Hi everyone 🙂 I won't take up too much space here, especially since this group is focused on supporting those who are still fighting their battles, but I felt I really needed to reach out and say hello. I've been away for quite a while because I needed to step back and focus on my own well-being for a bit. To give you a quick life update: I’m getting married in a month, I just enrolled in a postgraduate program, and life is moving forward beautifully 🙂
I know this is how it has to be; I truly believe those we've lost would want nothing more than to see me happy. I try my best to let a positive outlook and cherished memories serve as my shield against this illness. While I couldn't stop the inevitable from happening, I can certainly do my part to ensure I don't let the weight of it break my spirit.
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).
I truly hope that 2008 turns out to be a much brighter and more successful year for all of us.
I want to wish so many, many smiles to my dear friends who are walking this difficult path alongside me; may every bit of effort you've put in return to you manifold.
More than anything, I wish you health, because once you have that, everything else eventually falls into place.
There are Bonviv tablets that you take just once a month on a set schedule, though there are also injections available every four months, which I personally find much more convenient. It is absolutely vital to follow the instructions regarding staying upright after taking a pill, simply to ensure you don't end up with any esophageal irritation.
I noticed that mellowbadger5 mentioned her mother-in-law drinks buttermilk, and I really wanted to chime in and say how great that is. Buttermilk is absolutely incredible for liver regeneration, especially when it's being hit hard by heavy medications. It also has such a fantastic mineral profile that it’s practically impossible to go wrong with it.
Please accept my deepest condolences. May your husband's soul rest in peace, and may he find eternal tranquility. He has found his peace now. The absolute worst thing you can do to yourself right now is to dwell on "what ifs" or second-guess the past. I know you, and I am certain you would have gladly split your very life in two just to give him the other half if you could. Thank God you still have purpose—you have things to live for and reasons to keep fighting. Your children are looking to you to find joy in this life again, and in a way, you’ll need to experience those joys for both of you.
Exactly right! Apathy is truly the fiercest enemy when facing any illness, especially the heavy ones that weigh on your soul.
While doctors are obligated to provide their diagnoses and clinical outlooks, I’ve always felt that human life and God's will transcend those numbers; you simply can't reduce a person's existence to some cold, calculated equation. So, keep your chin up and stay brave, because every single new day we are given is a massive victory in itself. 🙂
Angela Wright put it beautifully when she said, "...to everyone joining us today seeking hope and strength: please don't take everything too personally or view it as the inevitable conclusion when our loved ones lose their battle."
Reflecting on the difficult experiences I had with my Grandfather, I feel an immense sense of pride in my mother, who successfully beat uterine and ovarian cancer. You have to hold onto hope; I held onto it with my Grandfather until the very end, and I know he did the same. There is a certain dignity in that approach, and I believe we should all strive for it. It’s because of that relentless spirit that things feel easier later on, regardless of how the fight actually concludes. Every single person's journey is unique. Even if you encounter someone here with the exact same diagnosis whose story ends in loss, please don't mistake their outcome for a universal rule. That is why I would STRONGLY PROHIBIT using statistics when discussing those facing serious illnesses, because focusing on numbers is nothing more than a dangerous distraction!
Thank you all so much. Even though I knew this moment was inevitable, the disbelief still lingers heavily in my chest. I spent the entire night crying, and the only thing echoing in my mind is my Grandfather's mournful cry: "Reach out your hand, honey!!" I am just so deeply attached to him. There is absolutely no way—just as Melissa Kim45 said—that I could ever refer to him as my late Grandpa. He feels far too present; I can still hear his laughter, see him sitting there eating my soup, telling me, "Your Grandpa loves you." Most of my childhood memories are anchored to him. He was the one bright spot during a rather gloomy period of my youth, which is saying a lot. For the year we were granted following the diagnosis, we had this little ritual where we would "test" the day to see how good it was going by having him sing his favorite song. We would judge the quality of our day based on the volume of his voice. We’d get so silly and joyful whenever he sang at full strength. It was our little secret code, our way of navigating the world together. It pains me to burden you all with these stories; they feel achingly pathetic, but somehow, letting it all out like this makes things a little more bearable. I feel this overwhelming urge to relive every memory of him—all his little blunders and quirks. I want to etch his gestures into my mind, the way his eyes used to crinkle when he smiled, or how he would gently stroke my hair... I need to let all of this flow through me, because perhaps then it will be easier, or perhaps I’ll finally go numb and find some silence. I can't talk about this with my family, though, because it's just too hard for everyone else to bear. Thank you once again for your selfless support. I’ll keep coming back here, because I can't break this routine; I can't just close the Tab in Firefox that leads to this thread. I lost this battle, but what remains is a profound experience. If anyone ever needs advice regarding small cell lung cancer or anything that might ease the struggle, please don't hesitate to reach out. It would truly be my pleasure to help if I can. Stay strong!!!
Thank you, Ana. It brings me some comfort knowing I was right there by his side until the very end. He truly was a fighter through and through. Just two hours before he passed, he actually sat up so I could give him a little soup; he never, ever turned down a meal I had prepared for him. On that final day, he lost his voice and couldn't say a word, but we just held hands and spoke through our eyes. It felt like we said everything we needed to say to each other in that silence. Still, the emptiness is heavy. The only thing that helps me cope is knowing I did everything humanly possible—every remedy I could think of, every suggestion anyone gave me, I tried it all. We were given a year together, and I thank God for that.
We laid my Grandfather to rest today. He was more than just family; he was a second father to me and my greatest pillar of strength. I honestly don't know how to navigate this world without him. Everywhere I turn, I’m met with the quiet remnants of our shared battle—the various medications he relied on, everything I used to prepare for him, his prescriptions, medical reports, and even his glasses. If I could, I would simply flee to Mars just to find some peace.
It’s just like Vince said—these mornings are incredibly heavy when you wake up to news this heartbreaking. I am so deeply sorry about your father. But please, don't ever feel like the fight is over; you're carrying the torch for both of you now, and your life is a testament to his. There is still no giving up because you have so much joy ahead of you to find, and honestly, you owe it to yourself to seek that out—just as your father would have wanted for you. Both Angela Wright and you are true heroes in my eyes, much like anyone else who loves without limits and gives themselves entirely to others. Even in these dark moments, you both serve as such an inspiration for how to live. :*
I am truly sorry to hear about your mother's passing. While there is a small sense of peace in knowing she is finally at rest, I know even those tiny comforts can feel quite heavy during times like this. The most important thing right now is that you take some time for yourself and focus on your own needs; please give yourself the grace to grieve and the space needed to eventually find your footing again. I imagine an immense wave of exhaustion has hit you after everything you've been through, but you have such a resilient and bright spirit, and I know you will find your strength once more. Thank you so much for the selfless support you always offer this community. I truly wish there was more I could do to help you through this.
I just caught a glimpse of a photo of that plant, and it actually looks very familiar to me. I’ve been reading up on it lately, and apparently, it can be quite beneficial for ovarian health, so I’m seriously considering adding it to my daily routine 🙂
Since this is essentially a tannin-based remedy, I feel like I really need to do some more thorough research to figure out the exact dosage required before I dive in. 🙂
Thank you all! I’ve been feeling such a wonderful sense of joy lately, just taking things slow and relaxing. I’ve finally managed to get two solid nights of sleep, which is honestly such a massive relief—I can't even begin to put into words how much better that feels! 🙂
What exactly is Zdravac? I don't think I've ever heard of that specific herbal tea before; I probably know it by a different name. I'll have to do a little digging to figure out how to prepare it and how it works, especially since it’s being recommended for recovery after radiation therapy. Thanks for the tip, anaxy!
Fortunately, I’m checking in today with some much better news than last time. Mom’s condition is finally starting to stabilize, so we’ve begun incorporating some herbal teas and homemade blackberry wine into her routine. My main mission right now is just getting her strength back up—mostly by trying to coax her out for short walks every day.
As for my Grandfather, he completed two sessions of internal radiation during his first cycle. The doctors mentioned that during the second cycle, they’ll switch to external beam radiation instead of what he’s receiving now. He also handled two laser surgeries remarkably well; those procedures managed to stop the bleeding in his lungs. It seems they cleared out his left bronchus so air can flow through again, which means he's actually breathing into his left lung once more. There is quite a bit of congestion at the moment since he hasn't been able to use that side of his chest for nearly a month, but he feels so much better overall. He’s sleeping more soundly, his mood has lifted, and there's a certain brightness in his eyes again. 🙂 He’ll be heading back into chemotherapy once the radiation is finished, but that's just the nature of the beast. We keep fighting. 🙂 Does anyone have any suggestions on how to boost the immune system between radiation cycles? Is the approach similar to what we do during chemo? Sending love :*
Thanks, Ved :* I honestly don't even know how to put this into words; I just can't bring myself to put anyone on the back burner, so I feel completely torn right now. My grandfather isn't even that old yet—he's only 70 😉 and he still has so many plans and this incredible drive to keep working on the house and looking after the family. I just can't bear to watch him struggle, especially since I'm at a loss for how to actually help him. He’s currently undergoing some intense sinus treatments which sound absolutely exhausting; they have to use two probes through his nose for about an hour at a time just to try and clear his airways. On top of that, I am worried sick about my mom. She’s going through hormone testing right now because she has hypothyroidism, and it seems like her whole system has just slowed down because of it. She’s constantly exhausted, incredibly stressed, and just doesn't have much emotional bandwidth left. Everything from her heart rate to her digestion feels sluggish. Yet, she refuses to take a break from work; their company is going through a major audit right now, and she’s carrying so much of the responsibility. She has completely forgotten how to relax or even what downtime feels like. Any spare moment she gets, she spends obsessively finding chores to do around the house. She doesn't even engage with the things she used to love anymore; she’s lost interest in her favorite foods or drinks, and everything has become this mindless, routine existence. It’s impossible to spoil her or make her feel special because whenever I ask what kind of meal I could cook for her, she just gets confused—she truly can't think of anything she'd crave. She'll just eat whatever is put in front of her. 🤷
Super PDF document I stumbled upon, which includes detailed descriptions of lab tests along with their standard reference ranges. It was incredibly helpful for me back when I was struggling to make sense of what each specific test actually meant and what a typical result should look like.