and my white blood cell count was high too. To be honest, looking at the rest of my labs, I’m not exactly feeling great about where things stand. If anyone here actually knows their stuff and can help me make sense of this, I’d really appreciate it.

I'm not exactly on speaking terms with them either, but this site actually comes in handy:
Richard Smith31 Richard Smith31 Member
14 messages
joined Oct 2006
#1334 ·
Radiation therapy is set to kick off this Monday..
The doctor wants to run a few more tests first, but he’s already made his stance clear: if they find any more metastases anywhere else, he’s done. He doesn't want to touch radiation anymore.😢
He just wants it to be over..
Then, out of nowhere today, his nose just started bleeding heavily.🤷
Angela Wright Angela Wright RegularOP
731 messages
joined Feb 2007
#1335 ·
Amy Hayes28 said:Radiation treatment starts this Monday...
The doctor wants to run more tests first, but my dad is adamant—he says if they find metastases anywhere else, he’s done with radiation altogether.😢
He's ready to call it quits..
And then today, out of nowhere, his nose started bleeding.🤷

Don't take everything your dad says at face value. You have to realize there's likely a lot of defiance and bitterness bubbling up inside him right now, and he'll probably lash out at you guys quite often. Just try to have some patience and empathy. He's going to go through with the radiation.
As for the nosebleed, it doesn't necessarily mean anything serious or directly related to his illness.
Karen Fox36 Karen Fox36 Member
19 messages
joined Oct 2007
#1336 ·
So, my mom finally got discharged from the hospital over the weekend—it’s such a relief! Plus, with the holiday coming up tomorrow, the whole mood at home is just wonderful, and she’s feeling pretty great herself. I was wondering, though, what kind of dosage levels are your parents getting for dexamethasone?
My mom is currently on 8 mg one day and then drops down to 4 mg the next, and I think her doctor mentioned she'll probably just stick to the 4 mg dose once she's fully settled back at home.
Angela Wright Angela Wright RegularOP
731 messages
joined Feb 2007
#1337 ·
Karen Fox36 said:My mom just got discharged from the hospital over the weekend, and since tomorrow is a holiday here in the States, everyone's in such a great mood—especially her, she's feeling fantastic. I was wondering, what kind of dexamethasone dosages are your parents on? My mom is getting 8 mg one day and 4 mg the next, and I think the doctor mentioned she'll just stay on the 4 mg dose once she's fully settled back at home.

That’s entirely dependent on the individual case, and honestly, most of the time it feels like they're just eyeballing the dosage. My mother is currently on 14 mg a day.
Laura Harris13 Laura Harris13 Newcomer
1 message
joined Jun 2008
#1338 ·
jadetinker42 said:So, I’m going to list his blood work results here. I was hoping someone could help me figure out which specific marker was the fatal one for my father. I know his bilirubin, creatinine, and white blood cell count were all way too high, but I’ve never really been much of a numbers person, so if anyone could shed some light on this, I’d truly appreciate it..

My respects and my deepest condolences.

I also lost my father this past Tuesday, October 9th, 2007.
He had lung cancer that eventually spread to his liver, and everything moved so fast—it was all over within three months of the initial diagnosis.
He was 64.

I’m certainly no expert; until very recently, cancer felt like this distant, terrifying concept that I didn't really understand.
If it helps at all, my dad also had extremely high bilirubin levels, mainly because his liver function was starting to fail.
High bilirubin itself isn't necessarily what kills you, but it causes that mild jaundice and acts as a major red flag for liver distress.
Because his liver wasn't functioning properly, they couldn't even proceed with chemotherapy. Ultimately, though, the cause of death was fluid buildup in the lungs—or something similar written in Latin medical terms.

That's all from me.
Take care.
brightgardener8 brightgardener8 Active Member
157 messages
joined Jul 2007
#1339 ·
Lawrence Rogers56 said:Respect, and I am truly sorry for your loss.

I actually buried my own father this past Tuesday, October 9th, 2007.

My condolences. Man, it feels like there’s just one death after another lately... I'm really sorry.

Hey guys, does anyone know of any "old school" home remedies to help fix blood counts? My mom can't move forward with her chemo because her white blood cells, platelets, and red blood cells are all bottoming out. Her doctor basically just shrugged and said his hands are tied. Ugh.
Roger Hall15 Roger Hall15 Active Member
107 messages
joined Jul 2003
#1340 ·
I am so sorry for your loss. My dad passed away too, and he was already 64 when he left us.
Hang in there, everyone, regardless of which side you're on. 🙂

The count is at 132. That’s my mom’s white blood cell level, and honestly, it’s looking decent. She has another round of chemo scheduled for Monday, and since they tweaked the protocol last time, she should probably be getting that three-drug cocktail again.

She nearly slipped in the tub yesterday.😲
I barely managed to catch her; I grabbed her so hard I think I might have left a bruise under her arm.🙄

It's just total chaos.🤷

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