Posts by Angela Wright

Austin Moore, your blood pressure is at hospitalization levels! You’ve been so consumed by worrying about your mom that you've completely neglected your own health. With numbers like these, you're basically inviting a stroke at any moment, and you won't be around long enough to see her recover. I’m calling on your sense of maturity and responsibility here—go get medical help immediately!

Lisa Ross81, listen, taking antioxidants while you're actually undergoing chemo is a terrible idea because they basically act like magnets for the toxins meant to wipe out those malignant cells. It’s fine if you want to use them to boost your system during the breaks between cycles, but since Beta-glucan is such a potent antioxidant, you really need to be careful about how you time it.
As for the prostate situation, I don't have a ton of direct experience there, but I know Dr. Trnski over at Vinogradski is an absolute expert in his field. You should head over to him for a second opinion or even have him perform the biopsy himself. My late uncle lived to be 95 thanks to his care from him, and that was 20 years after his initial prostate diagnosis.

Elizabeth Mendoza10 said:Hey everyone! 🙂
I have a question—or maybe a plea, depending on how you look at it. Basically, my dad is being fed through a gastrostomy tube because he can't swallow normally, and we are running into a massive headache trying to get the syringes used to inject the formula. His doctor suggested reaching out to some kind of association to help source them, but she wasn't specific about which one or how to actually go about getting them. If anyone here has dealt with this before, please, I need help. Does anyone know the name of an organization, a phone number, or anything useful? On a side note, I find it absolutely ridiculous that while these syringes are sitting right there on pharmacy shelves, and my dad is technically entitled to 30 of them every month, you still can't just get them via a prescription. It’s just another classic example of how "efficient" the American healthcare system can be. But hey, I'll save that rant for another time.

Thanks, everyone. 🙂

Maybe check with a hospice support group. You could try picking up one of those sterilizers meant for baby bottles. There are versions designed specifically for the microwave. In my opinion, that’s probably your best bet for something that's both practical and budget-friendly in the long run.

wiredcanyon39 said:On Friday, the labs showed hemoglobin at 9.5 and platelets at 250, then they started Neupogen. Now, just three days later, the levels have tanked to hemoglobin 8.1 and platelets at 60????

Look, Neupogen is specifically used to boost white blood cell counts. Hemoglobin and platelets aren't fixed by that; they only go up through transfusions, and doctors usually only do that when there's a massive drop because of the risks involved, like severe allergic reactions. Maybe switching to Neupogen would yield better results. Sure, it can have nasty side effects like bone pain, but it actually works. Just ask around. On a different note, a friend of mine dealing with Hodgkin's was trying to boost her own blood counts using a regimen of steak, garlic, and blueberry juice.
edit I'll shoot you a PM once I get to my computer and have a decent internet connection. I'm stuck scrolling on my Android right now.

wiredcanyon39 said:How long does it usually take to get CT results back from Rebro Hospital? It might matter since we're looking at a lymphoma diagnosis in the abdomen.

It shouldn't take longer than about ten days. This current backlog is likely just a result of everyone being out on vacation, leaving a pile of scans waiting to be read.

Linda Morales66 said:I figured I’d jump back in here after being away for a while...
I gave birth to my son on August 16th. :-)
My mom just isn't herself... we took photos of the baby and sent them over; she scrolled through them three times and
held them close to her heart... but after that, it was like she just gave up. She refused to eat, became so frail that she looks like skin hanging off a frame... her hands shake constantly. Once they told her they'd have to use a feeding tube if she didn't start eating, she promised she would. She managed to eat for maybe two days—just a few spoonfuls of soft food—and then went right back to how things were. Now she's refusing food again, won't drink anything... they've got her on an IV. She doesn't talk at all; she can barely wave a hand or mutter a word... she just sleeps all day long.
As for chemo or physical therapy, we can forget about that for now. She’s way too weak; none of those treatments have even been started. She just lies there in silence...😢

First off, huge congratulations on the new baby! 🙂
Have you guys tried giving your mom any nutritional shakes like Ensure or Prosure? It sounds like she's fallen into cachexia, and right now, it's a full-blown battle to get her strength back and jumpstart her appetite. Try giving her some Pikovit or Multisanastol. We actually pulled my late aunt back from the brink twice using Pikovit. Give it a shot; you've got nothing to lose. I am so incredibly sorry you're going through this. Honestly, she might just be completely exhausted after everything that happened with your delivery. Hang in there, everyone.

Amanda Lee31 said:I read somewhere that cancer cells multiply faster
when you load up on sugar, white flour, and meat.

Regarding the sugar part, does that apply to honey too?

Thanks

Yes. Tumors are basically glucose addicts, pulling in massive amounts of it, and honey is essentially pure glucose. It’s actually why, when doctors use a PET scan to spot a tumor, they inject a radioactive isotope dissolved in glucose. The areas where a tumor is lurking will suck up that glucose way more aggressively than healthy tissue, which makes that specific spot light up on the scan.
That doesn't mean someone fighting cancer should try to completely starve their body of glucose. Without it, your brain won't function, and frankly, neither will the rest of your body.

fadedtrucker5 said:This trip completely wiped out my left side. I’m still relying on assistance to get around and my left arm is pretty weak, but I know things will improve with time. 😉 I'm alive and I'm not in pain, and honestly, that's the only thing that matters. 😁

Did they give you any warm compresses?

fadedtrucker5 said:Hey everyone, here I am again after my 4th tumor and 7th surgery.
I was wondering if anyone here has ever tried Graviola and what your experiences have been like?

🙂 all

Oh my God! But hey, the main thing is that you came out on top once again! Just keep being that absolute powerhouse of a woman!😍
How are you feeling? Any side effects kicking in?

Gerald Garcia63 said:Hey everyone,
I’m new here, and honestly, I only signed up specifically to follow this subforum.
My aunt is 54 and has been a heavy smoker for years. After feeling pretty terrible for a while, she saw a doctor—diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. She’s already had surgery to remove one lung lobe and several lymph nodes. Even after such an intense procedure, she actually looks better than she did before the diagnosis. If I understood correctly, it's Stage 3. She has chemo and radiation coming up next, so I’m trying to figure out what the road ahead looks like once the lung tissue is gone and the radiation is finished.
I realize everyone’s situation is different and giving advice is tricky, but I’m really just looking to hear from people who have dealt with this sneaky disease before.

If they managed to get everything out, and the fact that she was even cleared for surgery is a massive win, I think there's plenty of reason to be optimistic about the outcome. Everything else is just a roll of the dice.

Melissa Taylor5, once they get that air in her, she's going to be feeling a whole lot better

Donna Fowler2, hope everything's going alright with you

Joshua Nguyen9 said:Can someone please walk me through how to get a wig? What exactly does Medicare cover?

Once your Oncologist adds the wig recommendation to your medical history, you take that to your primary care doctor. They’ll write up the authorization slip that you present to Medicare. Usually, what they approve is just some mid-range, basic wig, but if you take that slip and pay a small out-of-pocket difference—just a few bucks—you can typically upgrade to something much nicer. Most specialized wig shops have direct contracts with Medicare; for instance, there's a shop in the Kaptol Center area in Washington, D.C.

Melissa Taylor5, honestly, there’s no sense in wallowing—it just happens. It isn't right, and you know that better than anyone, but the fight keeps moving forward. Hang in there!

Radiation definitely has side effects, but compared to chemo, they’re almost negligible. You mostly just deal with feeling wiped out and sleepy. As for the rectal issue, it's hard to gauge how aggressive the treatment plan actually is. There are specific protocols for every single stage and grade of malignancy, so the data you listed doesn't really tell us much on its own. It’s entirely possible, for instance, that we're looking at a highly aggressive type that was caught early, which is why they're jumping straight to chemo.

Emily Cooper88 said:Back in 2004, I was on corticosteroids—specifically Decortin. I can't recall my exact dosage, but looking around, it seems like everyone is being incredibly negative about them. For me, the only things I noticed were some facial swelling and a bit of weight gain (which wasn't actually a bad thing since I’m normally quite thin 🙂)). So, to anyone facing this medication for the first time: don't worry, it isn't that terrifying. I get that side effects can be much worse for some, but if you're staying on top of regular checkups with your doctor, there's really nothing to fear.

Unfortunately, we can't group all doses together. People who have to take cortisone to manage malignant tumors are usually dealing with much higher dosages, which makes the metabolic disruptions far more intense. "Moonface" is just one of the milder side effects on the spectrum.

If that’s the kind of attitude we're seeing in Canada, I honestly don't doubt for a second that her club and the fans will raise enough money.
And regarding that whole mess where she tripped over herself and just completely lost it... 😉
I’m currently vacationing in San Francisco, watching how American kids and other Westerners act and the absolute nonsense they think is okay to do—compared to them, our local screw-ups look like saints. ☕
It’s just another case of reckless youth that's going to leave them wondering what happened when they finally hit old age. 😳

wiredcanyon39 said:Does anyone know how the hematology department at Rebro Hospital is set up? I heard the chemo ward is on the lower floor, but then what’s on the first floor—the sterile units? What's the deal there? Is that for patients with weak immune systems or something? And are those single rooms or what? Thanks. 🙂

The sterile units are for patients prepping for bone marrow transplants. To make the transplant work, doctors basically have to wipe out the patient's entire immune system so the body doesn't reject the new cells. During that window, an infection isn't just a problem; it's lethal. Typically, a sterile unit consists of one large room partitioned into glass cubicles where the patients stay. That was the setup in the past, though I'm not sure if they've changed the layout recently.

Chloe Gray5 said:My dad starts radiation tomorrow. It looks like he’ll be doing 20 sessions, about 2.3 minutes each. It sounds quick enough. They're targeting his lungs. I'm wondering if there are any supplements that could help make this easier on him? His doctor mentioned you shouldn't even feel the radiation itself, but given how weak he is right now—he barely has the strength to sit up—I'm worried he'll definitely feel the impact. We really don't want this to slow down his recovery.
We’re finally seeing some progress; his digestive issues have cleared up, they're slowly removing his catheter, and his wound is almost healed. The main things left are the pressure sore and the cancer.
He actually has an appetite again and a real drive to get better. If this radiation messes with his ability to eat, it would be a massive step backward.

It shouldn't be an issue. The most likely side effect is just fatigue. These machines are incredibly precise nowadays; they target the tumor with pinpoint accuracy.

Michelle Williams44 said:Maybe someone else has dealt with something similar, or maybe not, but I’d really love to get your take on this.

I don't even know how to put a name to what I'm going through—even the doctors are completely stumped.

It all really kicked off about three weeks ago. Every single day, I was just completely wiped out—this crushing, bone-deep exhaustion. Then, last Saturday morning around 5:30 AM, it hit me like a freight train: these massive, violent tremors that lasted anywhere from an hour to two full hours. Once the shaking stopped, this unbearable restlessness took over, like my skin was too tight and I just wanted to jump right out of it. After that initial chaos, everything collapsed into total weakness. I’m talking "can't even hold a glass of water" weak. I couldn't walk, I couldn't talk—nothing. For two weeks straight, it was like that. My family was absolutely frantic; I couldn't even make it to the doctor's office on my own because they practically had to carry me there. That Saturday, when I finally had enough strength to stand on my own two feet, I made it to the ER at the local clinic. The doctor there looked completely baffled. She told me straight up that in her entire career, she had never seen anything like this happen to someone so young—I'm only 25. She prescribed me some Xanax to try and calm things down, but honestly? It didn't do a damn thing for me.

Things just kept spiraling downward. I ended up at this new hospital, and honestly, the doctor there was useless. She wouldn't even bother giving me a proper exam; she just kept firing off these nonsensical questions that I couldn't even answer. But the absolute kicker? I actually asked her to run a blood test, and she had the nerve to tell me they don't draw blood on the weekends anyway, claiming it wouldn't show anything useful regardless. Then she basically just kicked me out and sent me home. That was the start of a two-week descent into hell. I still have no idea what is actually wrong with me. When I finally saw my primary care physician, she ordered some tests, but knowing how much you have to wait for specialists and labs in this country, it’s going to take forever. To make matters worse, I’ve already been to the ER twice. Both times, all they did was pump me full of sedatives and an IV drip, only for me to get back home and feel exactly the same. It’s been over two weeks before I could even pull myself out of bed, and now I’m dealing with these tremors. They hit me around 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning and last for about an hour, and then they come back at the exact same time every single day.
Every time I sit down in a doctor's office and lay out exactly what I'm going through, they just stare at me with this blank, pale expression like I’ve started speaking a foreign language. It’s incredibly frustrating. I walk out of there feeling more lost than when I walked in, left wondering how the hell I'm supposed to navigate this on my own.
So what if my blood work came back perfect? It’s flawless, I guess. My thyroid levels are right where they should be, too. What’s the catch?
Sorry if this turned into a bit of a novel, but I’d love to hear if anyone else has dealt with something similar or what your take is on all this.
Thanks.

If this happens to you again, get yourself straight to the neurology ER. It’s entirely possible you're looking at some kind of neurological disorder here.