Posts by Angela Wright

Dana Brown56 said:Hi everyone, my mom was just diagnosed with lung cancer a few days ago. Because she’s quite frail (only about 99 lbs), surgery isn't being recommended right now; instead, once all her tests are finalized, she'll start chemotherapy.
I’ve been reading online that a diet consisting of 80% vegetables and 20% fruit is ideal, but since she’s already so thin, I’m worried that might cause her to lose even more weight.
We heard about some Japanese mushrooms that help boost the immune system (my sister actually makes herbal blends based on specific diagnoses back in Canada) so we’re going to try those to get her strength up.
We also picked up some Immunocch tablets, but our doctors have absolutely no clue what they are, how to take them, what the dosage should be, or what she needs to eat alongside them. If anyone here has experience with this, please reach out.

Your mom really needs to be on something like Ensure or Prosure—those nutritional shakes can act as a full meal replacement in a single serving and pack all the nutrients needed to build strength. It is incredibly dangerous if she slips into cachexia (severe malnutrition), because if that happens, she won't be able to handle chemo, and the whole treatment outcome becomes a massive gamble.
Personally, I wouldn't touch unverified supplements—whether it's herbs or pills from questionable sources—and I'd stick to proven complementary options. On this forumhttp://forum.zanovidan.hr/viewforum....7a36f1f1309f39 you can find advice from people who have actually tested these supplements and shared their honest thoughts.
For me, I've had excellent results using Native propolis.
Right now, the priority is getting her weight up and stimulating her appetite. For some people, a supplement like Pikovit syrup has been a lifesaver for getting an appetite back.

Amy Sanders44 said:Hey everyone, I’m looking for some help from anyone who actually knows their way around water quality testing. We just got our results back from the lab, and apparently, our water isn't safe to drink. The report mentions two different types of bacterial colonies—specifically the 22°C / 72-hour and 37°C / 48-hour stuff. The official paperwork says it doesn't meet safety standards, yet someone told us verbally that it's perfectly fine to drink. Honestly, I'm completely lost here. Any advice would be huge. Thanks.

Those "colonies" are bacterial colonies, most likely, and it looks like they tested their resilience at two different temperatures.
My guess is that when they told you it was okay to drink, they were implying that if you live there and have been drinking it for a while without getting sick, you've probably built up some kind of immunity to those specific bacteria.
Personally, though? I wouldn't touch that water.
I don't know what the standard protocol is for drafting these lab reports, but in my book, failing to specify exactly what was found is just plain unprofessional.

They were blasting this guy's head with up to 30 maximum doses, thinking they were treating a suspected brain tumor.
It was pure luck that his family insisted on getting tissue samples sent off for second opinions in the US and Germany before starting chemo; turns out, there was no tumor at all—it was actually an ischemic stroke. 😍😍😍
They tried to get him sent to a rehab center for recovery, but the hospital flat-out refused to acknowledge the two other medical opinions, digging their heels in like a drunkard clinging to a broken fence.
From what I understand, the whole thing is headed for a lawsuit.

placidjackal36 said:I didn't think you'd fall for those cheap marketing gimmicks. There’s no such thing as "1/3 dehydration."
Dehydration is a life-threatening medical emergency. You either have it... or you don't.

If someone is thirsty, they're just thirsty. They aren't dehydrated.

And as for that "eight glasses of water a day" rule? That's just some incredibly stubborn mythology that women's magazines have been peddling for over twenty years. It has zero scientific basis. Absolutely nothing.
Nobody needs to force down eight glasses of water daily because it's simply unnecessary.
The body requires a certain amount of hydration—on average, about two liters a day under normal conditions and typical activity levels. Some people need more, some need less.
Those two liters come from plain water, moisture found in food, and metabolic water produced during biochemical digestive processes.

Forcing yourself to hit eight glasses a day is pure stupidity. You drink what your body asks for.

Well, since you claim studies don't exist... you're right about that.
But rather than us both playing professor, here is what Mayo
says.

frozenotter72 said:Hi everyone,
I'm new to these forums and I am desperately asking for some guidance.
My dear aunt was diagnosed with Malignant melanoma four months ago. She’s already gone through three surgeries, but instead of stopping the spread, it seems to be moving even faster now.
Surgery isn't an option anymore, so we are looking at chemotherapy, which, from what I understand, isn't very effective against melanoma.
What are our options?

We have started a targeted nutritional plan, and next week she begins chemo.
Is there anything else we should be doing?

Does anyone here have any actual experience dealing with clinical trials?
I've reached out to every research institute I could find, but I haven't heard back with anything promising yet.

Has anyone tried that vaccine from Cuba?

Unfortunately, most of what you mentioned regarding chemo and melanoma is spot on.
Take a look at the studies over here:
http://www.clinicaltrialssearch.org/search.php just type "Malignant melanoma" into the search bar.
Otherwise, you can find US-based clinical studies right here: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
When it comes to melanoma, sadly, there isn't

By the time you actually feel thirsty, you’re already about one-third dehydrated.
The old rule of thumb says eight glasses a day is the magic number for total fluid intake, but people forget that "fluid" isn't just straight water from the tap. We're talking about everything from the broth in your lunch to the tea you sip with breakfast, or even the moisture found in oatmeal or fruit.
Bottom line: you have to adjust your actual water intake based on what kind of diet you're running through the day.

ironlynx41 said:Is there any way to get a wig covered by Medicare after just the second out of six chemo cycles?
How does it work, what's the cost, and where should I go?
Thanks, everyone!

Your oncologist needs to document the medical necessity for a wig in your clinical history, regardless of which cycle you're currently on. Once that's done, your primary care physician can file the claim with Medicare. After the commission approves it, you take that paperwork to an authorized vendor. I know of one right in Downtown Washington, D.C. Honestly, most of those "covered" wigs aren't worth the money they charge, and if you put down $67 more, you can usually snag something significantly better quality.

Aaron Hill44 said:Angela Wright, I'm not your friend, your association hasn't done a damn thing for me, and I have zero intention of dragging this conversation any further.
Go ahead and keep patting yourself on the back all you want.

😈
🤣
What a piece of work😍

Aaron Hill44 said:I don't have the energy or the slightest desire to get dragged into some endless back-and-forth or listen to people trying to act wise, but I have to say that... Angela Wright i slyseal28 They're just spinning fairy tales.
Everyone around here thinks they’re an expert on everything. It isn't like patients are just sitting there keeping quiet; the newspapers and news networks are absolutely saturated with endless stories and drama. But let’s be real—all that noise hasn't actually made the healthcare system any better, and frankly, it isn't going to change in the future either.
I’ve spent way too much time wrestling with the healthcare system to fall for these fairy tales. Honestly, hearing stories about people finally getting the treatment they deserve just because they joined some advocacy group makes me sick. It’s easy to judge, but there's a massive difference between those fighting tooth and nail and the ones who stay passive—some people just don't put in the work to earn better results. Look, I’m a fighter myself; I don't need some nonprofit holding my hand. And let’s be real: when it comes to this rotting American healthcare system, these associations haven't actually changed a damn thing.

Look, friend. The two of us just happened to find ourselves in the exact same boat. We met right here in this thread, and unlike all those other people who do nothing but sit around crying and making excuses for their own laziness and passivity, we actually decided to take the bull by the horns.
We founded this association back in 2007, and we’ve been in the trenches with people every single day since. We’re still out here grinding through all sorts of messy situations, even after losing our own most beloved ones. If you actually have the will and the time—and more importantly, if you aren't too narrow-minded or stuck in your ways—click on my profile to see exactly what this group does. It’s just a small handful of us, but we make it count. To start with, we provided you and everyone else a centralized hub where you can find everything from info on various malignant diagnoses and diagnostics to clinical trials. We also built a forum where you can grab advice, swap experiences, or just vent to lighten the load. For what it's worth, before this site launched, there was absolutely nothing like this available in the American language or anywhere else in the old South, which is why we get so many visitors coming in from those regions.

When it comes to how much impact an association actually has, it all boils down to a simple truth: an organization is only as powerful as its members are active. That’s the entire heartbeat of civil society. Think of it this way—an individual is just one small gear in a massive machine. But when you stack enough of those gears together, you don't just have parts anymore; you have a functioning system.

When you read those news stories about people battling illness, they almost always focus on individual tragedies—heartbreaking accounts of families scrambling to scrape together enough cash for a life-saving drug or an overseas surgery. Sure, that kind of crowdfunding might save one person here or there, but it’s a band-aid on a bullet wound. A system built on charity doesn't actually change anything; it doesn't face any pressure to evolve or fix its broken parts. Real, lasting reform only happens through systemic shifts. If we want actual results, we have to stop looking at these as isolated misfortunes and start working through organized civil society and advocacy groups. That's the only way to force the hand of the establishment and drive meaningful change.

Everyone knows the story of the people who sparked a revolution within our association—it all centers around the drug Sutent. It wasn't just about three individuals stepping up to scrape together cash for their own treatments; they went public to fight for the bigger picture: getting Sutent added to the Medicare coverage list. Because of them, we don't have 200 people every single year fighting losing battles just to fund something that they are morally and ethically entitled to receive. Sadly, of those original pioneers, only Mrs. Smith is still with us today. She’s undergoing regular treatment with Sutent, which has been incredibly effective for her. Even though the drug is insanely expensive, nobody is out to sabotage her by trying to kick her off the coverage list through some shady legal maneuvering. Unfortunately, that kind of thing happens constantly to women in our group battling breast cancer. Their treatment success is being sabotaged just when they're responding well to the medication, but unlike Mrs. Smith, most of these women simply don't have the guts to speak up. There isn't much the association can do about it either; if we push too hard, the authorities just dismiss us as telling fairy tales.

And finally:
You’re a textbook example of your people. Honestly, I get why you're so worked up. It’s just human nature to dig your heels in when faced with your own shortcomings instead of just owning them. It’s a reflex.

As for those old fairy tales? We outgrew them ages ago. Our real story isn't found in some bedtime fable; it's written in our actions and the work we actually do.

Scott Allen10 said:😬....it feels like I've been pushing back against you quite a bit lately...😍....

Anyway, this specific part caught my eye... acetaminophen is a seriously nasty drug... let's just leave it at that for now, and maybe I'll dive into the specifics some other time...

Look, I'm not a doctor.😁
I'm just stating my opinion based on the logic that if you can take something every two hours just to keep a fever down, then taking a slightly larger dose all at once probably won't wreck you.
Sure, chronic poisoning—in a strictly technical sense—can definitely damage someone or even kill them, but I feel like there's a massive difference between popping a handful of sleeping pills and taking acetaminophen.
Or am I totally off base here?🤷
Go ahead and write something about how dangerous acetaminophen actually is. It’s definitely worth knowing.

brisksurfer said:I remember when they told us the waitlist was three months long—I nearly fainted right then and there. I’ve never heard anything about those kinds of delays anywhere else! It's absolutely appalling.
And regarding what you said about patients being too afraid to speak up publicly? I believe you. That’s just how Americans are in general. When something goes wrong, they complain behind closed doors and act like heroes in private, but when it comes to making a public stand, nobody says a word. 😲
The whole country wouldn't be in this mess if people actually spoke up.👎

People don't seem to grasp that forming patient advocacy groups provides massive leverage. All it takes is stepping forward and saying, "Look, I've been waiting three months for radiation treatment, and here is my situation," and then the organizations can take it from there. By coming forward, patients can effectively shut down officials who try to claim everything is running perfectly. Until someone proves otherwise and starts pointing out the cracks, the authorities get to pretend everything is fine. That’s just the way the game is played.

Every single public statement made by those who chose to act through our association has led to real results. Today, those individuals receive the level of care they deserve, and nobody dares to try any shady business with them because they know they're dealing with someone assertive who will fight tooth and nail for their rights.

Go back and read the very beginning of this thread where we all discussed the need for an organization that actually bites back.
Well, now we have one. Use the advantage we have now—an advantage we didn't have when this entire discussion first started!

fadedmarlin402 said:It’s pretty straightforward. Once they’re dead, they won't have any use for money anyway. 😁

I’m not entirely convinced that using table salt is actually a viable method here. Theoretically, sure—you’d hit hypernatremia, which triggers immediate drowsiness if the concentration is high enough, but I highly doubt anyone could actually stomach drinking a solution like that. Your body would just reject it instantly. :riga:

That’s exactly the point. It takes away their will to live right away. 👍

Sam Fowler5 said:She’ll just end up landing herself in the ER... 🤷 She mentioned something about wanting to take all her meds at once right before bed. 😲 Can you actually die from that? I told her straight up not to mess around with this stuff. I'm worried about her. 😢

She won't die; she'll just turn herself into a chronically ill patient.
It reminds me of my old chemistry professor in college. He used to rant about how he never understood people who wasted money on pills and chemicals just to try and end it all. It’s pretty simple—just grab a handful of NaCl, stir it into some water, and boom, game over.

Honestly, I've got a feeling your friend is just going through one of those "emo" phases. Looking at her, she seems like a teenager; if she were older, she’d have come up with something more original than this to poison herself.
She’ll get over it, but hey, look—if it starts getting too heavy for you, you can always snitch to her parents.

Sam Fowler5 said:Tylenol, Advil, Motrin... if you start taking more than what's actually recommended, what kind of damage are we looking at?

Basically, Tylenol and Motrin are functionally the same thing—they're both just acetaminophen. Aspirin, on the other hand, is acetylsalicylic acid, and if you go overboard with that, you're looking at potential stomach bleeding or nosebleeds.
As far as goes, you can take Tylenol or Motrin every two hours to fight a fever until it breaks, so it's hard to really mess yourself up with those. In my book, Aspirin is definitely the riskier option.
How much have you actually taken, how often, and what exactly is causing you pain?

Different painkillers target different "spectrums" of pain, which means they can be combined, but you absolutely should never try to DIY your own cocktail without medical guidance.

mistyjackal842 said:User123

For a mammogram, you might want to look into the Dubrava Basketball Club clinic. Back in October 2010, older women were getting sent notices for preventative screenings specifically for mammograms at the Dub دعا Basketball Club facility, so you might be able to schedule something there. Personally, I had a great experience at the Dubrava Basketball Club, though it was for maxillofacial and oral surgery. Everyone there was incredibly kind and accommodating. They saw me right away—this was actually about nine years ago—but I still have really positive memories of the Dubrava Basketball Club.

When was the last time your mom had a mammogram? These preventative screening notices mention that if you’ve already had a mammogram within the last year, you should just return the notice. The Department of Health and Human Services sends these directly to people's homes. It seems they assume once a year is enough, but I wonder how things work for women who have already battled cancer—do they need to go more frequently? On top of that, their own instructions state that mammograms can't catch every single type of tumor. That actually caught me off guard. In their brochure, they only briefly mention women under 40, suggesting that if they really want one, they could opt for an ultrasound every two years, but framing it as "not mandatory" felt weird to me. Breast cancer hits women in their mid-twenties and thirties too, often in more aggressive forms, yet they seem to have drawn this arbitrary line at age 40.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy in women, appearing in as many as 27% of cases, and it ranks first among female-specific cancers causing death (at 18%).
The most vulnerable group includes women over 50, as well as women of any age who have a blood relative who has fought breast cancer.
In its early stages, breast cancer is asymptomatic and is usually discovered by chance during a routine checkup. When a tumor is caught in its earliest phase, the cure rate climbs to 95%, which makes early detection programs—those that emphasize self-exams, regular clinical visits, and mammograms—absolutely vital.
All women over 40 are advised to undergo an annual mammogram to ensure any changes in breast tissue are spotted promptly.
While breast cancer most commonly affects women over 50, we are seeing an increasing number of cases in women under 40 and even 30. In younger women, the disease tends to progress more rapidly than in older patients, making timely diagnosis even more critical. Because breast tissue is denser in women under 40, mammograms are less effective as a diagnostic tool; therefore, ultrasounds are recommended for younger women instead.
Women between ages 20 and 40 should perform monthly breast self-exams, along with a clinical exam once a year (or at least once every three years).
At age 40, a baseline mammogram is necessary, followed by annual mammograms and clinical exams alongside regular self-exams. While maintaining a healthy lifestyle and avoiding harmful habits can significantly help prevent cancer, preventative screenings and early detection remain the absolute best way to protect a woman's health.

Aaron Hill44 said:Don't bother looking for someone to vent to, especially not at the Department of Health and Human Services. They’re the ones who built this entire corrupt mess from the ground up, so complaining to them is just a massive waste of your breath and your sanity—believe me, I know firsthand. It’s incredibly frustrating because despite all the endless, empty rhetoric about "patient rights," the situation is actually getting worse by the day.

Look, honey, what you're saying is only half the story.
The real issue here is the people who stay silent and only complain behind a screen. They expect non-profits—which are usually just a tiny handful of dedicated enthusiasts and fighters—to step up and fight their battles for them. And the kicker? When activists actually try to identify who is facing these issues, they want to remain anonymous. It’s easy to demand change when you aren't willing to put your own name on the line.
Because patients just sit there being passive, all this talk about "rights" is nothing more than empty noise. Things are getting worse by the day. People get too comfortable in the warmth of their own homes, cradled by the gray monotony of their daily struggles and a false sense of security. They let everyone else fight their battles and solve their problems for them, but that’s not how the world works—you don't win wars if you aren't actually on the battlefield. In this life, nothing is handed to you on a silver platter, not even basic human rights. Those rights only exist because people show up every single day to fight for them.
And that’s exactly why I’m brave enough to conclude that... We have exactly the kind of healthcare system, the kind of Secretary, and the kind of government we deserve—and frankly, it’s a direct result of the attitudes we've allowed to take root.

Sandra Kelly3 said:My mom spoke with the doctor yesterday to get a general update, and he said there’s really no reason she shouldn't make a full recovery. :S Well, let's hope so.
They just brought her in a few minutes ago—she's looking pretty rough, honestly. It's hard to say... she's weak and has started coughing a bit now. (Great.) We'll see today if it's just a cold or if she needs to clear something out of her lungs. When I head over to see her again, I'll try to snap a few photos of the paperwork so I can show you guys the diagnoses. Just so you can see what's going on. I was there for about 15 minutes, and we talked, but she kept asking me five different times if I was still in college, and then asked Mom if she was working. She knows everyone and everything about our past, but now—she just can't seem to hold onto those details. Though, I guess that isn't even the biggest issue right now.

Just make sure you're feeding her healthy food—lots of vitamins—to get her immune system up. 👍

stormycanyon18 said:Oops, Ronald Rodriguez10, you got glaucoma? How old are you anyway? My doctor told me it was just sinus issues since I deal with them chronically—she didn't even bring up glaucoma once. Apparently, she thinks that's strictly an old person's disease.

Not necessarily. People with diabetes deal with glaucoma issues all the time; it’s actually pretty common.
With all due respect to your family doctor, I think a specialist ophthalmologist is a much more competent authority when it comes to actual eye pain. If I were in your shoes, I'd be asking for a referral to an eye specialist immediately just to rule out any serious ocular diseases.

says:
Hi everyone, this is my first time posting here. My mom developed this bump on her foot—right between the ankle and the foot—and it’s incredibly hard. The skin around it looks tight and honestly pretty nasty, sort of a reddish-purple color. Her doctor referred her to a surgeon, and they’re actually removing it today. Does anyone know what the next steps usually look like? Some well-meaning people told us these things are often metastases 😕😕...as if we shouldn't touch it because then everything would get complicated, but we're past that now. We've decided to take action and get it removed, so... we're leaving it in God's hands... 😢 ...she also has this spot on her chest, almost like a mole, but it's orange and has irregular edges. The doctor told her right away that it's skin cancer and needs to be removed too, so she's facing two procedures today. What's really eating at me is how a doctor can just know immediately and deliver such a diagnosis? My mom is completely terrified... and it's breaking my heart to see her so worried; I feel like she's already given up hope. About ten years ago, she had her thyroid removed because it was full of benign nodules, and she's always been a fighter, but now it feels like she's losing steam... I don't know... how can I help her? What should I do?

Any doctor making claims like that isn't being professional, and frankly, it sounds like they aren't a specialist. Without a pathology report analyzing the tissue after surgery, it is impossible to give a definitive diagnosis or claim whether something is malignant or benign.
It could be anything, even a benign lipoma, but you won't know until after the procedure.
Tell your mom not to worry prematurely; stressing out like this won't change the outcome. Once you have the lab results, then you deal with the reality of the situation, whether it's malignant or benign. You can't solve a problem before you even have the facts.
And let her know that even if it is cancer, it isn't a death sentence. Cancer is a fight that people win more and more often these days.