Posts by crimsoncanyon3

Donna Reyes11 said:Hi everyone
I’ve been following this forum for a long time, but I’m finally reaching out because the post above really hit home.
My mom was diagnosed with lung cancer back in July 2019—a 9x6 cm tumor with three spots on her liver, the largest being 2.5 cm.
After four rounds of cisplatin plus pemetrexed, the tumor shrank down to 6x4, and those liver spots looked more like minor lesions. However, she could only handle one more dose of cisplatin because her kidney function started failing. Around New Year's, Mom seemed to be doing okay—she was walking 1.9 miles a day, eating, and had lost some weight, which actually looked healthy for her; things felt relatively stable,
But at the start of the year, she received two more immunotherapy sessions (just pemetrexed), and then everything started crashing fast. By February, she couldn't even lift her legs and stopped walking. In March, a PET scan showed the tumor had grown to 12 cm, and the liver spots were widespread, with the largest hitting 10 cm.

Mom came to stay with us then, and she hasn't left our side since. In the meantime, she had one immunotherapy session, but she missed the next one scheduled three weeks ago because her liver enzymes are just through the roof. They are right on the edge.
Mom is mostly bedridden now. Every third day, she spends the entire day vomiting; there are days when she recovers enough to eat a little, and then there are the bad ones. She can barely make it to the bathroom. Hospice arrived yesterday to start her IV fluids, and palliative care is coming on Monday. We also have someone coming once a week to help bathe her. At first, she struggled to walk, then she used a cane, then a walker... but after just three days, everything becomes a struggle again. What’s really worrying me is that her abdomen is getting larger every single day, even though she takes medication for dehydration, her legs are swollen, and three days ago, Mom became completely disoriented. She’s mumbling things that don't make sense. She even knows she's talking nonsense, which frustrates her because she can't find the words she wants to say. She can't even figure out how to find or read a text message anymore. This all started three days ago, and it seems to get worse every day.
We are supposed to go for a PET scan this Monday, and I've already arranged transportation. Today, Mom told me she doesn't want to go. I know she has the right to refuse; honestly, what difference does a PET scan or the results make? It’s clear to us that there are no more curative treatments left for her... the hospice worker told me that since she's her mother, she wouldn't force her, and I'm grateful for that honesty, but how do you just give up? When is it time to stop?
And then I come across this post above mentioning that when the liver starts going, it's a matter of weeks.

What do you all think? Has anyone been in this situation? Should we do the PET scan—yes or no? I know that after the scan, Mom will be so exhausted she’ll probably spend the whole next day vomiting.

Unfortunately, based on what you've described, it sounds like the liver is slowly losing its ability to function. This leads to things like fluid buildup in the abdomen due to low protein levels, which then spills over into swelling in the legs, along with everything else. As for the confusion and incoherent speech, that can also be a result of declining liver function, or it's possible the disease has spread to the brain. In any case, given the overall picture, I wouldn't recommend putting her through additional testing. There isn't any practical benefit for her from these scans, and it would only cause unnecessary physical "torture." The focus should be on symptomatic therapy—which it looks like she is already receiving—to try and make her remaining time as comfortable as possible. If you ever need some kind of psychological support, feel free to send me a DM and I can put you in touch with someone.

fadeddriver19 said:Can anyone recommend a good diabetologist in Chicago? I'm open to private practices—actually, that might be preferred—but the main thing is finding someone truly skilled. I've had some pretty underwhelming experiences with specialists at certain private clinics before, so quality is my top priority here.

Hey there! I can give you an honest recommendation: Dr. Kruljac at the Solmed clinic. She’s excellent.
info@solmed-clinic.com

restlessbadger48 said:Hi everyone, has anyone dealt with liver issues before? For about two months now, I’ve been dealing with muscle aches, fatigue, and general weakness. My liver enzymes were elevated, and at my last checkup after two months, my ALT was still slightly high at 50 (with the upper limit being 48). Tests for mononucleosis and hepatitis all came back negative. The frustrating part is that the muscle pain, weakness, and exhaustion just won't quit. My thyroid levels are normal, and my ultrasound, EKG, and lung scans all look fine. Everyone seems to be pointing toward my liver, but it feels like this is dragging on way too long. Thanks!

Hey there. Given how broad symptoms like fatigue, muscle soreness, and weakness can be, they could stem from just about anything. It’s impossible for anyone to give you a definitive answer based solely on those details. Honestly, an ALT of 50 isn't necessarily the smoking gun here. Your best bet is to follow up with a specialist for a thorough evaluation. If you need a recommendation for a good doctor, feel free to shoot me a DM and I can help you out.

Gregory Cox4 said:Can anyone tell me if these blood work results are cause for concern?

(K) Neutrophil granulocytes 36.2 L rel % 44 - 72
(K) Lymphocytes 57.2 H rel % 20 - 46
(K) Lymphocytes 5.3 H 1.19 - 3.35

Everything else in my blood and urine tests looks normal.

I read somewhere recently that stress can impact lymphocyte levels, and I've been under a massive amount of pressure lately. Does that matter here?

It’s probably best to just run the labs again in about two weeks. Based on a single measurement alone, this doesn't look like anything dangerous.

granitepanther45 said:Hi everyone,

My dad had surgery for lung cancer, and he’s already finished his adjuvant chemotherapy at the hospital in Jordanovac. Now, he’s scheduled for radiation therapy, which should last about 4 to 5 weeks.
Since my dad doesn't live in Chicago, I was wondering if anyone has experience with this or knows if he could just do the radiation locally in a city closer to home (specifically, Seattle)?
He would still travel back to Chicago for all his other follow-up appointments and checkups.

I apologize if this sounds like we're trying to take the easy way out; Dad has been in Chicago for treatment for five months now, and he just really wants to head back home.😢
On the flip side, I'm worried that if he starts his radiation in a different city, they might not want to take him back for his regular checkups in Chicago, and he’s honestly been so happy with the doctors who have treated him so far.

Thanks so much in advance for any info you can share...🙏

Of course, he can absolutely do it in Seattle. Given the circumstances, I think the team at Jordanovac would be perfectly fine with that too. I don't see any reason why they wouldn't accept him for follow-ups, provided everything is communicated clearly with them.
However, there's another factor to consider: if you switch locations now, the whole process essentially resets from scratch. He’d likely face a much longer wait in Seattle before the radiation actually begins, so personally, I wouldn't recommend changing anything right now.

Robin Diaz4 said:It’s heartbreaking. When someone close to you gets sick, you realize just how much people can be misled when they're acting out of pure desperation.
Whether it's Vitamin B17, baking soda, iodine, graviola—you name it. Maybe some of it offers minor support, but let's be clear: none of it is a cure.
A friend actually recommended this "healer" to us. Honestly, I wouldn't have even let him through my front door, but at first, I thought he might be a nutritionist who could offer some helpful guidance. But then he started talking about these special—well, let's call them "magical"—powders that supposedly only he could source. He wasn't asking for much, just that we reimburse him for what he paid, which was $2333. I was honestly moved to tears.
The hardest part was seeing that momentary glint in my dad's eyes—that brief flash of hope where he actually believed this idiot could truly help him.
To be honest, I pushed everything aside and I can't even remember his name now, but if I could, I'd report him in a heartbeat. He even had the nerve to brag about how he’s helped countless people skip chemotherapy.

Some might say this doesn't belong on this specific thread, but I feel like I'm doing a service to patients by warning them about these scammers. Believe me, they tend to swarm around you very quickly.

That is such a terrible story. What fascinates me about these types is how they can live with themselves while doing this. You're essentially feeding false hope to someone who is seriously ill, and then you strip them of their resources on the way out. I'm speechless.

How oncology patients are being scammed—Vitamin B17 (amygdalin) doesn't cure cancer, nor is it actually a vitamin at all.

https://www.onkologija.net/post/kako...C4%87e-vitamin

Ryan Doyle21 said:Could someone help me make sense of these results? My ALP enzyme came back at 46, which is slightly below the standard range. My other liver enzymes, AST and ALT, are perfectly normal, though my GGT is sitting at 74—just a tiny bit above the limit. For cholesterol: an atherosclerosis index of 2, total cholesterol at 5.9, HDL at 1.6, LDL at 3.9, triglycerides at 1, and VLDL cholesterol at 0.4.

Male, 50 years old, 185cm, 105kg

Thanks.

Don't sweat it. It’s when those enzyme levels spike that you really need to pay attention. These specific numbers don't point to any underlying pathology on their own; it’s actually pretty common to see variations like this in perfectly healthy people.

Can a single post actually make a difference in the fight against cancer?
https://www.oncology.net/post/mo%C...otiv-karcinoma

np 🙂

Let’s talk a little bit about mental health and how COVID-19 has shaken things up. It's a heavy topic, but one that deserves some real attention.
https://www.onkologija.net/post/koro...1kih-bolesnika

A quick thought on mental health and the impact of COVID
https://www.oncology.org/post/mental-health-challenges-for-cancer-patients

silverwalker18 said:Does anyone have a recommendation for a private neurologist in Chicago? Thanks!

I've heard that Dr. Grbavac is pretty good.

silentskipper3 said:The local hospital in San Diego—I actually called them this morning hoping the poor guy could somehow get an appointment with an oncologist. Unfortunately, no luck there. He ran into some really frustrated staff who wouldn't give him any real info, just telling him to call back every single morning and "we'll see."

Have them reach out to me via the website www.onkologija.net or the Facebook page onkologija.net so I can figure out the specifics and gauge how urgent the situation is.

silentskipper3 said:Someone who needs an urgent initial consultation with an oncologist can't get seen because the only specialist currently available has the flu at home, and nobody knows when they'll be back on the job.

The hospital staff just laughs it off, saying, "Hahaha, you guys really have no luck," while politely offering some painkillers.

So what now?? With this virus going around, who knows how long the wait will be. And then, if (and when!) they actually get that appointment, the first thing they'll hear is, "Where have you been all this time? Why did you wait so long?"

Which facility is this?

Generally speaking, hospitals prioritize patients coming in for their initial screenings or those currently undergoing active treatment. They tend to push back appointments for people who are just there for routine check-ups or are on preventative therapies—essentially anyone with a low risk of a relapse. Of course, every medical facility operates by its own internal logic, but that’s the standard approach you'll see most often.

Jessica Chavez said:Thanks for getting back to me.
The first round of chemo is officially in the books. We’ve crossed that first milestone, though things are still a bit blurry. To be honest, we're still waiting for the full picture to come into focus regarding exactly where the fluid is draining from and the precise boundaries of the tumor. It's a process, but we're taking it one step at a time. 👎

I hear you. It’s possible to start therapy even if the primary site of the cancer hasn't been pinpointed yet, but it’s a bit like trying to hit a target through thick fog. Since the treatment isn't specifically tailored to a single origin point, it lacks that surgical precision, which unfortunately means the overall results tend to be much more limited.

Jessica Chavez said:I honestly can't wrap my head around this either. Is the oncologist really basing everything solely on fluid in the lungs—which is acting like cancer—even though every other test result came back totally normal? Since this is the first time I've ever heard of a situation like this, I’m going to go ahead and ask if it's actually possible. It's not like I'm new to dealing with cancer and tumors; I know how this process usually unfolds, but this specific scenario is something I've truly never encountered before. 🤔

There are certain types of tumors that simply don't show up on a PET scan, and let's be honest, no diagnostic test is ever 100% perfect. If they've confirmed the presence of cancer cells within the pleural effusion, then we are looking at metastatic disease. The next crucial step is identifying the primary site where the disease originated so that the medical team can select the most effective treatment plan.

My oncologist actually pointed me toward www.oncology.info. It’s packed with useful info for cancer patients, so I figured I'd share—it might just be the helpful resource someone else needs right now.

Where can I actually find reliable info? Does anyone have some solid recommendations? There’s just so much misinformation out there and people trying to sell you snake oil...

My oncologist actually pointed me toward www.cancer.org because they have a ton of great resources. I was wondering if you guys know of any other trustworthy sites?