I haven't been super active here lately, but I've been busy with my own checkups and biopsies... but I'll get to that later!
First off, George, I am so incredibly sorry about your mom. Melissa Kim45, I am just so thrilled about your clean results and finishing chemo! May everything stay this perfect! Linda Hill29, please stay so brave and persistent! Just keep asking questions, ask, and then ask again! You got such great advice right away from Linda Campbell and feralwolf24—stuff you might not have figured out on your own for ages, right? This way, you can jump right in to help strengthen your dad's health! Tried and true methods are worth their weight in gold. casualpanther1, huge congrats on your wife's clean scans! I'm really hoping things start looking up for you too! By the way, just so you know, I’ve started praying every single night—something I never did before my cancer diagnosis. It helps me so much, and I recommend it to everyone because FAITH is just an extension of the fight... it keeps your optimism alive! Amy Hayes28, what was your CA125 level? Ovarian symptoms can be bloating, vague pressure, or occasional lower cramps, maybe even missed periods, but honestly, all of that could be endometriosis too. So just wait for that surgery; let them get it out. The main thing is that you didn't neglect your health and you've already taken all these steps. And to all the other warriors I didn't mention...👍
Now, I really want to share some amazing news with you all. I just had my follow-up for my ovarian cancer, and everything is GREAT! My doctor actually said we can move to once-a-year checkups! Can you believe it? Once a year! If someone had told me that seven years ago, or after my last relapse four and a half years ago, I would’ve thought they were just being nice. But it’s real, I'm not dreaming... CURE is possible, even after a relapse! My doctor actually told me, "you can consider yourself cured," and that's the first time anyone has ever dared to say that to me. I truly want my story to encourage every fighter out there... no matter what happens next, never, ever give up! And finally, I want to dedicate these last few words to our biggest warrior, Din, who is recovering from surgery right now😁ina, all our thoughts and prayers are with you! Please reach out with some good news soon!
Megan Perez67 said:First, big hugs to everyone. I honestly don't even know where to start because so much has hit me all at once lately... Three years ago, I went through a divorce after twelve years of marriage—lots of ups and downs, but that's the least of my worries right now. I moved past that and started moving forward, though being unemployed and relying on my mom made things tough again, but we got through it. Then I met a guy who really restored my faith in love, and just when things were looking up last year, my dad had a stroke and is still recovering. I kept telling myself that after everything bad that happened back in 2007, things would finally turn around. I found a job and am even planning to remarry, but! That dreaded "but"... at the end of December, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery on Tuesday, and her doctor isn't being very optimistic; he says it looks bad and she'll likely need radiation and chemo. We're waiting on more test results. It’s all so foreign and overwhelming, I feel almost scared and lost.😕 Sometimes I just want to spend the whole day crying, and then other times I try to deny reality and pretend none of this is happening... until my mom calls and pulls me right back into the reality I'm trying so hard to escape.
Sweetie, I am so incredibly sorry you're going through so much heartache all at once. I know how heavy this feels right now. Lean into those feelings whenever they come—it's actually good for you to let it out. Don't shut yourself off; lean on your new partner for support, and remember we're here too, always ready to listen and cheer you on. So many of us have walked this path with our loved ones or gone through it ourselves. As for the diagnosis, cancer definitely doesn't mean the end. Especially since your mom already had surgery! Chemo and radiation are standard even for early stages, just to make sure any tiny remaining cells are cleared out and to prevent anything from coming back. Try not to look at the dark side of it, because it really isn't that simple. Staying positive is the best thing you can do for her! Let's wait for those surgical results and the exact stage first. Once you have them, talk openly with the surgeon and ask every single question you have. Just try not to overanalyze a look or a expression on his face... it's easy to jump to conclusions. Stay strong and please keep us posted!
Grace Fowler said:Hey everyone!! Just checking in before I head out—I've got my surgery appointment tomorrow.... I'll be back with updates soon.. Grace, hang in there!
Our dear Grace,
You know, I really joined this forum mostly because of you. We're fighting the same battle, and we've beaten it so many times before. You're going to crush this too, and we'll be chatting here for a long, long time! I hope your surgeon absolutely knocks it out of the park tomorrow!
Laura Kelly91 said:Hey everyone, I’ve been away for a bit. Sadly, things have been really rough lately. My dad passed away on January 10th after struggling with terrible pain for a few days. Everything just took a turn for the worse so suddenly... It was awful, and it still feels that way. He left us just eight months after my mom, who fought cancer for twenty days before she lost her battle. He was diagnosed with a tumor three and a half months ago... At least they're together now, even though I'm just feeling completely numb and heartbroken. Now, I really want to be here to support you all in your fight. Despite everything, I truly believe winning is possible. We have to try everything, especially since there are so many success stories out there. So please, just keep pushing and fighting—never give up!
Sweetie, please accept my deepest condolences. My heart goes out to you because, just like some others here, I lost both of my parents to cancer, and then I ended up facing it myself. Please stay strong, for your own sake. This is so hard, and you won't ever forget what happened. But remember, you did everything you could for them, which was what mattered most... Now, as soon as you can... please try to move forward and focus all that strength on yourself and your own healing.
Linda Hill29 said:I’ve been reading through this whole thread, just trying to catch up with everyone. I’m soaking up every single bit of info I can find! I really want to be ready for whatever comes next for my family. I joined a few days ago, but I'm just now diving into the discussions since I'm still figuring out how everything works here. My dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer about a month ago. He already had surgery to remove his stomach, then some complications, then another surgery... now we're just waiting. Honestly, the only thing keeping me calm right now is digging through this forum to find anything that might help us down the road—like which oncologist to see, what the latest treatments are, or which supplements might help his blood counts before chemo starts. I've also been wondering about the costs and treatment options at Los Angeles... My head is spinning with questions! I am seriously blown away by how much you all know and how amazing it is that you started this association! I'm still feeling pretty lost and trying to find my footing, but I need to get my bearings first. I'll keep following everything you write and hopefully, things will start making sense soon... Big hugs to everyone and good luck with all the work the association is doing!
Honey, you found the right place. I am so incredibly sorry you're going through this, and it makes total sense that you feel overwhelmed and unsure where to even start. Just take a deep breath and take it one step at a time. In the beginning, everything always feels way scarier than it actually turns out to be... When I first got my diagnosis, I honestly thought... "I'd be lucky to see five more years," because the prognosis for my Stage 3 wasn't great at all. But look at me now! It's been seven years and I plan on being around for a long, long time! As time goes by, you'll learn how to live with it, through all the ups and downs... If you go searching online, you're going to run into a lot of depressing statistics, but please don't let that get you down. Every single case is unique and there is always hope—just hold onto that! It is so wonderful that you want to stay informed. That's exactly how you should be! Staying educated means you won't feel helpless, and it's definitely going to help your dad... I don't know much about stomach cancer myself, so I can't give you specific advice, but I'm sure someone here will reach out. You might also want to check out the "Helpful" forum and start a new thread if one doesn't exist yet...
So, my doctor just called to say the results came back okay. Still, she's got this lingering doubt, so she wants me to get a second opinion from a surgeon just to be safe. I really wish I could just put this whole thing behind me, but... hey, at least it isn't bad news! I'm heading to see that surgeon on January 18th, so we'll see what happens next.
Thanks to everyone for keeping their fingers crossed for me! Keep them crossed, okay? please...
Anyway... I'm not actually from Chicago, but I need to get some bloodwork done soon for a checkup. Where can I go to get that done? I haven't really had a reason to do it here since I usually just head back home for everything, but I can't make the trip right now. THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THE SUPPORT!
Nancy Hernandez43
Thanks for getting back to me! I'm doing great, though I'll feel even better once they call me today or tomorrow with my breast biopsy results. This waiting game—especially waiting by the phone—is absolutely killing me! I know everything is fine, I just need them to confirm it ASAP! Regarding your bloodwork, I'm not quite sure what to tell you. I'm not from Chicago either; I'm actually from Istria. Are you studying in Chicago? I'd imagine you won't have any trouble at all, though you might just need a referral from your doctor back home, which they could probably mail to you. Best,
As the day gets closer for Mom to head back to Austin for her checkups, I can't help but feel a bit terrified. I'm scared that after three months away, they might find a recurrence and we'll be right back at square one. And honestly, if I'm being selfish, it feels so much easier to read about everyone else's stories than to look at my own mom and see how fragile and dazed she still is... she even struggles to follow a simple conversation on the phone! Let's just keep believing and keep fighting! Kisses...
Nancy Hernandez43
My own checkup is coming up soon too, on January 23rd, so I'm feeling pretty anxious myself. But physically, I feel good, so hopefully everything turns out fine! Could you tell me if your mom is doing her entire workup over in Austin, or did they ask her to do some tests here at home? And will she finish everything in one day, or does she have to stay overnight at the hospital? Try not to jump ahead and assume there's a recurrence already. The chances are slim if she's feeling physically strong. As for her being fragile or confused... that's totally normal. It takes time to recover from all those shocks—the diagnosis, the helplessness, the chemo! Just try to joke around with her as much as possible. It’s the best medicine, regardless of how active she is in the process; it just helps her feel "normal," you know? Have faith that the checkup will go great!
Hey everyone, welcome to the forum! To all our new members, welcome aboard! This place is just wonderful and so full of warmth for everyone...
Grace Fowler, honestly, gaining a little weight is such a great sign, and you know it too! Being physically and mentally prepared is huge for the surgery you have coming up, and you’re radiating so much positive energy that it HAS to go well. We're all rooting for you!
DANDELION SEED, I am so happy about the baby! I know that wasn't an easy decision to make, but I truly believe it's going to be so good for your partner's health and for both of you in general because... a whole new chapter is starting, and beautiful things are finally happening!
As for me, I actually had to go back for another breast biopsy because they didn't get quite enough material for the analysis. But hey, luckily it wasn't painful. The absolute worst part is just this waiting for the results! Ugh! I should have them by the middle of next week, and then the following week I have a follow-up regarding my ovarian cancer. I'm really hoping everything turns out okay because I feel so good right now that I don't even want to think about anything bad happening. Best,
[Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences with us. This has sparked so much interest, and hearing all this gives us so much hope!... So please, keep updating us on everything you find out—don't hold back, we're soaking up every bit of info! This isn't about looking for alternatives, though I'm not against them; it's about finding concrete answers that matter to all of us. What hits home for me most is how our own doctors and oncologists often aren't active partners in this fight. They don't always tell us about every option or what might actually help, even when they KNOW, just like in your example. Then we're left to fend for ourselves, doing the best we can with what we know, but never quite as well as we could if they would just guide us—if they actually WANTED to or felt they were ALLOWED to? It’s especially tough for those of us living in small towns. We don't have connections at the major hospitals in big cities where we get treated, so we end up less informed because our local doctors aren't always up to speed on the latest breakthroughs. It’s hard enough just getting referrals to the top-tier facilities in Washington, D.C., which are clearly the best equipped, but they rarely suggest a specific hospital or specialist for a certain type of cancer. So we end up searching, switching, and... mostly just wasting precious time that we simply don't have. Because of all this, I’d love to see a list created based on your experiences—maybe a directory of hospitals or specialists for specific cancers who have truly gone above and beyond. In today's world, there's competition everywhere, and I don't think there's anything wrong with naming names. They aren't gods! We are fighting for our lives, and we have every right to demand they fight for us too—for the best care, the best treatments, and access to new clinical trials. It's common knowledge that here in the US, we still have so much work to do in the fight against cancer, and mortality rates can be higher than in many other places. Many doctors will surely be honored to see their names listed and will work even harder, while others might be nudged to step up and fight for us where it counts. I'm confident our Association will work on this and focus on keeping everyone informed, hopefully alongside doctors who will join the cause. WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU GUYS, no matter what you achieve! As patients, we often lose hope and strength... we just get lost sometimes. That's why it means so much to see young, driven people stepping up with such passion, just like you. You truly... UNDERSTAND us!
Elizabeth Gonzalez55 said:I'm not entirely sure which exact types of cancer they're targeting in this experimental phase, but it isn't just melanoma. I think they focus on melanoma most because those patients often don't have any other options left. Basically, it’s dendritic cell programming therapy—they draw blood to isolate certain white blood cells, then inject tumor proteins into them in a lab. You get the best results using material from the patient's own tumor, but if that's not available—like in his case since everything was already surgically removed—they use donor material instead. These "trained" cells are injected back into the body to signal the immune cells responsible for destroying tumors, basically telling them to do their job. It’s simple, natural, and non-aggressive. Some articles I've read suggest they might perfect this method in about two years, making it a standard protocol for treating various malignancies.
Thank you so much for taking the time to explain all that to me! I'm actually battling ovarian cancer myself, so whenever I hear about something new, I get so excited... Please, could you tell me if your oncologist recommended this? And is this experimental treatment done right in the hospital? From what I gather, in your situation, it sounds almost like a preventative measure to stop a recurrence since his tumor was fully removed?
It would be absolutely amazing if this becomes the standard protocol for all cancers within two years! I am so happy you guys were able to start this protocol already.👍 GOOD LUCK!
Elizabeth Gonzalez55 said:It’s honestly hard to put into words... He recovered so well from his surgery and now he's gearing up for round two in this fight, which means heading to Germany for some experimental immunotherapy. Reading all these posts makes me so envious of everyone who actually has a fighting chance—our oncologists told us that neither chemo nor radiation is helping much, though they have seen cases where people stayed in remission for an inexplicably long time. So, we're just left hoping... We aren't letting things get us down, though! We signed him up for a research program in Germany for melanoma and we've really leaned into holistic stuff too—he changed his diet, stays super active, and now I'm trying to talk him into meditation since he's been so much more anxious since this all started.
We'll see if any of this pays off after the follow-up PET/CT scan in early February. He's totally convinced everything is going to be okay! :-)
I am so sorry you guys are going through this, but it's wonderful that you have a solid plan and are tackling this together. Most importantly, having that positive attitude is everything!
I'm really curious about what kind of experimental immunotherapy they offer in Germany... is it something for all types of cancer, or just specifically for melanoma? Thanks!
Nancy Hernandez43 said:The surgery is weighing on my mom right now! I don't know how big it is, but you can tell there's this huge fear about a possible relapse. She's just starting her recovery, and honestly, February is creeping up fast when those follow-up appointments are scheduled. I'm going to try and be right by her side when she gets the results so she doesn't spiral again.
Hang in there and stay brave!
That fear of it coming back is something you just can't shake... it's always lurking there, especially every time there's a little pain or a doctor's visit. But as time goes on, especially once those six-month checkups start, things feel a bit more stable. It is so vital that she BELIEVES in herself—that even if a relapse happens... oh my goodness, it isn't the end, and she can beat it again. It's okay for her to feel weak or crash sometimes... she deserves that space... but after that, she'll find the strength to fight back. That's why I shared my own story here, and I really hope more people join in because we ALL need those positive vibes.
And you? You are such an amazing soul for caring so much for your mom, but please remember to look after yourself too. Don't let this weigh you down too heavily. You need to LIVE your young life, and she wants nothing more than to see you happy. Make the most of this holiday spirit, enjoy every single moment, and the time will fly by. February will be here soon and 👍 everything will be OK.
Grace Fowler said:Hey everyone! I have quite a few updates, so, things are looking... well, complicated. Regarding chemo, I had a good response for the spots in my lungs, but it didn't work for the pelvic area (since I was already radiated). Plus, because it’s pretty hard on the kidneys, they actually damaged my right kidney, so the medical board decided I can't get IV chemo anymore—only oral Endoxan. At first, I felt like they were giving up on me, but after sleeping on it, I realized I have to keep pushing forward! I went to consult with my surgeon about trying to surgically remove those pelvic masses, and he's actually on board. So now, I'm just waiting for surgery day. Since Christmas is coming up, I’m really hoping a successful surgery will be my gift from God for the holidays. That's all for now... I'll update you guys soon, and THANK YOU all for the support. Dina
So glad you checked in! I am especially happy you're going for surgery, because, in my humble opinion, that's the only truly radical way to handle this. I've always been a pro-surgery person—it's the one thing I don't fear. My last surgery for a recurring lymph node is what actually allowed me to hit this 4-year remission, though obviously with chemo afterward too. Just BELIEVE that God will grant you that gift, and know we are still right here with you!👍 👍 👍
Elizabeth Diaz60 said:Hey everyone! Has anyone dealt with radiation necrosis before? I was reading up on Hyperbaric oxygen therapy—it sounds like breathing oxygen under pressure for set periods. Does anyone know if there are clinics like that here in the States or maybe somewhere nearby...
Until someone jumps in with specifics, it sounded to me like you might be looking for hyperbaric chambers? We definitely have those available in the US, so maybe check around locally! Good luck!
I really hope you're still hanging in there and fighting hard. Please "drop by" the forum soon to say hi! Since I'm also battling ovarian cancer, I feel such a deep connection to you. You are clearly one incredibly strong and brave soul, but just know that if you ever need advice, support, or even just a simple... hug, I'm right here.
Angela Wright said:What’s going on here? Where are all my fighters at? Let's get those posts moving before we lose our spot at the top...😕 Don't worry, I'm still here and I'll keep the posts coming...👍
Yeah, I was wondering the same thing... where did everyone go?...
Alright, I’m going to need you all to keep me in your prayers and send some good vibes my way this time... I have to go in for a breast biopsy... I'm a little worried, but I truly believe everything is going to work out! After surviving ovarian cancer, this is really all I need to deal with... I'll let you guys know once the biopsy results come in...
slyseal28 said:My darling just got his chest CT scan back, and the results are absolutely AMAZING!!!...
Anyway, everyone, we are doing great and feeling so happy! We both have birthdays coming up, and this clean CT scan is honestly the best birthday present ever! We beat that cancer guy!!!
Hey there, my little Pigeons!...
You guys just made my day! This definitely calls for a celebration... absolutely wonderful!