Posts by hollowmarlin66

First, you mentioned that Mom was diagnosed with cancer several years ago...
but then later you said she hasn't even received a diagnosis yet.
What am I missing here? Does it mean she had an exam a few years back, got a diagnosis, and turned down treatment? And now, after experiencing these symptoms, she hasn't been checked out, so you're worried they might be metastases? Or did I misunderstand something?

I honestly don't know what to tell you... maybe try reaching out privately to arrange at least some lymphatic drainage while you work out the details for treatment at a facility (assuming your mom actually wants that). If she’s fully aware of her situation, she has the right to refuse treatment regardless of what you ask; it's her choice, so your voice won't necessarily carry more weight. Aside from rare exceptions, doctors can be pretty cold. Everyone has the right to choose their own path, and even if someone changes their mind later, help should still be provided. Sometimes, threatening them with the media or legal action is the only thing that works when they start denying care or treatment. My mother beat cancer, but my brother didn't. When we asked for records to get a second opinion, they wouldn't hand them over. When we begged them not to tell him how little time he had left—which, unfortunately, they weren't wrong about—they wouldn't stay silent. When we tried switching hospitals, they pushed back. Even when we provided everything they requested, they were difficult. All I can say is that in the end, we were the ones left with a clear conscience but a bitter taste in our mouths, while they (with few exceptions) sleep perfectly fine with heavy consciences. You can't fight the system, and it isn't worth fighting a losing battle, but you absolutely have a right to medical care, and no one is allowed to take that away from you under any circumstances. I think medicine is a textbook example of where rivalry, ego, and intolerance exist among colleagues, yet they all band together the moment an outsider speaks up against them... but unfortunately, there just aren't enough voices to make a real impact. Sadly...

A hematoma is basically just a bruise from blood pooling under the skin. I underwent laser lipolysis myself and ended up with some bruising that lasted anywhere from 6 to 9 months, even though I was back to my regular routine just four days after the procedure. Dealing with the face is a different story altogether, so my advice is to head back to the clinic where you had the treatment and get some answers directly from them.

Hannah Taylor76 said:Our family deals with uterine-ovarian cancer in our genes; everyone has successfully beaten it, thank God. My aunt had everything removed, my mom, my grandma, even my grandma's sisters... For me, it just started showing up as issues like polyps when I was only 24, but I managed to get those taken care of...
I was just told today that a friend is losing his battle with cancer... there's really no comforting words for this... he fought just as hard as all of you have. I know how to help, but the cancer needs to be caught in its early stages... it can linger for a while, but the person shouldn't have to go through endless rounds of chemo. I won't say too much publicly about this, but please feel free to reach out to me; I'll explain everything to you dear hearts...
I mainly came here to offer support, and maybe even a chance for someone if I can help financially through certain organizations... dear hearts...
And maybe I also came here because I am just so heartbroken over him 🙂 because just four days ago we were just joking around and laughing... and now we're just waiting... for him to leave us...

You say you know how to help, but what about your friend and his struggle?
Yes, I’m being blunt, but I assume you're referring to alternative medicine, which is something I’m particularly sensitive to and have a strong aversion toward.

I've had a few procedures to remove colon polyps in the past. Now I'm dealing with issues again, but this time my doctor isn't quite sure if it's a new polyp or just a thrombosed hemorrhoid. For now, we're just leaving it as is. Does anyone know how to tell the difference?

Mention that supplement to your doctor, and you’ll get a real answer to the question being asked here.
In my opinion, it’s nothing more than a business scheme with zero medicinal value.
Stick to proven medicine, and take that money instead and spend it on high-quality nutrition, skincare, and everything else that actually matters.

Has anyone here experienced a recurrence after having colon polyps removed?

Megan Taylor87, I just sent you a PM...

You really need to handle this within your family.
They might have been trying to spare you because of your age, but given the significant family medical history, it’s vital to know exactly what you're dealing with. It's ultimately for our own sake.

You mentioned two different types of cancer... prostate and bone. It really depends on which one we're talking about.
Metastases are just malignant tumor cells that spread through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other organs and parts of the body, traveling from the primary site. If you do a quick Google search, you'll find plenty of info online.
Prognoses are highly individual... just like the course of treatment and the methods used.
I am truly sorry about your grandfather, but he really did live a long, full life—and that doesn't necessarily mean this is the end. For what it's worth... in older patients, cancer tends to progress more slowly.

I’ve had some bad experiences within my immediate circle involving stomach cancer. There’s no need to panic, but you should definitely go see a doctor.

www.zanovidan.com, just post your question on the forum and I'm sure you'll get some feedback. Good luck.

Check out www.webmd.com. They have great forums and solid support there. You'll get excellent advice based on actual experience, and they can point you in the right direction. Plus, there's an oncologist on the forum who regularly responds—she’s a shining example of excellence within an otherwise pretty broken American healthcare system.

Nancy Hernandez43 said:I will never understand why doctors, knowing how vital mental strength is, don't leave room for optimism. Anything can happen, so there's no reason to walk around thinking nothing positive can occur—after all, nobody knows exactly how a disease will progress. So... don't lose hope. Give yourself and your loved ones strength, and believe that you will fight through the entire treatment like lions and emerge victorious! Hang in there!

My mother beat breast cancer years ago, but my brother passed away recently from stomach cancer. Having gone through all of this, I understand why doctors—when things are serious—don't leave space for optimism. They look at it objectively, medically, and empirically. They are rarely wrong, and truly, only exceptions seem to crawl out of terminal stages. Meanwhile, we always hold onto hope. It's true that every person's body and immune system is unique. Everyone has to fight for their own sense of optimism, while doctors provide us with the realistic picture. For example... when my brother was diagnosed, they basically ran him through the wringer in Seattle and advised us to do nothing because he had less than a year left. We didn't accept that; we didn't even tell him the prognosis, though he knew the diagnosis. He was naturally cheerful and optimistic. He decided to take the fight to the illness. In Chicago, they took him in, operated, and set up his therapy, though they again gave us a grim outlook. Before surgery, he had chemo to make him operable; he remained upbeat, convinced he would pull through... however, after a few months, he passed away. Even he felt the weight of it toward the end. On the other hand, my mother... who is generally a pessimistic, very realistic, sometimes even depressed woman. When they found her cancer a few years ago, the doctor said she would pull through, and we actually thought the opposite because of her mental state. But she made it... It isn't all in your head.
I am not posting this to discourage people from having a chance despite bad prognoses, but rather to point out that doctors are very good at providing a realistic assessment—sometimes it feels cruel, but it is truthful. And I should add... I am not taking the side of the medical establishment; I have had bad experiences, including instances of unethical behavior during the treatment of both my family members...