Posts by Angela Wright

Amanda Miller69 said:My father-in-law finished his fourth round of chemo yesterday. There are two more rounds left, then we’ll run a PET Scan to see if it’s actually working. I can't help but wonder—since he hasn't had any side effects at all, is the treatment even doing anything? Or maybe that beta glucan is helping him ride it out easier.
I'm always holding out hope for the best.

The lack of side effects doesn't necessarily mean the therapy isn't effective.
Honestly, if I had to guess, I'd say it's working; otherwise, I would have expected to see some significant decline by now.
Let him power through those last two rounds and, by God's grace, we'll see where things stand. I'm just glad to hear he's doing well—I know how much you've been worrying about this.

analogseal18 said:First off, I’m with the previous posts here. Don't waste your breath or energy on a lawsuit or staying angry...
You and your sister are secondary right now; honestly, your shock and worry take a backseat to the actual fight you have ahead of you. Winning a lawsuit is a long shot—do you really think that doctor and his crew are going to suddenly start being honest during a deposition?

And no, a small local hospital isn't obligated to follow what a major center does.
When my dad was diagnosed, they moved incredibly fast and were extremely polite about it at the Pula hospital. After checking in with some close friends who are doctors, we decided it made more sense to handle everything in Chicago with specialists who actually focus on his specific condition. He got his diagnosis and did his treatment in Chicago. It’s outpatient, so there’s no need for hospital stays unless it's absolutely necessary. Private lodging runs about $35 a night, and you just can't drag a critically ill patient back and forth to Istria every single day. Not everyone follows the exact same playbook; approaches vary, so one doctor can't just dictate a therapy and expect another doctor to blindly follow it just because they work at a bigger hospital.

If you can afford it, go where the experts recommend. Good luck!

That isn't quite how it works. Protocols are strictly defined and treatment is standardized everywhere because when a drug is registered, the protocol is registered too—meaning the dosage per unit of mass, which other drugs it can be combined with, the number of cycles, and exactly how to handle complications.
The treatment protocol for most medications is actually available online, usually right on the manufacturer's website.

I’m leaning toward it being a cervical spine issue, and honestly, things seem to be trending downhill because a nerve is likely getting pinched somewhere.
Maybe a standard X-ray of the neck could shed some light on what's actually going on. Regardless, if I were in your shoes, I'd go see a physical therapist for a proper evaluation immediately.

melloworca6 said:Angela Wright 🤣

You completely missed the part where they wouldn't just be pulling blood at every single store every single day, but rather following a strictly predetermined schedule. 😳 You might show up on a Friday, only to find out your local Walmart scheduled yours for Thursday.

Honestly, what you're suggesting for $6.75—targeting cholesterol and blood sugar—is cheap as hell compared to what I pay for my cat’s tests, which run about $5.00 plus tax. 😬 Look, here's a brilliant new idea: why stop at humans? Let's have them run these panels on cats and dogs too, since they're already drawing the blood anyway.... 🤣

I don't know if anyone actually bothered to read the comments under this article from The Wall Street Journal, but I was absolutely losing it. 🤣 There's one guy in there who thinks surgeons should just set up shop at the butcher shop, since butchers are clearly experts at slicing through meat. 🤣

What can I say? I have a big heart... Croesus would have gone bankrupt working with me. 😂
Check this out:
https://www.facebook.com/Net.hr/phot...type=1&theater

darkpuma58 said:I don't want to start a whole new thread, so I figured I'd just ask here. I'm 41, generally healthy, though I've been dealing with these recurring headaches for years now that doctors just can't seem to pin down—even after a full neurological workup including an MRI. They actually calmed down a bit once I stopped taking birth control pills. Other than reaching for some Tylenol every now and then when the pain hits, I'm not on any medication.
Over the last few days, things have taken a weird turn. I've lost my sense of taste, and there’s this numbness creeping across my face—around my mouth, my nose, stretching toward my cheeks—and even the tip of my tongue and my palate feel numb. My sense of smell is totally fine, though. The headaches are hitting hardest right before dawn and immediately after I wake up, usually accompanied by some light nausea and dizziness that eventually settles down. Then, throughout the day, I get these intermittent bouts of dizzy spells paired with brief waves of nausea, which actually lasts way longer than the loss of taste or the numbness. I've also got this dry cough and a strange, lingering taste in my mouth regardless of how much I brush or floss. My teeth are fine, no canker sores or any inflammation in my mouth, and I've already had my tonsils removed.
And just to be clear, I am not anxious, depressed, stressed out, or anything like that—so I really doubt this is psychosomatic.
Does anyone have any idea what could be going on? Thanks!

If you haven't looked into it yet, I would definitely go get your cervical spine checked out.
Was the MRI done with contrast?

Just imagine if they ran weekend specials at the local clinic for blood and urine tests—you could walk in on Monday morning, get your results, and have your doctor prescribe bladder infection meds immediately. Honestly, I’d hand my wallet over to someone like Elon Musk just to skip the hassle and get it done faster.
Let’s be real: under certain circumstances, we’re all just cheap thrills. 😬

edit😛It’s actually a brilliant idea. They should hire me to map out their entire strategy and marketing blitz. 😂

And what about those "two-for-one" deals where you get a pack of sugar and high cholesterol instead? 😉
Some people are such hypochondriacs they’d rather skip the bargain and just buy a carton of eggs.

melloworca6, we’re talking about retirement funds here. He’d probably start rolling out some discounts on the Walmart card at the register just to lure people in. Then you’d have grandmas swinging by with a bag of milk and a loaf of bread just to get their blood sugar and cholesterol checked, mostly because her doctor is constantly being stingy with referrals 😉
. He knows exactly who he's aiming for 😬

I’m going to bleed him dry if that amateur doesn't manage to squeeze out exactly what he planned with just a few minor cosmetic tweaks.
That's life!

Give me a bag of oranges and get this sketchy tattoo off my right shoulder... 🍊
The only place you'd find a deal like this is down on Nelson Mandela Way near Delboy's.

Michael Cruz28 said:Hey there,
I was at Jordanovac today trying to finalize my Mom's admission. I brought the discharge papers and the results from the Vineyard hospital. While I was there, I asked the head nurse if she could give me the lowdown. She said they haven't ruled out a malignant tumor, but it's not a certainty either. Maybe she's just trying to comfort me??? Anyway, the next steps are a bronchoscopy and a biopsy. I'm wondering what kind of tumors we might be looking at and what the potential scenarios are. I want to hear both the absolute worst-case and the best-case versions.
I have a rough idea of the answers myself, but I just need someone to talk to since sleep is impossible right now...

🤦

The darkest scenario? Well, let's see: an embolism hits her and she loses the fight before the battle even officially starts... dark enough? 🙄

The brightest one? It wasn't tumor tissue at all, just scar tissue from some old lung inflammation that healed over long ago.... 🤷

So, what do you actually gain from having this data right now? Do you feel better, more prepared, or smarter?
You have to stop catastrophizing about the future!!! Right now! Immediately! Otherwise, everything is just going to spiral out of control. Believe me, there is nothing more counterproductive than what you're doing to yourself. You need to be a pillar of strength and support, but not by spinning out like this.
Everyone needs to pull it together and take things as they unfold. There is absolutely no way to know anything in advance, and it's impossible to prepare for every single one of the countless variations and nuances this situation might take.
You live day by day, and you look toward the future only as far as tomorrow.
You've taken the first step and now you're waiting for the PhD. Usually, the doctor can tell quite a bit already, and they typically tell you immediately if things look bad. But they aren't certain, which is why that nurse couldn't tell you anything—honestly, she isn't even allowed to.
Once the PhD arrives, you'll see where things stand, face reality, and then decide what needs to be done, if anything needs to be done at all.
That's how you should approach this: stay calm. Peace of mind is everything because if you lose it, you won't be able to function properly. Of course you're scared; that's perfectly normal, but you have to suppress it through rational thinking.
Come on, just stay brave and take it slow—one step at a time, one day at a time.

Michael Cruz28 said:Hey there. I’ve been away from this forum for three years since I last posted about the issues my mother-in-law was facing. Sadly, my wife's mom passed away just two months after her brain tumor diagnosis. Now, my own Mom had a CT scan showing two 4 cm tumors, one in each lung. We’re heading to Jordanovac tomorrow. I have one question: I’ve read about a vaccine from Cuba for lung cancer, and I'm wondering how much truth there is to its effectiveness and if it can be obtained here in the US... thanks for any help.

There is no legal way to import Escozul into the US or anywhere else in the states. Beyond that, proving it actually works would require numerous independent randomized studies involving much larger groups of people to establish proper protocols, determine correct dosages, and rule out dangerous interactions with other medications and substances.
So far, only one relevant study has been published, and that was an in vitro study showing potential to destroy cancer cells, specifically glioma. But we are easily ten years away from actual clinical application because it still has to pass through two major phases—in vivo testing on animals and then clinical trials on humans. Every phase has its own sub-phases and takes time. Before those checks are completed, taking anything off the black market is a incredibly dangerous game because there are zero safety or verification systems in place. You can't even be sure if you're getting what you paid for or just encapsulated water.
Regarding complementary treatments, I know many people with lung cancer used white mistletoe injections, which can be legally purchased at our local pharmacies—specifically the one near Dolac, I believe they bought them there. I don't know exactly how effective it is, but I remember a woman on a forum with microcellular cancer who defied her prognosis and claimed it helped her. I lost touch with her, so I don't know how she's doing now.

gentlemarlin14 said:In our experience, patients are discharged about 5 or 6 days after surgery... I know this because my dad’s roommate, who had nearly the exact same diagnosis, was sent home just like that. And that’s how they spoke to us—telling us after the operation that we were prepping him for oncology. But then, we never actually got an appointment with an oncologist. We're considering a Lawsuit because his prognosis robbed my sister and me of ten years of life. He’s a surgeon, and he has absolutely no business giving prognoses; that isn't his field. Even one of his colleagues confirmed this, refusing to predict anything for that very reason. AND, to top it off, my father didn't get a physical therapist after such a grueling surgery, which was his absolute right. It's because the doctor basically told me straight to my face that he’s old and not worth the effort. I know the odds are slim—I'm fully aware of that—but if there is even a 1% chance to extend his life even slightly, I am going to take it, rather than letting someone just snatch it away. We don't have the luxury of waiting 6 to 8 weeks; you have to react fast. Someone mentioned earlier about throwing money down the drain at private specialists. Back in 2011, a prostate tumor was successfully treated with massive help from a private oncologist, and we spent $667 on that. How many thousands of dollars has my father contributed to the American healthcare system over 42 years of work? You're misunderstanding the point about the private oncologist—you aren't buying drugs from them, and they aren't the ones doing the primary treatment... it's more that everything moves faster through them. He will still be treated at Pula Hospital or wherever—if they turn us away at Pula, we go to Rijeka, since the smaller hospital has to follow the larger one. He just recommends, coordinates with doctors, advises on the best path, and gets all the necessary test results back incredibly quickly. If the surgeon consulted with oncologists, he should have communicated that to the family. No one told us a thing. I am furious at being treated like my father is just another number, just another old man. To him, he isn't. And I will fight for every single day of my father's life just like I did the first time. I have nothing against his surgical work—he did a stellar job—but he should have just said, "I've done my part, now you need to coordinate with the oncologists."

Look, I'm telling you this from a place of incredibly heavy experience. I truly believe you're wasting precious energy on something that won't bear fruit and will only make an already terrible situation worse.
Regarding "acting fast"—waiting for wounds to heal is standard medical practice worldwide. Radiation is an aggressive way to treat tissue. Would you apply that kind of treatment to an open wound? It doesn't work that way. Furthermore, without pathology results providing definitive, black-and-white proof of exactly what type of tumor it is and how aggressive or advanced the stage is, no doctor can decide on a treatment plan. No oncologist, whether they are private or part of a major institution, will initiate treatment without that critical data.
You cannot compare prostate cancer to metastatic colorectal cancer. These are entirely different diseases with different treatments and different outlooks. Metastatic colorectal cancer is a highly complex disease that is much harder to manage, and the medications used often exceed the risks and lead to $0.00. Just because your dad paid his Social Security taxes honestly doesn't mean you should abandon your fight.
Everything that is bothering you right now isn't a fixable issue, and you won't solve it with a Lawsuit; you'll only complicate your own life and shift your focus onto things that don't matter instead of staying 100% focused on your dad. We have all been through that frustration and anger—God knows what I've been through myself—and I'm telling you, it isn't worth it. When you're dealing with the "cancer package," the diagnosis itself is rarely the smallest problem; it's when all the side issues start grinding you down. You have to be smart about what you worry about and what is just a total waste of your mental energy.
Here’s the reality of the situation. Take it or leave it, depending on what fits your current circumstances. If you’re convinced that going private is the best move and you actually have the bankroll to back it up, then go for it—but for heaven's sake, keep a level head. Don't just dive in blindly; do your homework first. In situations like this, once you make a wrong turn, there’s no easy way to fix the damage. Just remember: the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Unfortunately, I had to learn that lesson the hard way.

Michelle Cook83 said:Look, I get where you're coming from. We all feel the weight when our loved ones face a tragedy like this. But let’s be realistic: patients don't just jump straight from surgery into oncology. They need time to heal from the operation first, and that's exactly when you schedule the follow-up with the oncologist. A surgeon can only write "further evaluation and treatment by an oncologist" in their report. What kind of lawsuit are we talking about here? Get a grip—just get your dad scheduled with the oncologist. Ideally, therapy should kick off within 6 to 8 weeks after the procedure.

I’m with you on this.
For God's sake, the pathology report hasn't even come back yet, and he’s already giving a rough estimate of the situation.
Here is how it works: you go to the oncologist with the current results, attach everything else once the pathology report arrives, and that's that. It doesn't matter what the surgeon scribbled in the discharge papers. You’ll get the referral for oncology regardless, and then the oncologist will weigh in and map out the treatment plan if they see a path forward—and honestly, I don't see why they wouldn't, even if the goal shifts toward palliative care. If things stall, you push further and react based on how the situation evolves.
You simply cannot—and shouldn't—rush headlong into radiation or chemo immediately. Wounds have to close, and the body needs to recover before facing that kind of physical toll. In the meantime, focus on boosting his immune system.
Take it slow. The battle has only just begun; don't burn yourselves out before you've even reached the front lines.

gentlemarlin14 said:I know surgeons don't make the final call, but unfortunately, he did... He didn't want to send him to the oncologist at all... he didn't even call them for a consultation. Normally, patients like this are prepped and moved straight to oncology immediately after surgery. Then you have a Dad who doesn't understand anything saying... "So what if they don't move me to oncology?" Like, oops. I'm honestly speechless when it comes to him... I've got a lawsuit hanging over his head.

Don't act on impulse and burn your bridges! Look, decisions like this aren't made in a vacuum; they happen during tumor board meetings where oncologists are right there in the room. How do you actually know an oncologist didn't suggest holding off? You need to pull yourself together and think rationally before you act.
Get a second opinion from a clinical oncologist, and based on that, you can push for clinical treatment covered by Social Security. They have every right to that, and it happens every single day. My recommendation? Take those records over to the main hospital in New York City. There’s a chance they might admit him on the spot. It’s better to pay for a place to stay in NYC than to drop astronomical amounts of money on private treatments like Avastin or Erbitux—those drugs are incredibly expensive, yet he is entitled to them based on his diagnosis.
Also, palliative care doesn't necessarily mean you're ruling out oncological treatment. A palliative patient isn't necessarily someone on their deathbed; it also includes anyone whose disease is in a state where remission is hard to expect, but with certain cytostatics, you can try to put the disease into dormancy. This can give the patient more quality time, and sometimes, that means years.

Robert Newman3 said:My bad if this is out of line, but I stumbled upon this:
any thoughts? Does anyone know anything about this?

Look, I get that they have to grind through a mountain of randomized studies to prove efficacy—moving from in vitro to in vivo and finally to clinical trials on humans. Unfortunately, a huge chunk of these "sensational" breakthroughs just hit a wall during the in vivo phase.
It’s like how crushed garlic can wipe out malignant cells in a petri dish, but when you put it in a living body, it doesn't touch a single tumor.
Biologically speaking, finding one universal cure for all types of cancer is a total impossibility.

Are the kidney hormones looking alright too?
The thing is, if you try to get the adrenal glands firing while dealing with hyperthyroidism, let alone trying to juggle a pituitary issue on top of that, you’re basically asking for a total system meltdown.

Justin Ortiz said:Oh, really? So they aren't at fault at all? Why is it that they stubbornly refuse to answer the phone, forcing sick people—actual patients, folks—to trek all the way to the hospital just because of some damn order? It’s pure greed. They’re probably too busy sipping their morning lattes to bother answering the call of someone in need. What's the point of even having a phone line if that's the case?

Look, it’s also likely because you aren't the only person calling. Even if it's ringing on your end, there’s a whole crowd of people on the other side of that switchboard, all trying to get something done, or maybe even doing actual medical work when they aren't swamped...
I have a family member who is an ER doctor, and they see upwards of 80 patients a day. Just do the math: multiply that by 10 or 15 minutes per person, then add in all the "blessings" thrown at them by people who just showed up without an appointment...
Like, hello? 😉

The CEZIH system crashes on them constantly, leaving them totally paralyzed since everything relies on it. I don't get how most frontline medical staff can function when they're struggling just to handle basic phone calls or manage their emails.
btw. My sister isn't the one at fault here. Don't forget she went through medical school to actually provide patient care and nursing, not to spend her life tapping away at a keyboard, printing out referrals and prescriptions, and playing receptionist on the side.

Amanda Perez42 said:Hi everyone, I could really use some help here. My father had surgery for prostate adenocarcinoma back in June 2011. His Gleason Score was 3+4=7. After the procedure, his first PSA reading in September 2011 was 0.00, followed by about 0.01, then 0.018, and so on. However, the latest result he got today is 0.022. We're wondering if this shift is significant—should we be worried? Could this indicate the disease is coming back?

That is completely within the normal range; those little fluctuations up and down are totally standard.
Just keep up with the regular checkups and live your life without stressing over it. You can live a great, high-quality life like this all the way into old age.