Posts by Angela Wright

mistybadger55 said:I think Gamma Knife is used if one is up to 3 cm or maybe two are up to 2 cm, but it doesn't matter now, that option is off the table.
How did the radiation affect your mom? Did that recurrence shrink, or did it just stop growing? For how long? A few months, I assume. And what kind of side effects did she deal with from the radiation? I know it hits everyone differently, but I’d like to have at least a rough idea of what we might be looking at.

Glioblastoma is a primary brain tumor, and along with pancreatic cancer, it’s easily one of the most aggressive things a person can face. In my mom's case, the tumor completely receded after 30 sessions of radiation combined with Temodar—which is really where you see the best results—followed by six cycles of Temodar alone. However, things started sliding downhill slightly after that last round, about six months in. Look, we can't compare different diseases apples-to-apples, but one thing is certain: radiation remains the most effective way to treat a tumor, regardless of its type. The catch is that it has to be highly targeted. If there's no possibility for that level of precision, you're stuck, which is why chemo is used once the disease starts spreading or metastasizing.
My advice? Go out and hunt down a second opinion from another neurosurgeon, maybe someone like Dr. Paladin over at Mount Sinai. If he or anyone else confirms that Gamma Knife isn't an option, then that's simply the reality. You've got nothing to lose by checking.

mistybadger55 said:No, my mom has two brain metastases, about the size I mentioned earlier. According to Dr. Smith, those could have been treated with Gamma Knife. However, he turned her down because she also has metastases in her lungs, adrenal glands, and fatty tissue in the gluteal region.
How certain are you that the metastases will respond to WBRT (Whole Brain Radiation Therapy)?
From what I've read on American medical sites, melanoma metastases can be pretty resistant.

Look, when it comes to all types of tumors, radiation remains one of the most effective tools available. Take my mother’s glioblastoma, for example—radiation did the heavy lifting there. She had a single recurrence in the brain, about 1cm, but they wouldn't do Gamma Knife; instead, they sent her straight to radiation (she had initially declined oncological treatment after surgery, then developed the recurrence six months later). In her specific case, chemo didn't really move the needle.
My understanding is that if you're dealing with just one target in the brain, they go with Gamma Knife, so I honestly have no clue what the doctor was thinking.🤷

mistybadger55 said:The metastases in my mom's brain have grown to 12x19 and 15x19 mm. Even though those sizes can be handled—and actually are treated in practice—with Gamma Knife, Dr. Mihaljević just said NO today. Short, simple, and brutal. His reasoning? "The primary disease progression isn't under control," meaning because Mom has metastases in her lungs, adrenal glands, and several other lymph nodes.
I just don't get it: has anyone ever walked into a clinic with brain metastases where the disease was actually under control? If there are targets appearing in the brain, it means the disease spun out of control a long time ago. But they just refuse to treat it...😢😢
I don't understand this and I never will. It’s pathetic and tragic—they just write a person off, when maybe treating those spots could have bought them a few more quality months of life.
I feel like breaking something right now.

Dear mistybadger55, brain surgery or even Gamma Knife isn't some simple fix; it’s incredibly complex and carries massive risks. Given your mother's current state, attempting a procedure like that would only skyrocket those risks, making the success of the surgery itself questionable, let alone any hope for quality of life afterward. There are simply too many metastases; the disease isn't dormant or stable. However, I think the core issue here is that Gamma Knife isn't typically used when there are multiple metastases present in the brain. On the bright side, those specific targets are sensitive to radiation, which she will definitely receive, and that should shrink them down—which might open up new options later.
Hang in there!

Unless you actually start believing in yourself and what you’re after, you aren't really living.
The solution is incredibly straightforward, though most people lack the guts to pull the trigger: you have to make a clean cut.
It’s a binary choice: either you take control, or you spend the rest of your life acting like a doormat for everyone else.
So, make your choice.

mellowseal20, I have to disagree with your take that there’s no beauty to be found in suffering. There absolutely is—provided you're suffering for something meaningful, something you truly believe in and that holds some integrity. My grandmother used to say, "There's a blessing in that struggle," rather than just wallowing in self-destruction and wasting away. That's a massive distinction.

Ashley Fox42 said:Can a stool test be handled by a general practitioner, or do I need to book an appointment with a specialist? If I do need one, who should it be... maybe a proctologist?
Thanks.

The doctor just writes you a referral for the lab.

Emily Bishop30 said:How am I supposed to verify if a doctor actually is who they say they are?
Where can I even look?

Medicare and the medical board

electricwolf19 said:I’m not sure if this question has been asked before, so if it has, please point me toward the right sub-thread.

My mother was diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma and underwent surgery eight months ago. She had a gastrectomy, and along with the stomach, they removed her pancreas, gallbladder, the omentum, and 17 lymph nodes from the stomach region. Her tumor marker results and post-op MRI were excellent—it looked as though the disease was gone. Despite that, based on her oncologist's advice, she opted for chemotherapy and radiation as a preventative measure. She completed five cycles of chemo and 25 radiation sessions. She lost quite a bit of weight in the process, but lately, she’s been able to maintain a steady weight and has a very good appetite. After each of the first four chemo cycles, she would bounce back within a week and return to her usual routine. However, after this fifth and final cycle, she just hasn't recovered. It’s been six weeks since the therapy ended, and she is still bedridden. She is constantly exhausted, drowsy, and finds walking extremely difficult. It feels like her legs simply won't carry her; she’s now using a walker and has to grab onto walls and doors just to move, and she tires out incredibly fast. Even with all this, her appetite is strong (though nothing seems to be sticking), and she can sleep all day. We were told that the cytostatic drugs take about six weeks to clear the system and that the only way through this is to eat, eat, and eat. Since that last round of chemo, she’s also having issues with her balance, which makes her suspect the radiation might be the culprit, even though they only radiated the remaining lymph nodes near the stomach and armpit area. She thinks she needs to see a neurologist, but I’m at a loss for what to do. We’ve already pushed back her first follow-up with the oncologist because she isn't physically capable of making the trip, and we were told to just wait until she recovers. Is it normal for recovery to drag on this long, where there’s almost no visible improvement, and to have balance issues that could be a side effect of the chemo and radiation?

I find myself wondering if she’ll ever be able to walk independently again (without the walker or a cane) and get even partially back to a normal life—meaning basic chores, going to the grocery store, tending to the garden, and all those little things that make a person feel useful rather than like a burden. Every single day, we work hard at exercises, doing leg strengthening routines I picked up during my own physical therapy when I had knee issues. What should we be doing?

Mom is right; she needs to see a neurologist immediately. Even though everything was removed and she went through chemo and radiation, we are still dealing with metastatic disease—a condition that has already established itself—and there is always the possibility that something managed to migrate to the brain. If that happens, God forbid, you need to get it under control as soon as possible!
Beyond that, other tests should be run, because something like pleural effusion, for example, can manifest as fatigue and shortness of breath. Stop delaying the oncology appointment. You can take Mom to the oncology department via the ER, where they can perform all the necessary tests, including neurological imaging like a CT scan.
As for the recovery process and how people handle chemo, it is highly individual. In this case, you absolutely have to rule out any complications.

Brenda Alvarez24 said:I forgot to mention that neither abiraterone nor cabazitaxel are approved in America yet. But, based on what I said earlier, they are approved abroad, so I assume it isn't some sketchy, unofficial study ( like those questionable ones involving unapproved drugs still in the testing phase ).
The fact that they aren't approved or registered here in the States doesn't mean much right now, because they are so expensive that I don't see them getting added to any insurance coverage lists anytime soon... besides, prostate cancer isn't the kind of cancer you see splashed all over the news. Nobody organizes massive charity concerts to fund treatments for this... it usually affects older people, so it just doesn't grab the headlines or the media spotlight.
Sorry if this sounds harsh, but it's the truth.

Drug trials are typically driven by pharmaceutical companies producing the specific medication with the ultimate goal of getting it registered in the US and added to insurance formularies, following that standard sequence. Basically, for a drug to even get registered in America, a study has to be conducted at our local clinics, regardless of whether dozens of studies already exist abroad proving its effectiveness. Only after the efficacy is confirmed here and registration—meaning the permit to sell in the US—is finalized, does the lobbying begin to get the drug included on medical coverage lists. Given how many doctors tend to panic or play it overly safe even with less serious medications and situations, the chance of "wild" or rogue studies existing is kept to an absolute minimum.
Everything else stands, but I’d also add that just because someone is elderly doesn't mean they don't have younger family members or friends who can advocate for them; nobody stays young forever, and eventually, we'll all be hitting that 50+ mark. However, conscience and social awareness are pretty low on the priority list and moral compass of most Americans. Cancer is still treated as a taboo or something shameful, and people don't talk about it—especially when it hits somewhere as sensitive as the groin area, for heaven's sake.😳

Ashley Fox42 said:Forgive me if I'm off-topic, but I honestly don't know where else to ask.
Is there a way to detect cancer in the body, regardless of where it might be located?
Specifically, I am extremely worried about my mother because both of her sisters were diagnosed with cancer within the last year. I want her to go get checked out immediately, but I don't know which specialist to see or exactly which tests to request.

She can undergo a full physical and routine screenings for the cancers where those exist, such as breast, uterine, and colorectal cancer. Additionally, if she is a smoker, she should get a spirometry test, and if there are any concerning symptoms, a chest X-ray. Similarly, if she has stomach issues, a gastroscopy is an option.
If her sisters had breast cancer, your mom is definitely at risk, as are you, and testing is absolutely mandatory. The same logic applies to colorectal cancer.
So, make sure she gets a mammogram, a gynecological exam with a PAP smear and an ultrasound, and a stool test for occult blood—plus a colonoscopy if necessary (in principle, everyone over 50 should be doing this).

Sophia Edwards11 said:Hey ladies 👋

Hmm... I'm kind of uncomfortable even bringing this up to a doctor, so I figured I'd just... I don't even know how to put this. Basically, I've got this constant yellow vaginal discharge—it doesn't matter if I wipe thoroughly after using the bathroom, by the time I head back to the restroom later, it's all yellow again. Same thing when I go number two—I'll wipe myself clean, but then I come back later and my underwear is a mess. No matter how well I wipe, my damn panties always end up dirty. 🙂 I have no clue why. Anyone else dealing with something similar? Thanks. 🙄

Thick yellow discharge is usually a telltale sign of a bacterial infection. You’re going to need to head to a gynecologist to get some swabs done so they can actually figure out what’s going on and start you on the right treatment. There is absolutely no reason to feel awkward about asking a doctor questions regarding your own body. Providing answers to those kinds of concerns and helping you get better is literally what they are paid to do.

gentlemason62 said:Is anyone else dealing with localized skin rashes or maybe those little fluid-filled blisters? I haven't caught up on every single post here... but five days ago, my arm started swelling up. It’s on my right side, from the wrist up to the middle of my forearm. My left arm looks perfectly fine. Five days back, I was at an autopsy, wearing rubber gloves and handling a cadaver—basically touching almost all the organs with that right hand. Are those rubber gloves actually reliable? It’s really starting to freak me out that my left arm is totally clear while the right one is acting up. I've been using surgical gloves at the hospital for two years now and never had a single issue. You can imagine how scared I am... should I head to the doctor? :S

Based on what you're describing, that sounds a lot like dyshidrosis to me. I went through a pretty intense bout of it myself back when I was wearing surgical gloves every single day for patient care. Honestly, I think the powder inside them is usually the culprit.

Carol Bennett87 said:Just wanted to jump in here... I’ve got a lipoma too. It isn't exactly a nightmare, though it's gotten pretty big since I've been living with it for a while now. 😁
It's sitting right on my thigh, on the inner side, practically touching my junk 😁 hahahaaa
I've finished all my checkups and gathered the paperwork for surgery, so I'm heading in soon. They're giving me anesthesia—the spinal kind where they go into your back -.- " Honestly, that part scares me way more than the actual tumor itself.😁

Regarding the anesthesia, I had a spinal for my C-section. While the anesthesiologist was poking my back, my wife was simultaneously trying to get a needle into my vein in my arm. To be honest, that IV poke hurt way more than the spinal. I don't even remember the sensation in my back. It’s just a weird feeling—you can tell things are happening down there, but you can't move your legs and you don't feel any pain at all.

Harold Davis59 said:Lately, I’ve been noticing these little bumps appearing on my skin—just in a few specific spots. They look exactly like mosquito bites and they’re incredibly itchy. What's strange is that they tend to cluster together in certain areas; right now, I have about five or six of them just behind my knee. Does anyone have any idea what might be causing this? It seems unlikely to be mosquitoes given the season here, and I did wonder if it could be spider bites, but that feels equally improbable since I don't see any spiders anywhere in the house. 🤷

It’s entirely possible you've got bed bugs in your mattress.
They feed on human blood at every stage of their life cycle. During the day, they hide away in dark crevices, then come out to attack at night. These things can go without a meal for up to six months, and once temperatures drop below 59°F, they pretty much go dormant. They don't actually cause or transmit any diseases. (Wikipedia)

Sophia Gonzalez79 said:Dr. Braš is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, specifically specializing in providing psychological support to cancer patients.
She isn't an oncologist. 😉

DEPARTMENT DETAILS
Marijana Braš, PhD, MD
Psychiatrist-Psychotherapist
Psychiatric Clinic
KBC Chicago, Šalata 4
Cell: 098 22 33 23
Tel: 01 233 28 25
E-mail: mbras@kbc-chicago.hr
marijana.bras@os.t-com.hr

I’m not going to sit here and argue that I'm right, but from what I know, therapists who provide psychological aid to cancer patients are specialists in psycho-oncology. To put it plainly, she isn't an oncologist—meaning someone who manages the actual medical treatment of the malignancy itself—but rather a psychiatrist dealing with the mental health struggles that arise, or could arise, from the traumatic experience of the illness. Along with Dr. Gregurek, Dr. Braš actually co-authored an article on psycho-oncology which explains how this specific discipline was established and exactly what its scope covers.

Robert Grant84 said:My mother finished her 1.5-year grueling battle yesterday.

I am so sorry; please accept my deepest condolences. 😢
Hang in there.

Megan Bennett2 said:My aunt was diagnosed with a low-grade astrocytoma (brain tumor) after an MRI. We’ve consulted three different neurosurgeons. Two of them say we shouldn't do anything other than have her take Tegretol, but the third one is recommending a biopsy in Chicago (we're traveling from Mexico). She’s refusing the biopsy and insists on just sticking to the medication. The doctors claim this tumor grows slowly and there's no need to worry, and everyone agrees surgery isn't necessary right now. If anyone can provide more insight on this, please let me know.
Best regards.

Look, you simply cannot get a 100% certain diagnosis without a biopsy. Just because a scan looks like a low-grade astrocytoma to a doctor doesn't make it a fact—regardless of how much experience they have. I strongly suggest getting that biopsy and seeking second opinions at major medical centers, whether that's in Chicago or Belgrade, once you actually have the pathology report in hand.
As for the Tegretol she’s taking, keep in mind those are anti-epileptic drugs, not a treatment for the tumor itself. A tumor can trigger seizures, and those seizures alone can cause additional damage to the brain.

granitepilot48 said:--------------

I checked the Medicol website to see what they recommend regarding the best way to prep for a PET/CT scan.
Look, I don't have time for esotericism or pseudoscience; that’s the last thing I’d ever waste my energy reading!
Thanks a lot, I'm feeling a little more composed now.

I have to be honest, this is the first I've heard of anything like this, especially since it mentions Medicol. You should probably just call them directly and demand an explanation.

granitepilot48 said:Hey everyone!
I have a question. My mother-in-law is going for a PET/CT today for breast cancer, and I was reading online that after the scan, the person actually emits radiation for a few hours, making it unsafe to be near kids or pregnant women.
My husband is driving her home after the appointment, and now I'm spiraling, worrying that he’ll pick up some radiation and bring it back to me and our two little ones.
Has anyone dealt with this before? Please let me know if it's safe to let my husband be close to the kids today...

just a panicked and scared mom

That sounds like total nonsense you picked up from some pseudoscience or New Age website. Honestly, if that were true, the technicians working the PET/CT machines would have accidentally wiped out their entire families within their first year on the job.
There is absolutely nothing to worry about; everything is fine.

Update:
I just heard back from a private clinic:
We don't perform this specific procedure (lengthening the metatarsal bone in a single stage) at our outpatient facility. It’s actually quite a rare surgery; typically, it’s handled over at the Mayo Clinic, where they lengthen the bone using external fixator traction.

From what I've been reading on various US medical sites, it turns out the number of people dealing with this isn't actually that small. What’s really striking is that alongside the physical issue with the toe, about 90% of people suffer some kind of psychological toll because of the embarrassment. They constantly hide behind closed-toe shoes, use bandages to mask the toe, or even feel too ashamed to show it to their own doctor. Some people have even made radical decisions like toe amputation, because having four toes feels less problematic than dealing with that one "ugly" fifth one.
Personally, I spent my entire adolescence struggling with the same thing, and while I eventually grew out of the deep shame of it, it still absolutely drives me crazy in the summer when I feel people staring at my feet while I'm wearing flip-flops.🙂 Because of all that, I lived most of my life convinced that my relative and I were the only two people on the planet with this defect—until I stumbled upon Facebook groups filled with people who weren't afraid to share their struggles with the world.
So, if anyone else comes across this topic and is dealing with the exact same issue, please reach out.

crimsoneagle2 said:I have a quick question. I just started working at a hospital and was transferred to a new unit.
Based on my previous experience in a different department, just because a patient has a central venous catheter (subclavian) doesn't mean they need to be on an IV drip from midnight to midnight. We flush the catheter regularly, but once the infusion is finished, you can close it off so the patient isn't constantly tethered to their bed.
To make a long story short, when I closed a patient's catheter today after her infusion finished, it caused a huge commotion. Apparently, if the catheter stays closed (meaning no infusion is running) for more than 15 minutes, someone claims they have to go back into the OR to reset everything.
Does that actually mean anyone with a CVC has to be on a continuous infusion?
I've been scouring the web and found articles suggesting the catheter can definitely be closed, but just to be safe, I wanted to ask if anyone here has dealt with this. I’d really appreciate some insight. 🙂

Maybe the issue is specifically what kind of IV medication was being administered.

nimblemoose40 said:Look into testosterone and cortisol levels.

Oh, and I completely blanked on the adrenal glands.