Melissa Kim45, and everyone else... honestly, reading about everything you're all going through is heavy. There isn't much sense in trying to be profound here, other than just telling you to hang in there. Just remember that no matter how brutal things get, the time we get to spend with our people is precious—and unfortunately, it's finite. To them, you’re probably the brightest spot in their lives. It's one thing to lose your cool when things get intense, but it's much harder to live with the aftermath. So, stay strong.
On my end, my dad had his surgery. He's recovering beautifully; he finished five CT scans and everything came back clear. 😁
But I have a friend who isn't having nearly as much luck. 😢
Melissa Kim45, you were asking how my dad was doing... well, the surgery went great. He’s actually recovering incredibly well. They were able to discharge him just a week after the procedure. For the time being, he’s stayed off the cigarettes. I really hope it stays that way.🙄 But, right after everything wrapped up, the doctors gave us the reality check. They said while the technical side of things went perfectly, that's only half the battle. We're still waiting on the pathology reports before we can meet with the oncologist to figure out the next move.
Sending strength to everyone else in this group. Hang in there.
jadetinker42 said:Man, when is someone going to bring some light to this thread?😕
Quick question for the group: does anyone here have experience with Immunomax AHCC supplements? I’m curious to know if they actually live up to the hype.
From what I’ve been reading, people swear by them. My main issue is the cost—since you need to take them for three months straight, the daily dose for patients adds up to $60. I'm just wondering when they might finally get added to the Medicare coverage list so we can actually get them via prescription.
As far as I know, they're already registered and covered by prescription in places like Mexico and Canada.
Hang in there, everyone!
A friend of mine tried them, and she claims they work wonders... she’s actually planning on starting them up again soon. I think she mentioned that they are significantly cheaper in America, so maybe do a little digging. See if you can find someone over there who can pick some up for you.
slyseal28 said:It feels like we’re all dealing with the same thing—that frustrating gap where even the people closest to us just don't seem to get it.
If I can add one thing, it's that the real lifelines have often been strangers or people we barely know. The ones we actually expected to step up? They just vanished when things got heavy.
But honestly, why waste any energy worrying about them? There are plenty of good souls out there standing by us. I’m really looking forward to when our foundation raises enough funds to host a big get-together so we can all finally meet face-to-face. Sending love to everyone!
I second that.. and I'm so grateful for the kind people who have been helping me through this.
My dad had his surgery today. Everything went smoothly on the surgical side of things, thank God.. We still have a long road ahead of us... but it was a solid start...
Grace Fowler said:Hey there!! A bone scan is actually a painless, straightforward procedure. Once you get your appointment—which usually means showing up around 8:00 AM—they just inject a bit of tracer into your vein. After that, you're basically on your own for about 12 hours until the imaging happens, though the actual scan itself only takes about ten minutes. You can usually expect the results within 7 to 10 days. I’ve had them done at Mayo Clinic several times myself, and the protocol is always exactly the same. Fingers crossed you get an appointment soon and that everything comes back looking good. Best, Grace
Thanks so much! 😘
The waiting is what really gets to me... with every new report, the uncertainty feels more real. It's like this "enemy" is finally starting to take shape.
Can someone walk me through how a bone scan actually works? Like, what’s the process, and how long am I looking at for the actual procedure? Also, does anyone know the typical wait time for an appointment or getting the results back? I read somewhere that it can sometimes take a few hours, and you have to stay super still... I'm asking because my dad just had spinal surgery, and staying in one position for that long is going to be a real struggle for him. Thanks!
cosmicridge5 said:Lately, scrolling through all these threads about cancer and chemo, I’ve found myself feeling this intense urge to just reach out and send a message to Zazie. And then I read that she had passed away. I spent hours obsessively scrolling through her old posts, practically tearing through them, while simultaneously making a list of every book she’d ever mentioned reading. I honestly don't know if I’ll ever find the motivation to pick up a book again, but if the urge actually hits me, I guess I'll start with the ones she recommended. Sending some love your way, Zazie...
I already posted today's results. So, I ended up drifting over to the lung cancer thread... and honestly, I just sat there reading through everything. I stumbled upon some of Zazie's old posts today, and honestly, it hit me right in the gut. I ended up spiraling a bit, digging through her history, only to realize that her last update was all the way back in last year.
Well, I finally managed to have a good cry.
I'd vouch for anything Patagonia says.
I've gotta say, thanks to all the good people in this group... And thanks to Zazie too...😘
We were talking about Dr. Hall about a few days ago... Well, I stumbled upon this article about him. It tells the story of a woman who is still with us today because of his work, even after everyone else had already written her off.
Donna Clark77 said:To get into Jordan, you need a referral from your primary care physician (it’s actually smarter to ask for two—one for the specialist consultation and one for inpatient treatment, just in case they decide to admit the patient immediately)—along with all the medical records gathered so far. In this case, that includes a lung CT and the cytology results from the bronchial brushing; I see they should also have the cytology and pH results from the puncture/biopsy in about a week. It wouldn't hurt to call ahead and ask about any potential deposits, though my understanding is that out-of-state patients can still be seen for an exam on the same day. At least, that was the situation about three years ago.
Thanks so much! This is incredibly helpful info... I'll give Jordan a call tomorrow to figure things out.
My dad is having a really rough mental day today... (he’d been holding up so well until now). The doctors are saying the biopsy is a bit tricky because there are a lot of bullae present, which means there's a high risk of causing a pneumothorax... 😢 (assuming I understood everything correctly...)
Amanda Miller69, it’s truly wonderful to read some good news... I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you, and I'm hopeful for this new glimmer of hope you've found.
Thanks so much for all this info! I know Haller personally—he actually performed surgery on a close friend of mine. We honestly owe him everything because he was the only one willing to step up and operate when everyone else just turned her away. Because of that, I’d recommend him to anyone dealing with gynecological issues in a heartbeat.
As for Jordan, we’ll probably make a final call once all the test results are back in our hands. Since we aren't based out of Washington, D.C., does anyone know if we need a specific referral to see someone there? Also, does anyone have a doctor they'd highly recommend?
My dad was admitted to the hospital today to prep for tomorrow's puncture... and then comes the long wait for the lab results next week.
I’ve been putting off posting this for a week now... as if stalling would actually change anything. My dad (55) was diagnosed with lung cancer last week. Based on what we know so far, there's a chance it might actually be linked to melanoma or hepatocellular carcinoma. He’s scheduled for a transthoracic puncture this Thursday, so we still won't know the exact "type" of cancer we're dealing with until then.
I honestly don't even know where to start thinking about this... Someone suggested that if he's healthy enough for surgery, he should have it done at a top-tier facility like the Mayo Clinic. Does anyone have recommendations for specific doctors there? We're originally from Seattle...
I don't know... I have a hundred questions swirling around, but I can't seem to articulate a single one. It’s like my brain has just gone numb.
restlessmoose18 said:😲 😲 Honestly, please don't tempt me to go and indulge myself too! DON'T! I really mean it—it's a struggle. 😛
p.s. Though, you could always... oh, come on... let me sneak a bite. I might just fly in from London specifically for that. You all can get married or whatever it is you're doing, while I stay in the background just tasting everything... then again, who knows what I might end up slipping into your cake?! 😲
🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 Just make sure you write it down in your ledger—I definitely owe you those pastries!
restlessmoose18 said:Personally, I’m more curious about what it's actually going to be made of. 😁 Though—and I know she’s stunning—it’s far from being realistic... it’s just... well, you're right, she looks like she stepped straight out of a cartoon. 👍
It’s fruit-based... I’m not entirely sure which specific flavors though; I just let them handle the mixing process... Sometimes I have to wonder how I managed to stay this chill about everything! 🤣 🤣 🤣
Honestly, that cake is a complete joke... It looks like something straight out of a Saturday morning cartoon. It’s almost aggressively cheerful, isn't it?