Posts by Angela Wright

Go read up on the Republican Party
With that scoliosis of yours, you’d actually make a pretty decent candidate for them.

brisksurfer said:At my dad's last checkup at the oncology clinic, they wrote this:

'Based on follow-up X-ray, excellent regression of the mediastinal tumor process. Continued monitoring by the attending pulmonologist. Follow-up here in four months.'

Can someone explain that first sentence to me? Dad said the results were good, so it made sense to me that 'regression' means the tumor is shrinking, but Mom thinks it means it came back. I don't get why they would call it an "excellent regression" if it's bad news... and I'm especially confused why they're discharging him from the soft tissue surgery department if things are looking up. 😢((

Please help!

Regression means the tumor is receding—basically, the treatment is actually working.
It sounds like your mom mixed up "regression" with a financial term like a "refund" or "recession." In medicine, it means the disease is pulling back.
A "recurrence" is when the disease comes back, and "progression" is when it spreads.
Have a great day, and take your parents out for some ice cream somewhere nice.👍

Sam Hall15 said:Why wouldn't they just stitch it up under local anesthesia? If there was any doubt regarding potential tendon damage, then sending you to a specialist makes sense, but in your specific case, I don't think that was such a major risk—though I can't say for certain without seeing it...
If that's the situation, they won't be stitching it now unless there's heavy bleeding, which doesn't seem to be happening here. Just make sure to dress the wound regularly and have them check for any signs of infection; hand wounds can be tricky. All in all, I don't think there's any reason to panic.

Maybe because hospitals are constantly fighting budget cuts.
I don't know for sure, but every single person I know who had stitches had them done while fully numbed out—and that includes women recovering from childbirth. To me, it just seems more humane and standard to use anesthesia.

It’s probably too late for stitches at this point, though honestly, if they could have done it, they would have. The folks who sent you to the trauma center made the right call; they didn't want to take any chances, so they brought in the specialists.
Everything should be fine, just try not to mess around with that area too much—keep your arm rested and try to take it easy.
That swelling is totally normal.
I’m not entirely sure if they do stitches under local anesthesia, but my guess is they do it while you're wide awake.

Drag Queens said:Since I'm new here and haven't had a chance to catch up on every single thread
- Has anyone ever heard about using Sativa or, even better, Indica marijuana?

You can prepare Marijuana by simmering it for hours in butter or any kind of edible oil.
Marijuana is the only weapon against pain that doesn't come with the side effects you get from morphine.
Plus, according to recent studies from top global institutions, it actually has properties capable of destroying cancer.
Sorry to just dump this on you all out of nowhere, but for some people, every single second counts.

Over the next few days, I’m going to lay out my arguments and provide documentation for everything I'm saying.
And since I have quite a bit of material regarding the fight against this nasty disease, if there's a better place than this for a discussion, please point me in the right direction.

Listen, Drag Queens, we hear you.
At the same time, we all know that Marijuana is illegal in America just like this trashy post of yours, and once you start trying to lecture us, you aren't just risking a ban—you might end up getting reported to the authorities.
The most interesting thing about Marijuana and posts like this is that they are almost always written by a bunch of people who are just high and don't actually suffer from a single ailment that scientifically validates the efficacy of the drug. Your real goal is to get sick groups to pressure the government into legalization just so you can grab a leaf more easily under some fake medical pretext, claiming it "doesn't cost you anything."
It's pathetic, honestly.😳
Go to an alternative forum and try lecturing them. They’re the ones with the patience for characters like you.👍

You have to be incredibly, incredibly careful when it comes to those humanitarian pleas for help. We actually dealt with this exact scenario at our nonprofit once: someone went door-to-door claiming to represent our organization, begging for donations for cancer patients. Unfortunately, we had absolutely nothing to do with them, and they basically used people's empathy and concern for cancer victims to line their own pockets for whatever vices they indulge in.
We see it all the time too—people exploiting a child's medical condition just to squeeze out some extra cash... honestly, you wouldn't believe the kind of people out there.
That’s why, whenever we organize a charity drive, we always make sure to include every bit of relevant documentation that proves the person's situation and actual need. These days, people don't have money to throw around, so if they are giving from the heart, they have every right to know the specific details about who is receiving the funds.
I'm not saying this because I think the case you mentioned is fake, but rather so that next time you decide to help by sharing a link, you provide enough solid data to protect yourself from getting caught up in a mess through no fault of your own.

Susan Nguyen71 said:Hey everyone! I wasn't quite sure where to drop this on Reddit, but I figured this was our best bet. Within the last 24 hours, we've put together a donation slip and an appeal to help a little boy who is seriously ill. Since hardly anyone buys physical newspapers these days, I'm hoping posting this online will reach more people so they can learn about his situation and decide to step up:

The text accompanying the donation slip is as follows:

To whom it may concern,

We would like to introduce you to our ward, five-year-old Steven Mnuchin from Des Moines. Due to several diagnosed heart defects, this little boy has spent more than half of his life in hospital wards.

While many doctors have attempted to treat him up to this point, his condition is deteriorating so rapidly that he simply cannot wait any longer. Steven urgently requires surgery at a specialized cardiac clinic in Italy. His single mother, who is also raising four brothers, is struggling just to cover their basic daily necessities.

Since the total cost for the surgery is $42667, we ask all kind-hearted individuals to contribute what they can to help this boy reach the full amount.

God bless,

Contact for Susan
555-012-3456

I really hope some good people see this mother's plea and decide to help her save her son's life.

You already have an open thread for charity drives, and this fits perfectly under that topic.
EDIT:
I highly recommend including a link to medical documentation that proves the diagnosis, along with a doctor's recommendation. That's really the only way to secure any significant donations.

feralridge3 said:When you look at the trajectory toward the end, a sudden exit almost feels like hitting the jackpot on a lottery ticket. 🤷
I’d honestly rather be taken out quickly than endure a slow, agonizing grind for a year or two.
I know my diagnosis isn't quite there yet, but there's this little worm crawling around in my brain every now and then, stirring up fear.

It’s a grim progression, sure, but as long as you're still breathing, you have the chance to participate in clinical trials that could grant you more time—more years followed by even more years thanks to the next breakthrough, and so on.
That's just how people function out in the real world. We see endless stories on global forums about people dealing with these kinds of tumors everywhere, and there are people living fifteen years on that exact same path.
Cancer is a chronic condition, plain and simple. The whole goal is to refine medications to the point where you can manage that chronic illness and live a full life alongside it.

feralridge3 said:I don't remember that guy. 😢
I assume he had a GBM. It always hits me hard whenever I read about someone losing their fight against a brain tumor, regardless of the specific type. 😢
It makes me wonder when my own turn comes. I know dwelling on it isn't healthy, but seeing or hearing stories where most people just don't make it—it honestly just pulls me under. 😢
As for my phone, I used to be able to talk for an hour straight, but now I dodge it and barely use it at all.
Most of the people I hang out with have learned they need to call my landline instead.

From what I heard, he did have GBM. 😢
Still, the way he passed away within a month seems incredibly sudden. It feels to me like there might have been some complications during his treatment. A GBM usually follows a predictable, progressive path—it’s like a slow erosion where one center after another fails, part by part, until you lose control and eventually a vital organ shuts down. People who reach the stage of immobility, much like my mother did, frequently succumb to things like pulmonary embolisms or infections from bedsores. It’s a drawn-out process.
That doesn't seem to be what happened here, since he was doing fine just a month ago.

Honey, don't beat yourself up over "when" it will be your turn. First off, nobody alive can know that, and it could happen at any moment whether you're sick or not; second, you aren't facing that kind of diagnosis.

Given everything you've been through, you have every reason to stay positive and optimistic right now.

Elizabeth White97 said:A buddy of mine passed away this past Saturday from encephalitis... I don't know the exact specifics... 😢

🙄
I’m sure you’re going to feel the need to jump in and play devil's advocate now, especially since you don't even have the full story.
If you're missing those details, maybe just keep your mouth shut instead.

Melissa Morgan67 said:what’s even the point of surgery, chemo, or radiation if everyone just dies within five years anyway???

😢

Not everyone dies within five years. Where on earth did you get that idea?
The difference between life and death comes down to the specific type of tumor, the diagnosis, the stage, how aggressive the disease is, and all that other stuff.

There is a massive gulf between some rare tumors that don't even have real treatments yet and more common cases like breast cancer.

You have to fight for every single extra day you can get. Life is a gift. If my mom had been granted just a few more years, she might have seen my wedding or met her first great-grandchild. That was her entire reason for living.
Remember, it isn't about the quantity of life, it's about the quality. I would sign up right now to die earlier if it meant being happy and fulfilled. To hell with living to 100 if you spend it alone, bitter, and unloved.
We're all just passing through anyway.

Kimberly Wright said:Jesus, I just saw that young man Tom Vrban passed away...
It’s not like I was an expert on his life and work, but it always hits me like a ton of bricks when I hear someone died from cancer after they actually seemed to be making progress toward recovery. 😢

Tom had a brain tumor, not cancer. There is a massive biological difference in cell structure, which changes everything regarding how the disease behaves. Sadly, the specific type of tumor he was fighting offers virtually zero hope for survival right from the jump. My own mother lost her battle to that exact same kind of tumor.
That particular brain tumor is rare, but it seems like there’s been a sudden spike in cases lately across the country—at least, that’s what Dr. Shantek over at Mayo Clinic tells me. It probably has everything to do with cell phones. People, please, just use hands-free sets, and stick to the wired ones if you can.
I find it absolutely jarring how fast things spiraled for Tom in that final stage. He barely even finished his chemo. 😢

briskgardener13 said:I could have done the exact same thing, Angela Wright. Does anyone here actually have firsthand experience dealing with this specific illness?

The issue is that you "could have," which doesn't change the current reality. 😉

Your doctor is just going to recite everything available in a medical textbook, but since the literature suggests this is an incredibly rare condition, you're essentially stuck waiting for someone who has actually lived through it to chime in.

ironpanther said:I need some help here.... a relative has been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer (it has metastasized to the liver)... she doesn't want to talk about it much because she doesn't want to worry us, but I really want to know how much time we have left... surgery isn't an option and she starts chemotherapy next week. I honestly have no idea if we are looking at months, days, or years remaining.

Unfortunately, when you're dealing with lung cancer that has progressed this far, doctors rarely offer any good news regarding long-term survival.

That said, you have to remember that medicine isn't one-size-fits-all; every patient is their own unique case. We are seeing massive breakthroughs in research right now that are completely shifting how we approach oncology, moving toward highly personalized treatments tailored to the individual.
Don't spend your energy mourning her before she's even gone; instead, focus on the fact that she is still here, right now, and make the most of every second you have together. Honestly, that’s how everyone should live, whether they’re healthy or fighting a disease. We are all incredibly fragile and transient. One moment we're here, and the next, we're gone. Obsessing over the exact moment someone might die just pulls your entire focus toward a dark, anxious void, rather than focusing on the quality of life you can actually influence while you still have the chance.

I’d honestly rather deal with your headache than my own. Every single time I go shopping, it’s like a magnet—as soon as I pick something up to look at it, five other women suddenly swarm around me wanting to get a piece of the action too. 🙄

Kimberly Wright said:Thanks, Angela!

Don't mention it; there's no need for thanks.
Just a heads-up, though—the flavor is a little bland.

Kimberly Wright said:What works for treating oral mucositis—you know, that mouth inflammation you get as a side effect of chemo?
Anything you’ve found actually effective?

Betadine mouthwash solution.

briskgardener13 said:Mom fell into a coma and is currently on life support. It looks like things were much more serious than expected; the cancer is quite widespread, and for fifteen days straight, the doctors at the hospital were basically just guessing at what was going on.

I am so incredibly sorry to hear that.😢
Hang in there.

briskgardener13 said:The tumor marker tests came back, and everything looks completely clear.

Look, tumor markers aren't exactly the gold standard for diagnosis.

In my book, treating a woman with radiation based on nothing more than a suspicious cancer finding is a massive, fundamental blunder—it's bordering on criminal negligence. 😱That kind of thing should be reported to the medical board for investigation!😠 At this point, we have no idea what she actually had, let alone what kind of damage that radiation might have inflicted on her body.
Some people working in medicine belong in a slaughterhouse, not a hospital.😠😠😠

The only other thing I can think of is having her see a physiatrist for a full evaluation.