Posts by Donna Chase

Melissa Morgan67 said:breast cancer
p.s. so you're saying there's no chance for a survival rate higher than five years?

Where are these grim predictions and prophecies even coming from?
Ultimately, God is the one in control of life and death.

My dear friends,
we really have some wonderful resources at our fingertips, like the pages hosted by the For a New Day association. I have to give credit where it's due—the moderators there have done a beautiful job making sure everything is clearly explained, much like this forum itself...
Angela Wright, our resident fighter, along with the others, works incredibly hard to provide quick, helpful support to everyone here. I also want to give a special shout-out to the oncologist, James Reed; the speed at which he responds with such profound, expert insights is truly impressive. I suspect many of you feel the same way I do.
http://www.foranewday.org/
Warmly,

Angela Wright said:Goodness, velvetfalcon44, if we're talking about cancer, it certainly isn't benign.

When you lay everything out so clearly like this, the polite thing to do is usually to cite where you pulled the information from.

I have to agree; now I’m also wondering where velvetfalcon44 is getting all this data, and whether they consider how it feels for the person actually living through it to read such things. We are dealing with people who are in an incredibly vulnerable emotional state right now. Every situation is unique. My husband went through an adenocarcinoma of the lung that was surgically removed, and by the grace of God, he has been healthy and cancer-free for nearly three years now. It was honestly a blessing that he didn't know the specific technical details of his diagnosis at the time, because knowing that might have completely broken his spirit.
I truly believe the gentleman had nothing but good intentions here.
Best regards,

placidjackal36 said:Screens haven't had that constant flicker for a long time now. A few years back, the standard for CRT monitors was an 85 Hz refresh rate, which most people didn't even notice. Then they jumped up to 120 Hz, and eventually, we moved to LCD screens that don't flicker at all because their refresh rates are way higher than 60 Hz.

So, yeah, life is great.
But let’s look at this logically: if you're stuck using an old monitor from 1999 that flickers at 60 Hz—which is super noticeable and honestly pretty unpleasant—how are you supposed to protect your eyes from that strobe effect? Using some passive filter isn't going to cut it. Think about it for a second—how is looking through two pieces of glass going to stop a screen from physically turning on and off?
All glasses can really do is block certain electromagnetic waves, meaning they might shift the color, change the brightness, or maybe filter out polarized waves if they have that specific type of lens.

Regardless of all the technical data you're throwing out there, we all know the reality: our eyes ache after staring at a computer, and it’s always better to take preventative measures whenever possible. I use an LCD myself, and my eyes still feel the strain, especially since most of us spend far too many hours tethered to a workstation.
If we don't take care of ourselves early on, dealing with eye strain becomes a much more difficult uphill battle later in life. Right now, I'm constantly reaching for various ointments and drops, yet the discomfort persists...

says:
Honestly, I find myself unexpectedly caught up in this discussion.
Just yesterday, a guy I’ve been seeing for about two months called me up and dropped a bombshell: he has lung cancer. He told me his doctor gave him maybe a year to live, all because he was careless and didn't stay on top of his medication.
What really stings is that in just those two short months, we went through more milestones than most couples do in two years; it felt incredibly intense.
Naturally, I was completely blindsided, but what hit even harder was when he told me to just forget about him and stop reaching out.
Even after I promised I’d be there for him, he simply refused to let me in. It broke my heart even more when he admitted he doesn't have the strength to fight anymore—that he’s just given up and sees no point in trying.
I am at a total loss...

How well do you actually know this man? For all you know, he could be married with a whole family back home, and this might just be a convenient way to push you away.
The first couple of months in any relationship tend to feel like a whirlwind of perfection.
Some men will go to any lengths to manipulate a situation.
Furthermore, it’s medically highly unlikely for an oncologist to give such a definitive one-year timeline. I truly hope God grants him peace, and I wish you strength as well.
As for what to do, I honestly think your best move is to focus on your own life and keep moving forward.

@amberskipper13/">@@amberskipper13,
I can see that you're open to hearing different perspectives, which is a wonderful quality to have. I took a little look back through some of your previous posts, and it’s truly clear that you’ve been carrying an incredibly heavy burden lately while navigating all these challenges.
Regarding your mother-in-law and the difficult situation she's facing, it is painfully obvious how much suffering she is enduring, and by extension, how much everyone in your family is hurting right alongside her.
If you can try to look at the reality of the situation with a bit more objectivity, you might see that what lies ahead—as agonizing as it may feel right now—could ultimately bring her nothing but relief from her pain. Your husband will find the strength he needs to get through this, too. In the end, time is the only thing that truly offers solace; no matter how steep the climb feels today, time has a way of smoothing out the sharpest edges. If you hold a faith, perhaps you can find comfort in the belief that death isn't a finality, but rather a transition that awaits us all eventually.
Searching for solace in your spiritual life might provide the inner peace you need to weather this storm. Father Zvjezdan Linić in our local suburban area is a truly compassionate priest, and you might find it helpful to sit down for a conversation with him. It doesn't even matter if you're Catholic; he's a soul who opens his heart to everyone and provides immense support to those in need. Please don't take my suggestion the wrong way; my only intention is to wish you nothing but the very best as you navigate these difficult days. Warm regards,

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The most critical thing right now is reviewing the pathology report to identify the specific type of carcinoma involved. To give you some perspective, my husband underwent surgery for an adenocarcinoma in his lung, about 2x2 cm, two years ago. Following the procedure, he completed four rounds of chemotherapy using Gemzar and Cisplatin. Currently, he just goes in for follow-up checkups every six months. During the operation, they had to remove roughly 40% of his right lung, but overall, he’s feeling quite good.
Do you happen to know the exact subtype of the cancer your father is facing, and what the size of the lesion is? Also, did the doctors perform any additional screenings, like a gastroscopy or colonoscopy, to rule out any metastasis elsewhere? Most importantly, how is he holding up mentally through all of this?
My husband also took IP6, and he truly feels it made a difference in his recovery. While I realize there isn't definitive clinical evidence to prove it, it's a supplement designed to bolster the immune system and help the body fight back against those rogue cells. It's derived from grains that we actually ended up removing from our own diet because they weren't serving us well, even though they provide certain nutrients the body needs.
Best regards,
Nada

[/CODE]Susan Ruiz76;16182077]But honestly, everyone, you have to acknowledge the good experiences too. We really should give credit where it's due when we encounter genuine kindness and professionalism—and I’ve seen plenty of that in waiting rooms, hospital wards, and labs. Much like slyseal28, I’ve had some wonderful experiences myself, and I’m not ashamed to share them. Just yesterday, after our appointment with the oncologist, we stopped by our local community hospital to coordinate next steps. Our pulmonologist actually offered us a few infusions right then and there just to help him stabilize—he noticed he’d lost a bit of weight—and once we agreed, I asked about the paperwork required for a referral. He just smiled and said, "Don't worry about a referral; the hospital is covering this!" That’s how he received his infusion yesterday, and today he’s back for more supplements just to help him breathe easier, and the doctor insisted he come back tomorrow as well. How could I possibly argue with that kind of care? When I ask for help, things move seamlessly; as I mentioned earlier, we get our CT results the very same day, and they schedule follow-ups as close to the original timeline as possible. Even the radiology department has been fantastic, and the coordination with our primary care physician and the lab has been flawless. We truly have no complaints. Perhaps, given the heavy burden of this illness, we are simply "lucky" that the doors have stayed open and the paths have been cleared for us. My heart goes out to those who aren't having such a smooth journey, those who feel like they are constantly tilting at windmills; perhaps in the larger metropolitan areas, some fundamental values have just been lost along the way...

I have had an incredibly positive experience through the entire process of diagnosing, treating, and managing my husband's lung adenocarcinoma, specifically working with the pulmonary clinic and the surgical department at the Mayo Clinic. The approach taken by the pulmonologists—their sheer humanity combined with their clinical expertise—has truly exceeded all our expectations. I also want to extend my deepest gratitude to the associate professor over in Gastroenterology. Everything was handled with such dignity and skill, even though we didn't have any special connections or significant financial resources to lean on.
At the same time, I truly empathize with all of you who have faced negative experiences during your most vulnerable moments, and I am so deeply sorry that you've had to endure that.
I don't work in the medical field myself, but I deeply respect the work these professionals do, regardless of the systemic issues currently facing our hospitals, and I find myself frequently praying for all the wonderful people who have stepped up to help us.

- 41k - Here is the article I was mentioning. Please don't take this as me trying to push some kind of advertisement; my only intention is to share this in case it might be of use to someone out there. I am well aware that many people have likely already exhausted every possible avenue and tried just about everything under the sun, but you can never truly know if one more lead might finally make a difference.

I was reading through the back pages of The New York Times today and came across a truly remarkable feature about some miraculous drops that ended up saving the life of Bernard Bilić, who lives over in Austria. It’s quite a story—the drops reportedly shrank his lung tumor from a massive 12x12 cm down to just a tiny 3 mm, even though it had already started metastasizing to his liver. These drops are called Kancist, and they're produced by Marko Rukavina, located over at 19 Diljska in Pittsburgh. If anyone is looking into them, they go for about $110 per bottle.

nimblestag7 said:Does anyone happen to have information or know someone who has used Gemzar? It’s listed as one of the medications for cancer treatment. I’m a total amateur when it comes to all of this. I’m curious about what kind of reactions people have to therapy with that specific drug, though from what I’ve been reading online, it seems to be quite an individual experience. Perhaps you could share some of your own experiences...
Thanks,
Worried😕😕😕

It really does vary from person to person. My husband went through four doses combined with cisplatin, and he didn't face any overwhelming side effects. He did deal with some mild nausea, and after about twenty days, his hair started thinning out—so we found it best to just shave it all off as soon as possible. We also focused on eating very light meals; the doctors actually recommended sticking to things like cabbage and carrots. Along with the Gemzar, he was also prescribed an anti-nausea medication, I believe it was Zofran.

It’s funny how we all approach these discussions differently, isn't it? Some people dive straight into the fray with such intensity, while others prefer to sit back and observe the landscape before making a move. I've always found that there is a certain quiet strength in being methodical—taking the time to weigh the nuances rather than just reacting to the immediate noise. It reminds me of how a seasoned chess player approaches a match; they aren't looking for the quickest strike, but rather the most sustainable path to victory through patience and foresight. kaže:
I have to admit, I was genuinely taken aback by how calm and composed the guests remained during our studio session. It was quite unexpected. My only real regret is that I didn't manage to pivot the conversation toward the issue of medications that aren't currently covered by the approved formulary; it's a critical gap that we really ought to address.

I couldn't help but feel that the host was being a bit too soft during the segment...

We certainly gave the Department of Health a run for their money. I truly hope they took note of our resolve and realized that we aren't going to sit idly by while they try to treat us like we don't know any better.

Keep up the great work, everyone—this is exactly the kind of momentum we need. I find myself checking this forum daily, much like I follow the updates from our local advocacy group. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the rising numbers regarding new diagnoses and fatalities; unfortunately, it seems quite likely that even more people will be facing this malicious disease in the near future. Last night, I was watching a broadcast that touched on the critical importance of prevention and early detection. In my view, the American healthcare system needs to take these issues far more seriously and begin implementing meaningful changes immediately.

I caught the broadcast as well, and I have nothing but praise for everyone involved. slyseal28, you truly impressed me with how calm, intelligent, and well-reasoned your responses were. Personally, I’ve had quite positive experiences with the healthcare system in these matters. My husband was told he needed surgery based on his first CT scan back on October 12, 2006, and by November 10 of that same year, he was already in the operating room. In that short window, he managed to complete his CT puncture, abdominal scans, and every other necessary test. Everything moved at a record pace, all while being handled through outpatient services. Once the surgery was over, he received four rounds of chemotherapy without us ever having to wait for any sort of administrative board to sign off. As soon as the medical team decided he needed treatment, they would just coordinate with the head nurse, and he would receive the Gemzar and cisplatin the hospital had on hand immediately—there was no waiting for some committee to approve that specific medication for him. This all took place at a major hospital in San Francisco. So, what the doctor from San Francisco was saying was absolutely true. That is exactly how things ought to work. Patients already have enough to fight with the illness itself; they shouldn't have to battle bureaucracy on top of it.