Posts by Angela Wright

steelfalcon15 said:I’m not actually mad at the government... honestly, I’m fine with payroll taxes going up if it means pulling our healthcare system out of this ditch and keeping coverage free for everyone. What really sets me off is the fact that a single dose of this medication costs HALF A MILLION DOLLARS!!! 😠 😠 😠 We need some kind of international law where no drug can be priced above a reasonable threshold—and anyone who breaks those rules should be prosecuted like the high-level criminals they are. It is absolutely insane that Big Pharma pulls in billions of dollars by gambling with human lives and health!!! 😠 😠

The real issue here isn't a lack of funds; there's plenty of money, even with the current tax hikes. The problem is that the cash just leaks out through holes in the system—specifically into the pockets of the head of Medicare, who's busy buying up luxury real estate☕☕☕.
Drugs are expensive because it takes an astronomical amount of capital to fund research that spans decades and requires endless armies of scientists, labs, materials, and more. The pharmaceutical industry has to recoup its investment and then some, and let's be real, they aren't doing this for charity. You can't realistically regulate all of that, but what we *can* do is put the squeeze on the companies that withhold life-saving meds while still slapping sales tax on them when sick people are scraping together every cent just to afford a single dose.

brisksurfer said:Angela Wright, were you watching NBC yesterday?
I caught a segment about those poor souls whose lives are being tossed around by a heartless government just because they can't afford their medication (Sutent)😲...honestly, I'm at a loss for words...it's absolutely gut-wrenching! 😠

Both slyseal28 and I were there 😬

Things will get better👍

Kimberly Bishop91 said:My father-in-law lost his fight with cancer😢...he passed away last week..😢it started with stomach pain, we rushed him to the hospital in the morning and he was gone by the afternoon. At least he didn't suffer too much. He was actually so upbeat during those last few days—had his appetite back and even put on some weight... and then, out of nowhere..
Hang in there, everyone. I truly hope you all win your battles soon!! Best,

Kimberly Bishop91, please accept my deepest condolences.😢

steelfalcon15 said:🙂 🙂

She’s currently taking ProSure, and before that, she was on various immune supplements (all based on her doctor's recommendations)...

It's tough to find anyone helpful in Miami (these results came from the breast specialist team at the Miami Mayo Clinic), maybe only in Washington, D.C. That’s why I’m posting here—hoping an expert might see this and offer some actual, useful advice on what to do next...

ProSure is basically a nutritional shake designed to replace a meal with its specific ingredients.
I'm talking about the kinds of supplements doctors usually dismiss as a waste of money, even though people using them often see the exact opposite result...
I mean things like the stuff from the Immunal, beta Glucan, Alice, Noni, and natural propolis teams (I personally swear by the propolis)—and so on. We've discussed this all here before, just look it up.

As for private oncology clinics in Miami, I managed to track one down through a quick search:

ONCOLOGY CLINIC Dr. Danica Tomic, Specialist
Address: 3 Bihaćka St, 33100 Miami
Phone: 305-486-321

There is absolutely no need to drag her all the way to Washington, D.C. just for a second opinion. Don't put your mom through unnecessary stress.

steelfalcon15 said:I need some advice or a bit of help here. From what I can gather, my results suggest I should go with the "AC" chemo cocktail—which, according to my own digging online, is actually a combination of Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide, plus Paclitaxel. Based on what I've read, this stuff hits hard. We're talking heavy-duty side effects like nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and those painful sores on your palms and soles. On top of that, there's the risk of heart issues, potentially even heart failure. 😲 😲 I read this online myself, but the reality is hitting home. My mother is absolutely struggling to cope with the chemo at this point. She’s been cycling through various cytostatics and hormone treatments since 2004, and honestly, the results just seem to be getting weaker and weaker as time goes on. Now, we're facing a constant influx of new nodules and metastases as the disease continues to progress.

I am seriously freaking out here. Does anyone have any advice on how to make this treatment more bearable? Or better yet, does anyone know about alternative therapies that actually get better results? Thanks!

Based on everything I just read, it looks like my mom is right in the thick of it.😢 Side effects are just what they are—they happen, though that doesn't mean everyone has to deal with them. Is your mom taking anything specific to boost her immune system? We’ve gone over this topic extensively here.
Look, if I were you, I’d grab every single one of your mom's medical records and take her to see an independent oncologist for a second opinion. Yeah, it’s going to cost you some money, but it's worth every penny just to have total clarity on what the next move actually is.

Carol Cook58 said:I just looked up that medication... but it says it works by blocking cancer cells from spreading. I’m wondering about my dad's situation—he had kidney cancer that was surgically removed, and there aren't any metastases. So, if there's nothing left to block, what kind of therapy would they even consider in a case like that?

Only an oncologist who actually has his medical records in front of them can give you a real answer to that.

Carol Cook58 said:All they gave him was some Novocef to take... and that was it. They just told him to rest, stay hydrated, and call it a day. What are those drugs you listed even for? Look, price doesn't matter to me—I just want him to get better, even if I don't know what I did wrong.

When it comes to kidney cancer, our doctors have to keep their mouths shut because if they prescribe those specific meds, the hospital has to foot the bill from its own budget. If those budgets hit the red, the Secretary of Health goes after the hospital directors. Get it?

http://www.javno.com/us/article.php?id=224915
http://www.javno.com/us/article.php?id=20066

Nonocef is an antibiotic.

Based on the last updates we had before New Year's Day, Sutent should be added to the Medicare coverage list soon. The only question left is when that actually happens...🤷

Grace Cruz87 said:Hey everyone, I’m hoping for some advice. My mom found this hard little lump—definitely bigger than a pea—that gets red when she touches it, and now it's making it painful for her to put on shoes. Her surgeon is pushing for an excision (because, let’s be honest, what else is a surgeon going to say 😁?), but her primary care doctor—who, unfortunately, couldn't care less about her patients—is insisting she leave it alone and that it’s nothing. Back when my mom had thyroid surgery ten years ago because it was riddled with cysts, they cleared everything out right there in Washington, D.C. At that time, this same GP told her she was just imagining things, only for my mom to end up in surgery four days later after I practically dragged her to Washington, D.C. for a specialist. I'm wondering what you all think, especially since this doctor won't even give her referrals for further testing (like a biopsy or whatever). Does anyone know a good private clinic or specific tests we should look into? I just want her to stop worrying. Thanks in advance!

Listen to the surgeon. That’s his job, and more importantly, the thing is causing her physical discomfort. It could be anything, but most likely it's just a lipoma—a benign fatty tumor. You don't need a needle biopsy for that. They just open it up, remove it, and then send it off for pathology to confirm whether it's actually malignant or benign.

Amanda Murphy62 said:If that experienced doctor actually said that, he belongs in a psych ward... quit talking nonsense.

Why😕? It worked for some people, but you still need medication therapy to back it up.

Look, folks, I can honestly say I’m truly sorry that this monster of a drug didn't leave you alone and that things spiraled out of control, but at the exact same time, I have to thank God🙏🙏🙏 that I wasn't curious enough to go dragging myself into the mess you're all in...

I am sincerely wishing you all the luck and the sheer willpower needed to claw your way out of that hell

Jason Clark10 said:😕

I'm 17 and my ribs stick out... I have visible abs underneath, so you could say I've got an athletic build, but the issue is these protruding ribs...

It might be rahitis, but I'm not sure (maybe a Vitamin D deficiency), maybe that's it...
If it is rahitis, is it too late for my ribs to go back to normal? If it isn't, how can I fix them...

Please, just give me any advice at all; I just really want to fix this... Has anyone else dealt with something similar...

Please help me... Thanks in advance and I hope someone can help.

Then again, maybe you're built that way because it runs in your family...
Advice:
Just own it. Love yourself for how you look and be grateful that you aren't dealing with major medical issues at 17—believe me, more people your age are struggling with much heavier stuff than this.

Melissa Castillo said:I need some advice—is there any kind of priority access for cancer patients when waiting for a primary care physician? It’s honestly unacceptable to have someone whose immune system has been absolutely decimated by chemo sitting in a waiting room for hours, surrounded by crowds of people coughing and sneezing right in their face. On top of that, you’ve got doctors who call in the twentieth person in line while the guy who was actually fourth when the clinic opened is still just sitting there. I'm not even exaggerating 😠 😠 😠

Look, I don't know if there's an official rule written in some handbook, but we all know how it goes—pregnant women and people with disabilities get moved to the front of the line without a second thought. So, logically, why shouldn't someone dealing with a diagnosis like this be treated with the same courtesy? At the end of the day, it really comes down to the doctor's own discretion and how they choose to run their clinic. My suggestion? Just sit down and have a straight conversation with them. Explain the situation and let them know exactly what the struggle is.

slyjackal38 said:My dear husband passed away on January 9th. It was absolutely gut-wrenching getting that phone call at 12:25 AM. If he were still here, he would have turned 53 today.
Thank you all so much for the advice and the support.
I fully intend to stay active here and try to help others by sharing everything I've learned about this insidious disease during our journey.

I am so incredibly sorry.😢 Hang in there and live your life well in his honor.

neonpanther12 said:Thanks. I want to ask you—how can I actually help? How can I make a difference for my mother and everyone else out there fighting these illnesses, ensuring they get the real medical care every single human being deserves? My sister wants to dive in and help with all of this too, so we’ve already submitted our applications to join the "For a New Day" association.🙂

Get behind the initiatives they're running. If you feel up to it, you can even go public with what your mother is going through—the advocacy groups can help set that up for you. The whole point is to wake people up and make them realize that cancer isn't just some distant tragedy; it’s a reality that hits home for every single one of us. It won't just vanish into thin air if we keep burying our heads in the sand because the conversation feels too heavy or uncomfortable. We have to talk about it.

Post here, share what you find on the forums, and contribute to the association's boards. Use this space to educate yourself and, more importantly, to educate others. In the fight against cancer, information is pure power—and frankly, around here in America, we still don't have nearly enough of it.

neonpanther12 said:My name is Mark. I am looking for any help, advice, or anything at all. Six months ago, my mother had surgery because she was diagnosed with kidney cancer. They removed the kidney, and everything seemed fine until recently. During a routine checkup, they found out the cancer had spread to her liver and lungs, and it’s aggressive. We’ve consulted three different doctors, and they all say chemotherapy won't be effective at this stage. There is a specific medication that could stop the spread, which should eventually be covered by Medicare, but right now, one monthly dose costs $16000. We managed to scrape together enough for a single dose, but we have no idea how to keep this going. I'm asking anyone for information—when will this drug be added to the Medicare coverage list? Who can I contact? Any advice would mean the world. Thank you so much to everyone who reads this and offers any kind of guidance. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Look, like I mentioned to you in our private messages, but I'll say it here for everyone else too...

It is most likely the drug Sutent. We were actually just discussing this in our association yesterday, and we are sending an urgent formal inquiry today to find out exactly when Sutent will be added to the Medicare formulary. We are also planning to take this issue back to the press—likely CNN—so keep an eye out.
We are getting calls from families who have been paying out-of-pocket for months and have already liquidated most of their assets just to stay afloat. It is high time people get some transparency so they can actually plan for the future. Consistency is everything with this kind of treatment; if you miss doses, the efficacy drops and you lose the progress you've made.

Rachel Chase80 said:I'm new here.
First off, I want to wish everyone the very best for 2009. I hope you all find the courage and the hope needed to see these terrible stories through to the best possible end—recovery.
My aunt, who is essentially my next of kin since she’s single with no kids and never married, is currently in the hospital. It’s almost been a month now. She has malignant pancreatic cancer. It was a massive shock to our family, and we're still just trying to wrap our heads around it.
It all started with some digestive issues, and we honestly thought she just ate something bad. But those symptoms didn't clear up after two weeks. Then her skin started changing color, and suddenly, without any pain, she turned yellow. Her liver tests were devastating, and for a moment, we thought it might just be a gallbladder issue. Unfortunately, it’s much worse than that.
Four days ago, she underwent surgery to create a bypass from her stomach to her small intestine, just to manage the immediate complications, and that’s when they told us the tumor couldn't be removed. Now, we're waiting for her to recover from the surgery so we can hear what the oncologists say regarding chemotherapy. Honestly, though, the abdominal surgeons already told us it's unlikely she'll qualify.
We haven't told her yet, and we're torn on whether we should even tell her if they decide not to proceed with chemo. I'd love to get your perspective. Also, does anyone here have experience dealing with this specific disease? We have no idea what's coming, and this uncertainty is the hardest part. 😢 The doctors are telling us time is limited, but we're still holding onto the hope that she'll have some good time left.

Unfortunately, this is an incredibly aggressive and sneaky disease. By the time it’s actually detected, it has often already spread too far to be stopped. I am truly sorry to hear this😢. You can find some brief info on pancreatic cancer on our association's website, and there are currently a few active members on this forum fighting this exact battle.
As for whether or not to tell her, that’s a call only you can make. You know her better than anyone, and you have to weigh whether knowing the full truth might be counterproductive—like if it causes her to lose the will to keep fighting.
Just focus on giving her a daily life filled with warmth and love. Make sure she has everything she needs so she doesn't have to worry and isn't in pain. Everything else is really in Godly hands.

slyjackal38 said:How effective is radiation therapy actually when it comes to treating melanoma metastases in the brain?

Let’s be real—if even a portion of this isn't surgically removable...😢 Melanoma is just a nasty, deceptive beast. Honestly, I suspect treatment might only slow things down slightly, but I truly can't say if it would actually improve his quality of life.
Then again, you never really know...

After everything I've personally been through, I still couldn't tell you what I'd do in your shoes. Would I keep fighting tooth and nail, doing everything possible just to buy more time? Or would I focus on providing the best palliative care imaginable, surrounding him with loved ones and letting nature take its course?

You need to have an honest, human conversation with the doctors and make a decision together as a family.

I am so incredibly sorry; my heart goes out to you, because I know exactly what this feels like.

Just remember: whatever choice you make, it will be the right one.

cosmiceagle4 said:Look, I didn't mean to be pushy.
I just have this bone-deep conviction that this is the right way to go. Maybe it isn't for everyone...

Let me offer a suggestion: people who are actually suffering might "feel" the weight and reality of their situation much more acutely than you and I, since we aren't the ones fighting for our lives. Do you honestly believe that following this path is the "right way" when it leads to such staggering mortality rates? The issue is that sometimes, well-intentioned advice can feel like a slap in the face to terminally ill patients who have tried every single thing under the sun and found zero relief. In this instance, the road to hell is paved with nothing but good intentions.
My mother started down that same "righteous path," and it led absolutely nowhere. Now, I’ll spend the rest of my life wondering what if she had just stuck with what mainstream medicine offered—maybe she would have had a better quality of life, or maybe even a few more years with us...
It's easy to throw suggestions around from where you're sitting, but once you're on the other side of the line, I am deeply convinced the perspective shifts entirely.

nimbletrucker242 said:Good morning. Well, the day I was dreading finally arrived. I’m completely without health insurance because I missed the enrollment deadline. I know, I know—I was totally irresponsible. But honestly, I’ve never been sick a day in my life; maybe I catch a little cold once a year, and that's about it.

Anyway, the day before yesterday, I was in total agony. My period was ten days late, and when it hits, it absolutely wrecks me. I popped some Advil and Aleve.
Yesterday, I felt like death all day. Headaches, body aches, pure exhaustion, digestive issues (diarrhea), dizziness... and on top of all that, my blood pressure is low. By the evening, things finally started to settle down.

But this morning, I woke up to head to work, and the second I stood up, these brutal pains hit my lower back and my lower abdomen right around the belly button. If I stay lying down and don't move, it's okay, but as soon as I stand up, the pain kicks in and I feel like I'm going to throw up.

So, I'm wondering—is this just some virus? Everything I found online just freaked me out (symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy)...

Thanks in advance.

Honey, get yourself to the ER right now; you can worry about the insurance paperwork later. As far as I know, your employer handles the enrollment. You’ll see your paycheck docked by that 15% while you're out, but where is the company actually putting that money? Honestly, I haven't heard anything about there being a strict deadline.🤷 Give Medicare a call and ask them what your options are.

For some immediate relief, try rinsing the area with a diluted acetic acid solution. You could even soak a small tampon in it and insert it to help neutralize things. Tomorrow, you should definitely hit up your doctor to get a prescription for Monistat. Based on everything you've described, it sounds like a classic yeast infection.