Posts by Angela Wright

Elizabeth Perez33 said:Thanks for the tip, Angela Wright!
Can I just pick this up at a local pharmacy?

If they don't stock it, you should be able to order it online.

Elizabeth Perez33, if you're looking to jumpstart an appetite, Multi Sanastol is the real deal. It’s basically a lifesaver for anyone feeling wiped out. Honestly, my two old aunts used it twice to practically pull themselves back from the brink. It's incredible stuff.

Casey Rogers47 said:Money isn't the issue; there's never enough cash to go around anyway 🙂
I was just reading up on bone scans. They really seem like a solid diagnostic tool. I’ll admit, though, I’m a little squeamish about any medical test that involves injecting radioactive tracers into my system.
I've been following the skiing scene lately. It honestly baffles me why people rush straight for an MRI the second they take a tumble on the slopes.

It's because they're mostly tearing ligaments and muscles, and for that, an MRI is the gold standard. If you suspect a fracture, you go with X-rays. Honestly, the amount of radiation involved is so negligible that it's practically nothing compared to the actual benefit of getting a clear diagnosis.
And let's be real: money *is* a massive issue. Even worse are the endless waiting lists created by people demanding unnecessary scans, which drains the system dry. You end up with patients facing serious stuff, like cancer, stuck waiting months just to get imaged, when those results are often the deciding factor in their entire treatment plan. Unfortunately, while the patient is stuck waiting for a scan, the disease certainly isn't waiting for them.

Raymond Jackson38 said:I spent the entire night scrolling through an American online forum dedicated to kidney cancer patients. At first, I was actually inspired—seeing people fighting so hard and seemingly coming out on top. But as I kept reading, the mood shifted. It felt like watching those lives slowly flicker out. It’s devastating. Honestly, it crushed my spirit, and we're only just starting this journey.

Everyone, please don't let yourselves get spooked the way I did. I am wishing you all nothing but the absolute best!!!!

Generally speaking, people need support, but once they start feeling better, they tend to drift away. It isn't necessarily about grim prognoses; it's more about a certain mindset.
Hang in there and remember that everyone is walking their own path with their own unique story—no two journeys are identical. You have to stay focused on your own lane. Know where to go when you hit a roadblock, offer support when you can, and ask for help when you need it, but anything beyond that is just noise and ultimately counterproductive.

ruggedwolf12 said:Can someone please help me make sense of this? When my grandfather first had his blood drawn, his tumor marker count was at 209 (which is wild, since a normal reading is around 4). He just had more blood work done a week ago, and the number has dropped significantly. It’s still nowhere near the normal range, but it definitely went down. How is that even possible? 😕 He isn't on any cancer drugs—just hormone therapy. He's 77, and the doctors felt chemotherapy would just break him and end things sooner than they have to. If anyone can explain what's happening here, I'd really appreciate it.

The hormone therapy is slowing down the tumor's growth, which is why those circulating cancer cells are dropping.
Just keep in mind that markers aren't some foolproof diagnostic tool; they're basically just used to track how things are trending.

Casey Rogers47 said:To kick things off, you'll want to get a physiatrist's take on this to see what their specific recommendations are.
From my non-expert perspective, I honestly think the best move would be to grab a CT or an MRI covering all the bones, joints, and whatever else showed up on those initial scans.
I can't help but wonder if all this might actually be linked to my cycling.

That's a totally unnecessary and overpriced diagnostic move in this situation. It just clogs up waiting lists for people who actually have urgent, critical needs for those scans, not to mention the pointless radiation exposure from a CT. There are plenty of relevant tests you can run first that would lead to an accurate diagnosis. Besides, when you're dealing specifically with bone issues, you don't jump straight to a CT or an MRI; you go for a bone scan. Whether that's actually needed or not is something you should leave to a specialist physiatrist to evaluate.

swiftlynx24 said:Is sperm freezing actually an option here in the States? Can any guy just go in and freeze his, or are there restrictions? I'd love to hear some real opinions or if anyone has gone through the process.

It’s handled by the Mayo Clinic, but my understanding is that they generally reserve it for patients with specific medical diagnoses—basically people whose future fertility is at risk due to illness or certain treatments.
Your best bet is to check in here.

mellowhawk84 said:Hey everyone. It’s actually great to have a corner of the internet like this where you can share something useful with others. I’m new here, so please don't judge if someone has already told a similar story. Basically, my family—me, my brother, my dad, and our extended relatives—is dealing with a massive crisis because of my mother's mental illness. Every single day is nothing but shouting and chaos. We are all constantly being blamed for things, and having a normal conversation with her is almost impossible; even when we try, she finds some tiny thing to nitpick and immediately raises her voice. God forbid anyone makes a joke, and she’ll take it all the wrong way. Her mood swings like crazy throughout the day, cycling from sobbing to screaming over and over again. Living with her is exhausting; her behavior is destroying us, and we just have to endure these psychological outbursts. It’s impossible to get anything done near her, let alone study for an exam—my brother is still in college, and I’ve already finished my degree. To make matters worse, she doesn't sleep at night; she wakes up a hundred times, coming into our rooms to check if we’re asleep, so we have zero privacy or peace. This has been going on for seven years. She’s been hospitalized twice at a psychiatric facility, the last time back in 2006. Right now, she doesn't work and just handles housework, whereas before she used to work seasonal jobs down by the coast, which used to keep her calm, but she refuses to do that now. Her condition is just getting worse and worse; the yelling is increasing, and honestly, our relatives barely visit anymore because she’s picked fights with almost everyone, including her own mother. I can't even remember the last time I brought a friend over, or a girlfriend, or even had a chat with a neighbor. When people see or hear her, they just shut themselves away inside, and sometimes I feel embarrassed just walking down the street. My father works out on the coast, so he’s fine while he's there, but when he comes home for the winter, he has to suffer through this too. We would all be so much happier if she would just agree to treatment, but whenever we suggest seeing a doctor, she claims we’re all the ones who are crazy, and then it just turns into another fight. Maybe someone else here has dealt with something like this at home and knows how it feels? I’ve seen plenty of different illnesses, but I think this one is the worst, and I’m honestly terrified that one day I’ll end up like this.

People experiencing psychosis aren't capable of accurately assessing their own condition or deciding to seek help on their own. I’m afraid that "involuntary" hospitalization might be the only way out. You should talk to her primary care physician and see what steps they recommend next. I'd also suggest checking out the psychology forum; there are plenty of people there who have gone through similar situations. I’m sure they’ll be able to offer more intelligent advice than I can. We're mostly navigating "oncology waters" over here.

My cousin finally kicked her nail-biting habit by getting acrylics. Since she became obsessed with keeping them looking perfect, she hasn't touched them once.
But let’s be real—nail biting isn't just a bad habit; it's usually rooted in something deeper psychologically. We're talking anxiety, escapism, self-sabotage... there's a massive spectrum of underlying issues at play here.

If you want to try a fix, you could look into getting a gel overlay that cures under a UV lamp. The catch is whether your current nail beds are actually healthy enough to handle the filing and the application process. Honestly, just head down to a local nail salon and get a professional opinion.

fadedtrucker5 said:I really need to run all of this by them—the hospital staff. I don't feel comfortable bumping up the dosage on my own, even if it's just something like propolis.🤷

They’ll probably just tell you not to take anything at all while you're undergoing treatment.

fadedtrucker5 said:I’m taking the propolis strictly by the box instructions—2x2 before meals—along with 3x1 doses of 200mg beta 1,3 glucan, plus a beet, carrot, and lemon juice blend. We’ll see what the platelet count looks like tomorrow. Keep me in your prayers. 🙂

I honestly can't recall how we landed on that 3x5 dosage. I think we saw a testimonial on their website from someone who was using massive doses while undergoing treatment. I remember calling them to double-check, and they told me that for patients facing serious illness, higher doses are necessary. Your best bet is to just call them directly.

Don't go expecting any massive breakthroughs in such a short window. When I started my mom on high doses, it was about ten days before she actually began her treatment. There was a point where she had slipped into a coma, and I was literally mixing crushed propolis into yogurt to give her through a feeding tube. After they performed a decompression, she regained consciousness and was able to proceed with her therapy. Thanks to that propolis, her blood counts never dropped, and she avoided any infections, which is absolutely critical during this kind of treatment.

fadedtrucker5 said:I picked some up today and I’ve already knocked back four of them... 🙂 I’m hoping this starts kicking in by Monday. By the way, do you happen to know anything about how this works regarding blood transfusions? 🙂

My mom was using propolis from that one supplier, and we actually ended up ordering five units at once through the mail because the bulk discount was insane—you basically get a free box if you buy in that quantity. She was taking massive doses, like three sets of five capsules every single day, while she was going through her treatment.
When it comes to transfusions, you aren't just talking about a simple "vein-to-vein" transfer. It’s actually a platelet preparation where they isolate them from the blood. In this specific situation, there isn't really a massive necessity for the donor to be a relative. That said, I do know a case where a fighter's husband had a violent allergic reaction during a platelet transfusion, so you should definitely ask the doctors first. Generally, platelets have to drop significantly and show a clear trend of continuing to fall or plateauing before anyone even considers ordering a transfusion.

fadedtrucker5 said:Hey everyone, I really need some help here..

Can anyone tell me how to boost my platelet count?
I'm on Temozolomide, getting 4 ml of dex shots in the muscle, and undergoing cranial radiation.
Within just one week, my platelets dropped by half—this is only my fourth week of chemo.
I've been taking three 200mg tablets of beta 1,3 glucan daily, plus drinking beet, carrot, and lemon juice..

They’re pulling my blood again this Monday. If my platelets drop below 100, they won't clear me for chemo; if they tank completely, I'll be looking at a transfusion.

So, my question is: is there any actual way to get those numbers up in just three days?

Thanks for any advice you can give. 🙏

The only way is a transfusion. My mom used unnamed propolis (she was also on Temozolomide) and her levels never dipped.

restlesswalker11 said:Hey everyone. I’ve been reading through the old comments on this thread, but I’m starting a new one because I have some fresh questions. I’m still pretty young, so I don't know much about all of this. My mom had ovarian cancer—well, she just finished her surgery about a month ago. They had to remove her uterus and both ovaries. She’s back home now and will be starting chemotherapy soon. She’s taking all sorts of supplements, like olive & beta glucan (Gforce) and a bunch of others (I can't remember the exact names right now)... Besides that, she’s eating healthy, at least I think she is. Her markers are high and her iron is low, but the doctors say that should stabilize over time. Everything else in her bloodwork looks great, and most importantly, the cancer hasn't spread anywhere. Since I'm still learning about this disease, I really want to know: what comes next? I’m looking for stories from people who have actually lived through this, rather than just people Googling symptoms!

Generally speaking, ovarian cancer is a pretty sneaky and recurring disease, but there are plenty of women out there who have been in remission for a long time and are handling the diagnosis just fine.
Here is a link to a specific forum. There are tons of personal experiences there, and the women in that community will be happy to help you out.
If I could offer one piece of advice, though, don't stress yourself out over "what ifs" that might never happen. Just focus entirely on your mom's specific situation, because every single case is its own unique story, regardless of the diagnosis. Just take things as they come. You can't predict the future.

Hannah James76 said:We sat down with him, and he’s the only one who actually took the time to walk us through the lab results in detail. The situation is grim: Dad’s platelet count is already bottoming out, and these medications are just going to tank them further, which puts him at a massive risk for internal bleeding. His levels are hitting 50 and they’re only going to climb from here; we’re essentially just waiting to see how much worse it gets. He’s fighting like hell because he refuses to die, and seeing him break down like this... honestly, this feeling of being completely powerless is absolutely destroying me. 😢

Oh honey, I am just so incredibly sorry. 😢 I only know one thing for certain, and I witnessed it firsthand when my mother was on her deathbed. I called a priest to come and assist her, and it taught me this: once a person decides to let go of someone or something, all they need to do is point a finger in that direction for God to step in and turn things around. After that happened, my mother lived for another year and a half.
Just give it a shot and try reaching out. www.zanovidan.hr Ask Dr. Thomas Jefferson if there's any room to use Xelod in this situation. Look, I know it isn't going to be a miracle cure, but it might slow things down just enough to give her some semblance of a decent quality of life. Honestly, when you're dealing with cases like this, I think it’s worth giving them something—even if it's just a palliative measure or a psychological placeholder—just to help settle the mind.
Hang in there, honey.

Hannah James76 said:I finally signed up, but we’ve already scheduled an appointment with the unnamed doctor, so we’ll see what he has to say... The GI specialists told him he needs to head over to oncology for chemo, but then at the tumor clinic, they basically told him to just go home because there's nothing they can do. They wouldn't even perform a biopsy because they were terrified he'd bleed out. What really strikes me is how great my dad looks—he has a healthy appetite and such a strong will to live... I just wish someone would give us a straight answer on how much time he actually has left. We're fighting, though; hope dies last. Thank you.

It doesn't surprise me one bit that they gave you that response at the Institute; that's just their standard playbook when dealing with complex cases. 🙄
And let's be real: nobody can tell you exactly how much longer your dad has, and honestly, that should be the very last thing you obsess over right now. You all need to just live in the moment—him included—and make the most of every single day. Not because he's sick, but because that's how everyone ought to live anyway. Let him live out whatever time he's been granted here on this earth. Do everything in your power to make sure he's comfortable and has the best quality of life possible under the circumstances.
The unnamed doctor will provide his own assessment, and it's entirely possible his opinion will completely contradict everything you've heard so far.

Hannah James76 said:I never imagined I’d be posting here, but life throws curveballs... Two days ago, we found out my dad has hepatocellular carcinoma. The doctors basically told us there was nothing they could do and sent him home. Of course, we aren't just rolling over; we're looking into private options. I'm still in total shock and don't have the energy to read through this entire thread, but I'm desperately hoping there's some kind of glimmer of hope somewhere... I saw that there's a drug called Nexavar, but I have no idea who to talk to for actual information—there's barely anything useful online...

Log in to www.webmd.com and ask for an opinion from Dr. Stjepan Radić; she's an oncologist who contributes to this forum as a volunteer.
Nexavar is what you'd call a "smart drug," but before anyone can be prescribed a chemotherapy agent—Nexavar included—they have to meet specific criteria regarding age, overall physical condition, and the stage of the cancer. Unfortunately, sometimes the disease is caught so late that administering chemo would only serve to wreck his health and quality of life without offering any real benefit.

Jesse Newman46 said:Here’s the link to the article. The connection between Candida overgrowth and cancer is one of those topics that people love to dance around because it’s uncomfortable, but we need to stop dancing and start looking at the actual biology. It isn't just about "bad bacteria" or some simple imbalance; it's about how a systemic fungal infection can act like a catalyst for cellular chaos. Think of it like a house fire where the yeast isn't just the smoke—it's actually feeding the flames by creating an environment where malignant cells can thrive without any resistance from the immune system. When you have chronic Candida, you aren't just dealing with bloating or fatigue; you're dealing with a hijacked metabolic pathway. These fungi produce metabolites that can essentially shield cancer cells from being detected by your body's natural defenses. It’s like a thief wearing a high-visibility vest so the police don't bother checking them. If the gut microbiome is completely wrecked, the body loses its first line of defense, turning what should be a controlled biological process into a free-for-all. We have to move past the superficial advice of "just eat less sugar" and realize that if there is a deep-seated fungal issue, the entire internal ecosystem is compromised. You can't fix a structural foundation issue by simply repainting the walls. We need to address the underlying fungal load if we want to stand any chance of supporting true cellular health.
I’d really appreciate some help here.
It’s worth a read.

They can play the fool all they want, but they might end up killing someone—just like those poor souls who drove that individual to walk away from the Medical Board in the first place. ☕
You really ought to give this a read:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulinoma
This is a solid read.
The bottom line is that you have to surgically get it out. Once it’s gone, doctors run a pathology analysis on the tissue to determine if they were dealing with something benign or malignant. In about 90% of cases, it turns out to be benign.
Check out this other resource as well: http://www.insulinoma.co.uk/

Karen Torres42 said:Forgive me for just hunting for advice here, but I’m lost. We have so many conflicting opinions—to the point where, four months later, they want to run another biopsy because nobody trusts anyone else's diagnosis. It's been five months since we first discovered the problem, and honestly, it feels like an eternity. He hasn't even started treatment yet, and he's already dealing with shoulder pain. Is it normal for this to drag on this long? Does anyone have experience with major chest surgeries followed by radiation? Is that even a standard path? How does the tissue actually heal, and can you even radiate after a surgery like that? God, I have so many questions, and this is the only place I can ask them. We're still waiting for an appointment with the oncologist; we saw one specialist who told us it wasn't his department, so now we're stuck waiting for a second opinion that might just be more of the same! The agony isn't just the illness itself—it's these doctors!
p.S. We've started him on some propolis.

Look, I don't know the specific details of the case, but you're right—waiting this long is definitely not normal. It is physically possible to undergo massive chest surgery and then proceed to radiation, but it all depends on a huge number of variables. Generally, you need at least about a month between the surgery and starting radiation.