Hey everyone, hang in there! Things have been incredibly heavy on my end lately. My grandfather is facing an upcoming surgery with a pretty uncertain prognosis. He has a tumor that’s starting to obstruct both of his bronchi, and if we don't intervene soon, he won't be able to breathe. We had a scare yesterday when they managed to stabilize some bleeding—it was quite a mess—and even then, the old man was still cracking jokes, claiming he was just being a bit of a drama queen 🙂 Then there's my mother, who is dealing with her own mountain of issues. It’s been a brutal week for her: she’s navigating a mild heart attack, angina, and some concerning cysts in her thyroid and breasts. To make matters worse, she lost her brother just last month, so she’s struggling through a deep depression on top of all the physical ailments. Just wonderful, isn't it? 😉 Somehow, miraculously, I’ve managed to keep my head clear. My partner is an amazing cook, so I'm at least eating well, though I've been struggling a bit with insomnia. Usually, a warm bath, some lavender, a cup of tea, and tossing and turning for a few hours finally does the trick. 🤣
He ended up catching that foolish bout of pneumonia because he just wasn't being careful enough. Now everything has flared up again, and my main concern is preventing any metastases from spreading elsewhere. He’s showing a little bit of renewed spirit lately—placing his hopes in this upcoming radiation treatment—but at the same time, he’s constantly drowsy from the Benzedin, and occasionally he’ll say something that is completely nonsensical. He isn't drinking much fluid; I was actually just mentioning this to Linda Campbell earlier. Right now, I'm trying to nudge him toward some tomato juice to help replenish his potassium, especially since he takes Lasix every other day to manage dehydration (he only has one kidney). I have to be extremely cautious about giving him potassium chloride supplements; given that he already takes a handful of medications three times a day, I’d much rather try to manage it naturally through his diet. As for the bleeding, it has stopped thanks to the Dicynona tablets, which I’ve actually paused for now, though I'll restart them if the bleeding returns. My biggest headache right now is the Lopion (Molicor) tablets, which have been discontinued. They carry them under the name Corvatol in North Mexico, but none of the 500 pharmacies around here seem willing to import them. An auntie at the pharmacy where I usually pick up all his medications and various sundries pointed out that they carry Sitaki Lecithin capsules, which are supposedly excellent for boosting the immune system. Does anyone have any experience with those?
Because his condition has taken such a sudden, aggressive turn, the doctors have recommended a specific course of radiation therapy. The tumor has completely obstructed his left bronchus, which means air isn't reaching that lung at all anymore, and we’re seeing signs that it might start affecting the right side too—we're genuinely worried about him suffocating. His tumor markers have spiked quite drastically. I feel so helpless, just wishing there was something we could do to slightly clear that blockage just so he can catch his breath. He’s currently taking medication to control the bleeding since he’s coughing up blood-tinged mucus, and we've even had to resort to Xanax to help manage everything. We are just waiting anxiously to get a scheduled date for the radiation sessions...
Regarding my grandfather, Angela Wright, you hit the nail on the head. Back in November of last year, he was diagnosed with bronchial cancer, and the doctors essentially gave him a two-to-three-month window. Fast forward six months, and they’re actually baffled as to why there hasn't been any metastasis in his bones or brain, which they had fully expected. It has truly been a miracle this year. He ended up back in the hospital this morning; they're trying to get a better look at the source of some bleeding since he's coughing up quite a bit of blood. He tells me he feels this sharp, stabbing pain in his lungs, and I can see the exact moment it hits him—he gets this pained expression and instinctively clutches his chest. On the flip side, I was honestly stunned yesterday by how great his blood work came back. His white cell count, hemoglobin, urea, creatinine, blood sugar, electrolytes... everything looked fantastic. He really is such a resilient, tough old man. The ladies at the pharmacy actually started teasing me, joking that I must have some kind of mad scientist setup at home since I seem to be constantly clearing out their shelves with all these prescriptions. Honestly, though, I don't mind the jokes; as long as his blood counts stay strong, there's still hope. If only he weren't so incredibly stubborn about everything, things might be even easier. 🙂 But I suppose that's just the family trait we all inherited. 🤣 Sending big hugs :*
Hello everyone. I haven't been posting as frequently lately, mostly because I’ve begun to lose hope of discovering some breakthrough or a new medication that might actually make things easier for my grandfather. He is still on quite a heavy regimen; my heart just aches whenever I see him pull out that bag of pills to start his daily dosing. Lately, things have taken a turn for the worse—he's started coughing up blood, and the weather seems to be hitting him incredibly hard. His breathing has become labored. His doctor simply tells us that this is just how the process unfolds, which is devastating to hear. At this stage, my prayers have shifted. I don't pray for a cure as much as I pray for his peace. He has become quite aggressive, pushing everyone away from him. He rejects any help or attention offered. While he remains relatively gentle with me and listens when I speak, he is being very difficult with my father and uncle, lashing out at them with harsh words. It feels to me like he’s trying to drive them away so they won't have to witness his suffering, but I can see how much it hurts my father to be treated this way. Watching the two of them struggle to find common ground is heartbreaking, and I feel helpless in trying to mediate. I wish there were something I could give him to soothe his spirit; right now, I'm just searching online for herbal teas that might offer some mental or emotional stability... but unfortunately, there isn't a pill for everything. 😢 How do you all cope with patients like this? What do you do when they completely stop cooperating? I feel stuck between being unable to provide actual help and being unable to simply stand by and watch. 😢
I actually have some marshmallow root growing right in my grandmother's backyard, so I didn't bother picking any up at the store. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure if you can even find much fresh stuff in standard grocery stores these days. If you can't track down a fresh plant, you might want to try the dried version; you can usually find that sitting on the shelves at a local pharmacy. That said, it might be worth reaching out to some friends who live out in the suburbs or maybe have a little place out in the countryside—people tend to grow things like this in their gardens quite often, so I’m fairly certain someone you know could point you in the right direction. Just a quick heads-up: make sure you're looking for black marshmallow, not the white variety. It isn't really intended to boost your appetite; rather, it's used to help make swallowing a bit easier. And please, remember to only use the cold infusion method. You'll want to take four full teaspoons for every liter of water, or if you're making a smaller batch, just one teaspoon per 250ml. Let it sit overnight, and then in the morning, give it a gentle warm-up.
When dealing with throat cancer, I’ve found that using marshmallow root tea for rinses can be quite soothing. There's also a little trick where you take the leftover plant matter from making the tea and apply it as a warm compress over the throat area—just wrap it in some plastic wrap and then cover it with a cloth. If you prefer, you could even mix it into a barley mash, which you can usually find at any local health food store. Personally, I think it works best if the marshmallow root is fresh rather than dried. To make the tea, you just soak the root in cold water overnight (I don't recall the exact ratio off the top of my head, so I'd need to double-check that), and then you can both drink it and use it as a gargle. It might help ease the discomfort enough that he could start eating again.
My mother underwent surgery for uterine and ovarian cancer about seven years ago, and today, she is a vibrant, healthy 50-year-old woman. She always keeps her chin up and stays incredibly optimistic about the future. 👍
Ivanna makes a great point, and I’m happy to chip in however I can. My grandfather is also battling bronchial cancer, and he's dealt with two bouts of pneumonia over the last six months. We are just doing everything humanly possible to support him. He was actually singing his heart out this morning, which is such a relief because he seems to be feeling much better. 😁 I keep telling him to take it easy and not overexert himself, but he just responds by singing even louder. His appetite is back, and he’s sleeping well again. It feels like a constant uphill battle, but every bit of effort is worth it because I love him so much. 🙂
I used to apply Hepatrombin gel to my grandfather's veins and the swelling that would develop around them, mainly because the cooling sensation on the skin felt so soothing. Of course, I was careful never to put it on any open scabs, focusing strictly on the swollen areas. It’s essentially the kind of gel you see athletes reaching for constantly to manage minor injuries, and honestly, it worked wonders for him. I actually decided to try this on my own initiative, and I remember one time a nurse at the Mayo Clinic caught me applying it; she just smiled and told me it was a really smart way to handle it. 👍
Thanks for asking about my grandfather. He's doing a bit better today than he has over the last few days; his fever has finally broken, which is such a huge relief for all of us. It turns out he has pneumonia, specifically affecting the lung lobe where the cancer is located. He’s currently on a cocktail of antibiotics and is slowly starting to find his appetite again. Regarding that issue with calcium absorption, I know that diets high in fiber can actually hinder how much calcium the body takes in. I thought that might be worth mentioning—for instance, if she's eating a lot of spinach or chard. I really hope you guys can figure out a way to get his calcium levels back up; we're all here thinking through this together, and hopefully, a few heads are better than one.
For Timothy Morgan38:
My grandfather also has bronchial cancer, and he’s been a heavy smoker since he was eleven years old. We actually did more harm than good by trying to shield him from the harsh reality of his diagnosis. After his chemotherapy sessions, he started acting, well, let's just say he became a bit reckless. Because he felt okay, he would overexert himself far beyond what he should have—doing things like mowing the lawn in the yard and stuff like that. Then he'd get completely exhausted, sit somewhere right in the middle of a draft, grab something cold from the fridge, or decide to drive out of town for a few days to visit his sister... and his immune system was just non-existent. That led to a bout of pneumonia that left both our family and his doctors scratching our heads for seven days, wondering if it was just an infection or if the tumor had progressed enough to overshadow the lung lobe. I truly believe it's better for him to know the full truth; usually, once people move past the initial shock, they find the strength to actually fight. We did the same thing, and I personally kept hiding the actual costs of certain medications from him. He thought everything was so inexpensive that he'd spend money on other things, like home renovations, while the rest of us were pulling our hair out trying to figure out how to balance the budget. I didn't feel capable of telling him at the time, but looking back, I realize my father did the right thing by having that honest conversation with him. So, I suspect your mother might act a bit stubborn too, but she might actually tackle the problem head-on if she's fully aware of the situation. Ultimately, though, that's a call for you and her family to make, since you know her best.
You might want to try using some high-quality American apple cider vinegar, as it’s naturally rich in calcium and contains certain elements that help boost absorption. A simple way to do this is by stirring two tablespoons into a glass of water and drinking it first thing in the morning, just before you eat. I also find it helpful to make homemade bone broth; if you're simmering chicken bones, try adding two or three tablespoons of vinegar right at the start of the cooking process to help extract more of that goodness from the bones.
It could also be beneficial to drink about four cups of yarrow tea daily, since it's known to support bone marrow health.
And, of course, make sure to include plenty of foods rich in Vitamin D3 in your diet.
Haha, honestly, the best advice I ever got from my doctor was, "Don't sweat it, those stretch marks will eventually settle down after you've had a few kids." 🙂 He’s actually a fantastic OB-GYN—he has this slightly dark sense of humor, which I personally find quite refreshing, but he's truly excellent at what he does.🤣
I didn't want to start a whole new thread, so I figured I'd just jump in here instead. Has anyone else ever had a gynecologist tell them they have a small uterus? My doctor took precise measurements and mentioned it was just a millimeter under the typical normal range. He also told me there’s no need to worry about it right now. Should I be concerned, or is he right to stay calm?
Megan Peterson87 was asking me about nocturn. It usually runs about $10 and you take it for two months. There are several different brands out there, but I’ve been using one from a Canadian manufacturer.
The doctor suggested picking up some kind of children's vitamin syrup this morning, hoping it might help jumpstart his appetite. Does anyone have any good recommendations? I’d love to hear your thoughts on whether they actually work. I find myself talking his ear off constantly—just trying to stay upbeat, being gentle, and attempting to make him laugh. He told his doctor he'll need nose surgery soon because he keeps lying to me like Pinocchio; he just can't bring himself to admit when he hasn't eaten, so he makes up these little stories instead. Even his Taheebo tea has lost its charm lately (he's been drinking it since late 2006, so I suppose it's no wonder), so now I've started bringing him various different teas in small bottles so he has a choice. Honestly, I'd try a hundred different remedies if it meant he felt better..
They’re teetering on the edge of an infection right now—his immune system is basically non-existent following the chemotherapy. My grandfather is constantly sweating, too; he loses liters of sweat just sitting there. It wouldn't surprise me if an inflammation sets in, as his shirt is soaked through within half an hour, and even a tiny draft can do him in. Then again, they really do have a chance of catching a cold. I believe the most vital thing is that they don't stop eating, and we have to try our hardest to ensure he doesn't lose his appetite entirely. For a while now, Grandpa hasn't had any desire to put anything in his mouth; he simply doesn't feel the need for food anymore. The only thing he'll still take is plenty of tea. He's starting a ten-day course of antibiotic cocktails now, so I'm hoping things start looking up.
Angela Wright, thank you so much for your kind words. 😘 You're absolutely right, we can't afford to lose our footing!
My mom mentioned things were looking up quite significantly. After completing six rounds of chemotherapy, the lung carcinoma had shrunk enough that the doctors were actually debating whether to move forward with surgery or stick to more radiation therapy. But then, out of nowhere, he came down with a severe fever. The difference between his recent scans is just staggering; they did one at the start of the week and another by the end. That first scan was phenomenal—everything looked incredibly promising—but this latest one is a complete disaster, with the entire left lung appearing completely shadowed. They even repeated the imaging just to be sure, and the result was identical. Right now, we are facing two possibilities: either he’s developed pneumonia, or a piece of the tumor has detached and is obscuring the lung. It’s terrifying to say, but I am praying to God that it’s just pneumonia. If it turns out the tumor has detached, they would have to perform a bronchoscopy to remove it, but the medical team says that is an extremely high-risk procedure with a significant chance of heavy bleeding. For now, they have him on antibiotics and are monitoring him to see if the shadowing clears up if it is indeed an infection. Has anyone here dealt with something similar? What should our next steps be? I'm going to be so worried; he is absolutely devastated, feeling deeply depressed, and hasn't been able to eat anything. He has already lost about 18 pounds...