Posts by crimsoncanyon3

Richard Jones5 said:I was wondering if anyone here could help me make sense of a CT scan reportfor the chest. It was ordered because an elderly family member, born in 1943, has been coughing up blood occasionally.

No suspicious lesions or widespread nodules were found within the lungs.
There is some minor blockage visible in one of the subsegmental bronchi in the apical-posterior segment. On the right side, just under the pleura, there is a larger calcification measuring about 0.7cm, and on the left, there is some lime-like thickening of the pleural layers.
No fluid buildup was detected in the pleural space.
The lymph nodes in the hilum and mediastinum look normal, with no enlargement or mass formations.
The trachea and bronchial tree remain clear and open.
The surrounding bones show no signs of pathology.

Could someone please let me know if this requires urgent medical attention? We have an appointment scheduled with a pulmonologist, but it isn't for another two months.

Thanks,

If you were worried that lung cancer might be the reason behind those occasional bouts of coughing up blood, this specific report doesn't show any typical signs of malignancy.

--------
oncology.net

Chris Mitchell4 said:Dad was sent for a COVID test because his fever spiked—it actually hit 37.9 yesterday.
After that, the Lead Oncology Manager (LOM) will decide on the next steps.
Because of the former LOM (who moved positions) and the rest of the teams at the Varaždin OB, he ended up with a Stage 4 diagnosis. Time just slipped away; surgeries and screenings kept getting pushed back. Because they suspected a tumor, they actually removed his entire healthy thyroid before they had even confirmed it was thyroid cancer through an exam. It was a textbook example of how *not* to handle lung cancer treatment. After more than six months of waiting, he finally got his diagnosis in Chicago after deciding to walk away from the Varaždin OB. His experience there has been nothing short of terrible.
It feels like even the new LOM isn't particularly interested or simply doesn't know how to help. He claims the symptoms are likely just side effects from the chemo. Regardless, I feel like something needs to be done to ease these symptoms, but everyone just seems to be brushing it off...

You really need to go directly to his oncologist. These LOMs often don't have enough specialized knowledge, and frankly, they don't want to get too deeply involved with oncology patients—even when they have the power to prescribe something to help, they often don't bother. At the end of the day, the oncologist is the only real point of contact for concrete assistance. Good luck!

boldwalker13 said:hello,

Unfortunately, life has led me to this specific topic.
My father-in-law, who is 77, was diagnosed with high-grade myofibrosarcoma in his chest. It was surgically removed. Before the surgery, he had a PET/CT scan which showed no metastasis, his lung X-ray was clear, and the MSCT of his abdomen and pelvis came back clean too.
The oncologist in Miami is requesting follow-up CT and MRI scans; we suspect they think the surgery might not have cleared everything out. We are considering seeking a second opinion. While browsing the forum, I saw Dr. Shantek at Johns Hopkins Hospital mentioned as a specialist for rare tumors. We’d love to reach out to him, but since I read somewhere that he doesn't check his emails regularly, I was wondering if anyone here might have his direct contact info.
Any and all experiences regarding this type of sarcoma would be more than welcome.

Depending on how large the tumor was and how aggressive the disease is, radiation therapy might be an option after surgery if there's any suspicion that some cancer cells were left behind.
For more general info on sarcomas, check this out: https://www.oncology.com/soft-tissue-sarcoma

quietpilot87 said:Hello, I have a quick question.
The patient just finished preventative radiation to the head, and even though every article claims the side effects should be mild, it seems like this radiation hit him much harder than all his previous chemo sessions combined. He’s incredibly exhausted and actually needs a transfusion to get his blood counts back up. It’s been two months since the radiation ended, but the fatigue hasn't let up. Roughly how long does it typically take for the body to bounce back from something like this? Thank you so much.

Fatigue, brain fog, and cognitive shifts are pretty common after radiation therapy to the head (especially when targeting the brain). Of course, the risk level depends on whether they treated the whole brain or just a specific area, the total dose used, and what his baseline cognitive function was to begin with. Recovery is all over the map—it can take several months, and in some cases, there might be lasting effects on mental function. As for the impact on blood counts during head radiation, that shouldn't usually be a long-term issue, so it might be worth looking into other potential causes. You can find more details here: https://www.oncology.org/radiotherapy

Chris Mitchell4 said:I'm looking for a physiatrist. My appointment isn't until October 28th, but that feels like forever since my back pain and foot numbness are getting pretty bad, and neither gels nor pills seem to be doing much.
What do you guys think about the Sremac Bohaček clinic in Središće or the one near Saint Roch?

Hi there! Just wanted to mention that the Solmed clinic is actually running a study right now involving some innovative medications specifically for back pain. You can call them at 01 5620 921 to get all the specifics. Since the treatment is sponsored, it would be completely free for you as a participant.

For anyone interested in how marijuana affects patients fighting cancer, here is an objective article built entirely on scientific facts.

https://www.onkologija.net/post/mari...-uPdTAzXTcgjF0

What is the best way to truly show up for someone fighting cancer?

https://www.onkologija.net/post/kako...im-bolesnicima

wanderingpanther11 said:I'm looking for recommendations for a solid oncologist. Ideally someone specializing in digestive system organs located in the Indianapolis, Chicago, Novi Sad, or Belgrade areas, or perhaps somewhere in Germany or Austria.

DM me 😉

Susan Watson3 said:We finally got a diagnosis today
it's Nodular Sclerosis Hodgkin's lymphoma.
We start chemo this Friday. If anyone has tips on what might help make the treatment itself easier to handle, or how to bounce back during recovery, please let me know.
Right now, I've been giving him raw propolis, pure aronia juice, freshly squeezed orange juice, and a blend of beet, carrot, and apple juice...

Actually, this is pretty good news in the grand scheme of things. We're looking at a malignancy that has about a 90% cure rate. Wishing you all the best with the upcoming treatment.

You can check out some advice here on managing side effects: https://www.oncology.org/chemotherapy-side-effects

Susan Watson3 said:When I asked what they thought caused my son's tumor, the professor told me... it’s possible it started when he was just a baby or a toddler, during the cell division process where some cells essentially turned into tumor cells. He believes we're looking at connective tissue cells in his case. The tumor might have been caught much earlier if, for instance, my son had developed pneumonia, because it might have shown up on an X-ray then...

Good luck! Please keep us posted once you have more info—maybe then we can offer some helpful advice.

Eric Newman75 said:We really shouldn't turn this into just another conspiracy theory thread. To claim there's a cover-up, you have to assume someone actually knows the whole truth and is actively hiding it. But the reality is that we still have so much to learn about cancer. Age is definitely one major factor, along with plenty of others—things like smoking, alcohol consumption, genetic predispositions, and environmental exposures. That’s common knowledge; nobody is lying to us about those links. In fact, it's quite the opposite: we are constantly seeing new breakthroughs and insights regarding oncological diseases being published. While it is heartbreaking that children can get sick, adults still make up the vast majority of the affected population, accounting for roughly 98 percent of all cases.

I agree; diet is certainly one of the most significant risk factors in cancer development.
That said, the reality is that because of lifestyle choices, the age at diagnosis is gradually trending lower, and we are seeing an increasing number of younger patients. Of course, there's also the element of improved diagnostics at play—we're catching illnesses in younger people now that might have gone undetected in previous generations. So, some of what looks like a change in trends might just be better detection rather than a fundamental shift in how often the disease occurs.
When you look at the big picture, young people still represent a very small fraction of total cases, and the fact that the disease occasionally appears in children and very young adults isn't a new phenomenon—it's always been part of the landscape.

Susan Watson3 said:I totally get it; everything makes sense to me. It's just that this constant fear of waiting for results is honestly terrible...
But alright. Do you happen to know of any specific cases, or maybe some connection where I could dig deeper into this illness? I mean, I've only managed to find a little bit so far...

From what I've gathered, they don't even know exactly what kind of illness we're dealing with yet. Based on the location, it could potentially be a thymus tumor (the thymus gland).

Susan Watson3 said:Oh, and I forgot to mention... It's about 4x6 inches. He went around major blood vessels, pressed against the heart, and reached all the way up to the larynx ������

While I completely understand why you’re feeling impatient, I also truly believe you wouldn't want any kind of incorrect treatment being applied. It is absolutely vital to wait for those biopsy results so we can see exactly what we're dealing with; that's the only way to decide on the best way to tackle this issue. There is no way that tumor just appeared out of nowhere in a single month, so waiting a few more days isn't going to cause anything dramatic to happen.

Brenda Alvarez24 said:I didn't want to start a whole new thread because I doubt it would stay up for long... plus, it isn't an official lab result...
I went to the clinic today for some blood work, and right at the entrance, the nurse was checking temperatures... she smiled at me and said, "You're at 96 degrees."
Since my temperature is usually right around 98.6, this felt incredibly low.
What do you guys think?

If they were using those quick infrared forehead scanners, they aren't exactly reliable. For one thing, the reading is heavily influenced by the ambient temperature around you.
They use them just because they're fast, but honestly, they seem more like a gimmick than a useful tool.

----oncology.net

What’s the deal with vaccinations for oncology patients? Should they be getting them, and at the end of the day, are they even allowed to?

https://www.oncology.net/vaccination-for-cancer-patients

coastaltiger7 said:They ran those tests on me too, but the results came back negative.

I’m not sure how old you are or what your family medical history looks like, but if you're dealing with any symptom that just won't quit, you really need to dig deeper to find the cause. It wouldn't be a bad idea to get some imaging done, like an X-ray or a scan, just to be safe.

-----www.oncology.us

How do you deal with anger? It’s one of the toughest hurdles, both for the patient and their family.

https://www.oncology.net/post/dealing-with-anger-in-cancer-patients-a-traffic-light-analogy

Eric Newman75 said:To be honest, there actually are clinical studies regarding beta-glucans used as an adjuvant therapy—quite a few, actually (I linked the first two I stumbled upon)—so we probably shouldn't be telling oncology patients they can't take them. Look, I agree with what was written, everything holds up, but in certain specific cases, there might actually be some benefits. I've read in several places that they help improve bone marrow regeneration and can lessen the immunosuppression caused by radiation and chemotherapy. And just to be clear, I’m not browsing sites filled with buzzwords like "detoxification" or "flushing toxins from the body"—honestly, I'm allergic to anything claiming to "boost immunity" or "balance levels" of some chemical element. Ninety percent of the advice out there and regarding that diet can easily be tossed aside as pure snake oil and charlatanism. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, avoid canned food and alcohol, and practice extreme moderation with everything else—that’s pretty much the whole game. 🙂

Hey everyone, I just want to clear up any confusion for those reading along. That first link you mentioned is for an active clinical study, meaning it's a trial currently in progress; we won't have a definitive conclusion until the study wraps up and all the data is analyzed. The second link is a review article, which means it isn't original research itself, but rather a summary of existing literature. It focuses primarily on laboratory results and concludes that there aren't sufficient results regarding the use of beta-glucans in cancer patients, so no serious conclusions can be drawn from it at this stage.

In short, there aren't any relevant studies yet that demonstrate a clear benefit in treating oncology patients. I do agree, however, that we shouldn't be stopping patients from taking whatever they choose; nobody has the right to gatekeep that. It's their health and their life on the line, so the decision to use dietary supplements is ultimately theirs.

You can find a bit more info on beta-glucan and its potential effects here: https://www.onkologija.net/post/mo%C...C4%8Denju-raka

coastalpanther62 said:I could really use some help from anyone who knows more about this, because I’m getting totally conflicting advice:
Is it okay to take beta glucan while undergoing chemotherapy (it happens every 3 weeks)?
Some places say it’s fine to use, while others claim you should wait until all the chemo cycles are completely finished. I honestly don't know what to think or do.
A lot of people are telling me they use aloe with honey.
I'm just worried that I might mess something up and cause the opposite of the intended effect.

Generally speaking, beta glucan can be used during chemotherapy. However, it’s important to note that there isn't enough solid evidence to show whether it actually influences the treatment being administered, or how it might do so.
It’s also worth mentioning that there is absolutely no definitive proof that this supplement "boosts the immune system." Personally, if I were in your shoes, I’d put my money into maintaining a proper, healthy diet instead.

coastalpanther62 said:Is anyone else dealing with a tumor diagnosis where the origin isn't clearly identified?
After months of back-and-forth and endless waiting, the doctors have finally decided how to classify my dad's illness and start him on chemotherapy.
He’s already become so weak and suffered a pulmonary embolism. Honestly, I’m furious because treatment was delayed far too long while they kept waiting on biopsy results.
I feel completely helpless. I don't know if there's anything more I can do—whether I should seek out specialists outside our local hospital. Every time I call private clinics, they tell me they won't treat these types of tumors when the exact source hasn't been pinpointed.
On top of all this despair, people around me are judging me, implying they would definitely be doing more than I am. It’s heartbreaking, and I’m starting to wonder if I really am falling short for him.

I am so sorry you're going through this. Please send me a private message; I have some information regarding therapies that might be helpful for both you and your father.