Posts by Angela Wright

Hannah Newman22 said:I’ve done core workouts, and while my muscles feel solid, the skin just hangs there. I’ve tried hitting the gym hard, but nothing is changing. It’s frustrating... and honestly, fixing this kind of thing isn't cheap either. 🙂

You should really look into what a plastic surgeon can do regarding an abdominoplasty—that's the medical term for it. In my experience, the longer you wait, the worse the situation gets, which usually means the price tag goes up too.
No matter how much it costs, I don't think these procedures are quite the untouchable luxury they were a few years back.
From what I understand, you're looking at an average of around $16,000 $0.00, though it all depends on how complex the surgery ends up being.
Here is a link to some clinics that specialize in this:
http://www.estetska-kirurgija.info/k...je-koze-trbuha

Working out will definitely build up your muscle, but don't expect it to fix the loose skin issue. Unfortunately, that's something only plastic surgery can actually handle.

neonbadger50 said:I got the biopsy results back regarding my mother yesterday, and they confirmed our worst fears. She has a malignant brain tumor that’s aggressive, spreading incredibly fast, and she needs surgery immediately. This news hit us all hard, but I think I'm taking the biggest hit personally—I had pinned every last bit of hope on things being less severe, so this level of disappointment is just crushing. I honestly don't know how other people navigate this kind of reality, but for me, it feels absolutely devastating.🤷😕

So, which tumor are we actually dealing with here? Is it a glioblastoma or an astrocytoma?

Of course it feels like hell. You’re dealing with one of those fundamentally brutal life situations—the kind of news you spend your entire life thinking, "that'll never happen to me," only to have it land right in your lap anyway. It sucks.
I remember when my entire world just imploded out of nowhere. I spent six months in a complete coma, totally dysfunctional and spiraling into deep depression. Back then, there’s no way in hell I would have had the mental capacity to even type a single sentence on a forum. Honestly, you're handling this so much better than I ever did, and you really have my respect for that.
You have to stay locked in on the present moment; don't waste your energy spiraling about what might happen down the road.
At this stage, the absolute priority is determining whether that tumor is actually operable. It’s the single most critical factor because it dictates everything—it fundamentally changes the entire trajectory of treatment and, ultimately, how much more time someone gets.

William Hayes282 said:A buddy of mine dropped 90 pounds in just three months... so now I'm sitting here hoping I can pull off the same miracle...

That kind of rapid weight loss isn't healthy and can seriously wreck your body, especially if you're still growing.
p.s. those shots didn't do anything for me—they definitely didn't speed up my weight loss, by the way.
The only way to do it right is through a solid diet and staying active. Sure, it's a slow grind, but the results actually stick when you make clean eating and exercise part of your lifestyle.

Nicholas Patel52 said:Does anyone know how I can get rid of the blood in my eyes from burst capillaries?

I've been dealing with bloody eyes for quite a while now—maybe 4 or 5 years. It all started during a stretch where I was glued to my computer screen all day long.

Are there any specific eye drops or something else I can pick up at a drugstore?

Honestly, I'm sick of it because people keep noticing it..

You can't just drop some liquid in your eye and expect burst capillaries to vanish instantly. However, if you're staring at a monitor for more than three hours a day, you really need to be using lubricating drops—the kind contact lens wearers use to prevent dryness, like Refresh.
If there's actual inflammation involved, an ophthalmologist or your primary care doctor can prescribe something like Systane drops. Just go see a professional and handle this the right way. You should never mess around with your eyes on your own.

hiddenhawk88 said:Sometimes when I first wake up, I feel this need to clear out some mucus that builds up in my throat, though it’s always just a tiny amount and pretty clear and thin. But this morning was a bit different—I had to basically "snort" some drainage from my nose down through my throat just to cough it out, and I noticed some pretty noticeable streaks of blood mixed in there. How much should I actually be worrying about this?

My throat isn't hurting and I don't have a fever, but it feels like I've been producing way more phlegm since this morning started. I actually had my tonsils and adenoids taken out back when I was a kid. I recently went in for a full blood panel and everything came back totally normal. I tend to catch every little bug or cold that goes around, but I'm feeling fine otherwise. I'm 28 years old.

It sounds like you've got a sinus infection, and that blood is just draining straight down the back of your throat.

Look, you guys really need to double-check those emails on Google when they land in your inbox, because some of them can sit there for years before they actually reach you.

neonbadger50 said:Dear Angela Wright, first off, please accept my apologies for typing in all caps. Forgive me—I didn't realize at the time, and it was just easier to type in caps rather than stopping to think about grammar. Sorry once again. Also, thank you so much for your reply.
Today I found out that my mother was seen by a neurologist, and they are still insisting it’s a malignant brain tumor that has metastasized. However, a friend's husband, who works in medicine here, argues that a doctor can't confirm that diagnosis without a biopsy. He says every CT scan shows tumors that could actually just be cysts or blood clots forming in these situations. I don't know what to think anymore; I'm listening to every piece of advice and opinion, and it's just making me more confused. Honestly, I have no idea how to handle this situation, which, in the worst-case scenario, means dealing with it from a distance. I haven't seen my mother in 11 years, and now this nightmare news hits me. I don't know how to act or stay calm right now. I'm setting a bad example for my kids, too, as they watch me cry and fall apart, knowing full well there's nothing I can do. I lost my father 10 years ago, but it wasn't even remotely as painful as this. He died suddenly from a heart attack, but this hell—knowing a loved one might get better or might be gone forever—is a horrific state to be in. Has anyone else dealt with a similar diagnosis? Please reach out, even if it's just to offer advice or help explain my mother's condition better. Thank you all in advance...

😁You don't need to apologize to me; I didn't write the forum rules. I only made that remark so the moderators wouldn't slap you with a pointless ban.

Your friend is absolutely right. Without a pathology report, nobody can claim anything with 100% certainty.
We actually had a case in our association where a man's pathology results were messed up, and he was being treated for a brain tumor based on a suspicious finding. Luckily, before he started chemo, his wife sent the scans and tissue samples off for a second opinion and a new pathology analysis. It turned out the man had actually suffered a stroke. Of course, the whole thing is heading to court now, because those 30 radiation doses definitely did damage to his already fragile vessels, not to mention the potential long-term consequences.
In other words, regardless of how experienced some doctors are and how much they think they can eyeball a diagnosis, everything should be taken with a grain of salt until you get a relevant confirmation via pathology. Both an ischemic insult and a brain tumor are serious diagnoses, and they both demand the same level of serious, professional scrutiny.
I know this is incredibly hard, but try to approach the whole thing as rationally as possible. Right now, nothing is concrete yet, and that's how you have to handle it.

neonbadger50 said:FIRST OFF, HELLO TO EVERYONE, AND A SPECIAL HELLO TO ANGELA WRIGHT. TONIGHT WAS MY VERY FIRST TIME LOGGING ONTO THIS FORUM, AND I HAVE TO SAY—WHAT YOU DO HERE IS TRULY WONDERFUL. I HAD NO IDEA A PLACE LIKE THIS EVEN EXISTED. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE ONLY REASON I’M HERE TONIGHT IS BECAUSE I WAS SEARCHING ONLINE FOR INFORMATION REGARDING MALIGNANT BRAIN TUMORS. MY BROTHER CALLED ME FROM VIENNA EARLIER THIS EVENING WITH SOME HEARTBREAKING NEWS. OUR MOTHER IS IN THE HOSPITAL, AND based on how heavy the initial findings look—though they aren't 100% confirmed yet—it most likely looks like a malignant brain tumor. It seems to be pressing against the part of the brain responsible for balance and memory (please forgive me if I don't use the right medical terminology; I only started looking into this about an hour ago). All her symptoms originally pointed toward a stroke, but now we're facing this. I found the courage to come here to find some light amidst all this grief and sadness, and I want to thank you all so much. I live in the US and don't have many friends I can talk to this openly with, especially not at five in the morning while everyone else is sleeping and I can't even begin to close my eyes. I've been reading through your stories here, and many of them brought me to tears. I truly admire how you all handle everything. I won't bore you any further since I'm still waiting for the official test results to confirm what the doctors are suspecting. Regardless of what happens with my mother, I will continue to visit this forum. Thank you, Angela, for creating such a space, and I wish you all nothing but the absolute best. Thank you again—you are all in my prayers...

Dear neonbadger50, I'm crossing my fingers that everything turns out as well as possible.
Just a quick tip: try not to write in all caps on the forum. It comes across as shouting, which actually goes against the community rules.

hiddenmaker25 said:Hi everyone,

I'm facing a situation right now that’s weighing heavily on me, and I honestly don't know what move to make. My mother was hospitalized for a week, and after running some tests, they diagnosed her with a mixed-type Muller's tumor that has already metastasized to one spot on her pelvis.
The word from the doctors is that the tumor is inoperable, and they're discharging her to go home.

I am at a total loss as to who I can turn to for actual treatment—someone who might actually try to do something about this rather than just giving up.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Best,
D

If I'm not mistaken, we're looking at a type of sarcoma derived from breast cells. Unfortunately, because this specific kind of tumor grows so aggressively, surgery is usually the only real play.
In the US, you'd find specialists for sarcomas at major hubs like Mayo Clinic or MD Anderson, whereas here, you're often stuck with just a couple of experts at places like Johns Hopkins or Cleveland Clinic—specifically Dr. Herzog and Dr. Shante. I don't know which facility handled her initial pathology, but when it comes to these niche sarcomas, local pathologists often lack the specialized equipment or the deep expertise needed for such complex typing. It would be wise to get the hospital to release her tissue samples via a formal transfer so you can send them off to a dedicated sarcoma center for proper staging and typing.
Gather all her medical records and demand a second opinion, but try to verify that initial pathology report first. If you hit a wall, reach out to me.

Lisa White54, I honestly think Drew Brooks8 just made a typo. She didn't mean anything by it.

Amy Hill55 said:Hey everyone,
since you all seem to know your way around this stuff, I wanted to ask... my dad had surgery for colon cancer almost two years ago, and his latest tumor marker results came back slightly elevated. Specifically, his CEA is sitting somewhere above 5. Is that something we should be seriously worried about?
Thanks for the help!

Look, that's just an indicator that he needs more testing. You can't rely on markers alone for a diagnosis because they aren't 100% reliable tools. Think of them more like a tripwire—if something spikes, then you move forward with deeper investigations.
I wouldn't lose any sleep over it until there are actual imaging results on the table.
It really could end up being nothing at all.

Hannah Bishop said:I know for a fact, $67 , back when my dad was $13 it was all over the news on PBS!

Besides, it’s not like we’re talking about a massive pile of cash you can just withdraw once a year.

Megan Fowler78 said:Don't get me wrong, I truly grieve for what's happening in our old territories, and sometimes it's uncomfortable when someone reminds me just how difficult things are... We're lucky enough to have private insurance here, which makes choosing a treatment plan much easier; once we consult with a doctor and make a request, we usually get what we need immediately. Sometimes, it actually helps if I raise my voice a bit, shed a few tears, and pour my heart out... over here, keeping a smile on your face is key to getting a fast reaction. Last August, when my husband was at his breaking point and I was panicking, you really opened my eyes, Angela Wright, by telling me exactly what steps to take. Honestly, words can't express how grateful I am to all of you; I read every single post, and they have helped me immensely.

Honey, I can't tell you how happy it makes me to read about how much things have improved.😍
The way you and your husband are handling this could honestly serve as a blueprint for everyone else fighting this terrible diagnosis.
Just keep doing exactly what you've been doing—it's crystal clear you're on the right track. 👍

People kept telling me it was just a magnesium deficiency, but I’ve noticed a pattern: those cramps almost always show up right after a killer workout where my legs have taken a beating—think intense cycling sessions or heavy hiking.
You really need to make sure you stretch thoroughly after every session and, if you can swing it, give your muscles a solid massage.

analogscout2 said:I’d ask, but I don't have access to a trainer right now... and I need an answer to my question ASAP.

Look, at the gym I go to—where they actually employ Kinesiology professors—they can tell you instantly if a routine is right for you or if you're just wasting your time. If you try to wing it and play hero without knowing what you're doing, you're looking at serious injuries or permanent physical deformities.

To be perfectly blunt, if I were in your shoes, I'd wait another year or two. You can't force muscle growth through sheer willpower when your body is still essentially that of a kid. Your hormones need to kick in naturally; there's no shortcut for biology.
Someone gave you solid advice, though: nothing builds a masculine physique better than swimming. Hit the local pool, eat clean, and you'll be fine.👍

Megan Fowler78 said:How can anyone ever be certain about what's right or wrong? Is there anything more gut-wrenching than the guilt of wondering if we could have done more, or maybe actually helped? Back in February, my husband was in a truly horrific state: metastases in his lungs (where the primary tumor started), liver metastases, adrenal metastases—he even had fluid buildup near the diaphragm... It was devastating. The oncologist we saw then told us the chances were slim, but we decided to push through and attempt four more cycles of chemo. During that time, we met a woman who told us that doctors back in Mexico had basically given up on her, but once she went to Perth for radiation therapy, her results were absolutely fantastic by the time she returned to Belgrade?! My dear husband made it through all four rounds of chemo, and the scans showed everything is clear, except for three remaining liver metastases which have shrunk to a third of their original size! We’ve agreed with our new oncologist to go for two more rounds of chemo just in case we can clear those last bits out. So now I'm left wondering: was it putting our trust in a new, optimistic doctor, was it the chemo itself, or was it faith in that one last shot at life via radiation? Or did all of it work together to produce these results? I honestly don't know. The bottom line is that we have to keep moving forward and hold onto the hope that we can make progress—even if it's not a total cure, maybe we can at least stop the spread...

Honestly? I think having a competent, well-coordinated medical team and a solid healthcare system played the biggest role in such positive results. And obviously, in situations like this, faith runs deeper because you feel like other people actually give a damn about your recovery.
What good is all the faith and love in the world to people living in cities like Vienna or Belgrade when they're stuck waiting three months just to get radiation treatment? By the time they finally get in, things have gone downhill ten times over.

slyowl10 said:Does my father, who is battling esophageal cancer, have access to home health nursing care?
He’s in absolute agony, currently relying on Tramadol and Ibuprofen.

He definitely qualifies for home health nursing, but let's be real—that isn't going to touch his pain levels. You need to contact a specialized pain management clinic immediately. It sounds like the Tramadol and Ibuprofen just aren't cutting it. He likely needs a doctor to prescribe a Fentanyl Patch to get things under control.

Drew Brooks8 said:I honestly don't know, Jane Doe🤷 I really can't tell if this guy is a total fraud or not.🤷

The deputy for the association seeking registration is Jane Doe, a mother of a 6-year-old girl who had a brain tumor. Doctors gave her just 6 months to live, but 14 years later, the tumor is completely gone—all that's left is the need for a wheelchair.
Then there's Nikolai Totsev, who beat malignant melanoma back in 1999, and Jane Doe, who was cured of stomach cancer in 2004... They're pushing for immediate registration because the man is already 87.
There are plenty of similar stories out there...
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Neka-B...app_2347471856

That’s exactly the point. Nobody can swear on their life that this works, and sick people shouldn't be forced to experiment with something that might actually hurt them instead of helping.
Every single person you mentioned is just hearsay, you know? Where are the medical records? The official lab results? Have they ever actually published those findings publicly to shut down all the skeptics trying to sabotage them? Clearly, they haven't.
You or I could walk around claiming we were cured of cancer just by drinking water from some magic fountain in a park in Venice, blast it out on social media, then stand at the park gates charging admission to every desperate patient looking for a miracle... see how that works?😉
Just look at how easy it is to pull stuff like this off in America:

I'm not saying it's impossible, but my common sense and everything I know about how things work tells me it's far more likely that it isn't than that it is.

Donna Williams12 said:You’re spot on! We’re actually putting those together right now—formatting them so you can print them out and study them properly. They'll be ready by the end of the week!

Thanks! Best,

😍