Laura Morris16 said:Thank you so much for such a detailed response. Best regards,
No worries at all. 😉 If there is anything else on your mind, just ask. I have been using Imunnomax for nine months now, and given how things are going, I'm sure we'll be seeing plenty more of each other here. 😁
Lisa White54 said:I truly want all of you to recover as quickly as possible and for the pain to subside soon. I won't use those "clichés" anymore, even though those very same "clichés" helped my husband and me during our lowest points. Even today, as I wait for his test results—which I honestly don't know what they will show—I find myself comforting myself with those exact "clichés." They only get on my nerves when they come from people who have absolutely no idea what it’s actually like to fight this disease. Look, I wasn't trying to irritate anyone; I was just speaking from the heart.
Thank you for the kind wishes. 🙂 Just because those "clichés" bother me doesn't mean they bother everyone else. 😉 I've noticed that the people who have been with me since the beginning hardly ever use them, or if they do, they are incredibly careful about how they phrase things (for example, it really irritates me when someone tells me, "Oh, I just know everything is going to turn out fine" 😠). I mean, seriously, how could anyone possibly know that?
The few people who actually follow my journey provide genuine support, whereas with most others, I sense an awkwardness or discomfort whenever they encounter me, or they reach out merely "out of obligation." And those are the ones who usually rely on those "clichés" the most. 🙄
Maria Lee54 - reading about what you're going through really hit home for me. It made me realize just how much truth there was in what my doctors told me—that I should feel lucky the tumor was in a spot where it could actually be reached and removed with a single surgery. Well, it hasn't even been a year, and unfortunately, we're dealing with a recurrence. 😢
I truly understand what it feels like to navigate all of this entirely on your own. Honestly, it's more than just being alone; I was left in a terrible way right when I needed support the most. 😠
And look, I’m not going to bore you with all those empty platitudes—you know, the "stay positive," "don't give up," or "everything happens for a reason" nonsense. That kind of talk absolutely gets under my skin. I just hope we both can get through this with as little pain and suffering as possible and find our way back to health soon. 🙂
Laura Morris16 said:Once he’s recovered enough, Dad will need to go to a hospital in Washington, D.C. for radiation treatments, so I was wondering if patients in his situation are entitled to medical transport via ambulance, or if they're stuck driving themselves to Washington, D.C. from further away every single day?
I'm completely new to all of this, so I'm just trying to figure things out.
Thanks! Best regards,
Of course he would be entitled to it. The primary care physician issues the order for medical transport. If someone gives him a ride a few times, they can provide you with a travel voucher for reimbursement. Just make sure they note "with an escort" on the paperwork, because then the reimbursement amount is doubled.
The only downside to using medical transport is that it can be inconvenient since they always pack multiple people into one vehicle, so there's often a wait while everyone gets gathered up. On the flip side, I actually met quite a lot of interesting people that way. Based on my own experience, what I’d suggest is that during that final week—depending on how he's feeling—you should probably drive him yourself. I went through seven weeks of radiation. Those last six or seven sessions were incredibly difficult to handle, and I was beyond relieved whenever someone was able to drive me on those days.
Susan Diaz91 said:When dealing with cancer, honey, every single day counts. Please, take this seriously..
I was honestly stunned and found myself asking if she could recommend someone in Washington, D.C.??.. A hospital.. where, who... where do I even go? Because I'm 6 and a half months pregnant and I am just completely lost..... She said she could help, but then again, walking into a standard hospital involves all this whole procedure—you check in, there's the networking, then more follow-up exams in oncology because hospitals always insist on using their own internal lab results, and then there are those infamous priorities (just know there will always be someone with better connections or a more advanced stage of illness who will jump ahead of your mother simply because she isn't dying yet... and there's still hope...... waiting lists, getting Medicare to approve a specific medication, etc., etc...
I am so incredibly sorry about your mother. Unfortunately, I am feeling exactly what you’re describing right on my own skin. Because of a suspicion regarding a recurrence, my neurosurgeon is sending me for an MRI with spectroscopy. I called a private clinic, and they told me that with a standard referral, the wait is 5 to 6 months. I told them quite plainly that I don't have that kind of time, because in six months, I could be six feet under. They told me that if I were hospitalized, I could come in sooner for an emergency. But they won't hospitalize me because I'm still in relatively good shape; it's just that I recently started experiencing the exact same symptoms I had when my brain tumor was first discovered.
So, I asked the woman when I would be seen if I paid out of pocket. And that's the reality of it: pay up or drop dead. She told me two or three days. So, I basically spat in her face $1100. The results showed that it is indeed a recurrence. Now I'm just waiting for the neurosurgeon to get back from traveling abroad. And my mom is already considering selling our only property just so she can afford to pay for my treatment somewhere overseas.
Maria Lee54 said:Hello everyone! It’s been quite a while since I last posted here. Things have been incredibly complicated on my end regarding finding a way forward with my treatment. Since my health has taken a bit of a downward turn lately, I won't bore you all with the unpleasantness and the difficult situations I've had to endure—it's been deeply unsettling. Right now, I am focusing on just one thing: getting to the clinic where I was previously treated as soon as possible, so this second surgery can be a success. I would like to ask if anyone who knows their stuff could advise me on what to use to improve my appetite and strengthen my system? I am currently taking Medrol tablets, which I've heard can be quite hard on the body, but they have helped reduce the edema and I feel a bit better... sorry for such a long post. Thank you.
If I understand correctly, we are talking about a recurrence of a brain tumor? I take beta-glucan for my immunity. Ever since the surgery, I haven't had any appetite or even felt hungry, but I've forced myself into a routine of eating at specific times, four times a day. Often I eat by sheer force of will, and sometimes I find food completely nauseating. 😢 My oncologist prescribed the Medrol to me. It has side effects similar to the dexamethasone I used for three months. That was honestly pretty terrible for me, so when the oncologist said I could take the Medrol as needed, I stuck to that because I didn't really need it most of the time. I truly want you to get well and hope your surgery goes smoothly.
Susan Ruiz76;19339374 said:Dear Luna, I am so incredibly sorry to read this, but please know it isn't all hopeless. I truly hope that, even if you’re feeling physically drained from all the testing and chemo, your spirit remains strong and resilient—because having that mental toughness is honestly half the battle. I also hope you have your family right there by your side. If it's within your budget, consider picking up some beta-glucan 500 mg (it goes for about $223) which comes in a box of 60 tablets.
Is there any kind of limit on how long one can take glucan? I stopped by the pharmacy to ask, and they told me it needs to be taken consistently over a long period, but they couldn't give me a straight answer regarding the duration. I even asked my oncologist, and he just told me I was throwing my money away.
I didn't experience any side effects at all, so I honestly can't be much help to you here. 🤷
Maybe you should try moving this discussion over to the psychology subreddits. 🤷 There are plenty of people there currently taking Zoloft, along with folks who have been through it before, so you'd likely find much more useful information there.
Benjamin Sanchez51 said:One symptom could be dealing with more intense, long-term iron deficiency. It gets "overlooked" all the time, especially with women... yeah, that's one of the first signs
That isn't necessarily the case. My iron levels were perfectly fine. 🤷 I honestly don't know what wise commentary I could possibly offer on this subject. What everyone can realistically do for themselves is stay on top of their annual checkups. For example, once a year, I make sure to get a breast ultrasound, schedule my Pap smear, and have a full blood panel done.
From what I've observed in those around me, some people truly discover they have cancer purely by accident—though in those instances, it’s usually caught just in time.
By the time something actually starts hurting, or when physical symptoms finally manifest, the cancer has typically already spread.
Anyway, I am not going to dwell on this. I've already started becoming a bit paranoid. 😢
Thomas Davis55 said:And in the meantime, I’ve managed to lose three successes, lol. So what, am I supposed to go out and beat up those two plus the new three?
Is there actually anything else left for you to do? 😉 Or, if you're really that embarrassed, just take it to the DMs and pay for it. 😍
Thomas Davis55 said:Just a couple of months ago, I had my doctor write me five different referrals for various tests and screenings. Honestly, life just got in the way and I couldn't find the time to get them done, so now they've all expired—they're only good for 30 days, if I recall correctly. Now I have to deal with the headache of going back to the doctor to ask for them again... Is he even legally allowed to just issue the exact same referrals a second time?
Look, just go see your doctor. He isn't going to print out entirely new paperwork; instead, he’ll simply correct the dates on the old ones. He’ll "shuffle" the information on the existing forms and then validate everything with his official stamp and signature.😉
Another young life blindsided by a malicious disease. 😢
Copied from news outlets.
Daniel Sunarić was looking forward to finishing school and hanging out with his friends, but suddenly, pain and sorrow cast a shadow over his young life. The laughter, joy, and summer fun this typically energetic boy enjoyed were first spoiled by daily headaches and vomiting.
Doctors at a hospital in Miami initially suspected migraines, but as Daniel’s condition worsened, a CT scan revealed a five-centimeter tumor. His parents, Sabina and Denis, were left in total shock, struggling to come to terms with the fact that their son was facing such a severe illness.
The surgery at the neurosurgery department of the Mayo Clinic on August 27th lasted nearly seven hours. This was followed by days of agonizing uncertainty spent by Daniel’s bedside at the clinic and later at a local medical center.
Two months after the operation, Daniel still struggles to speak, is confined to a wheelchair, and according to doctors, will need about 18 months to recover. He undergoes daily therapy at the local medical center and radiation treatments at MD Anderson Cancer Center. At the start of the year, he will begin chemotherapy, alongside visits to physical and speech therapists.
"Daniel is a huge fighter; he handles the treatment well. There are crisis moments, but for the most part, he stays strong," says his father, Denis, adding that Daniel is fully aware of everything. It is impossible to hide anything from him because, despite being a child, he understands exactly how serious his battle with this illness is.
While positive test results offer some encouragement to his parents, the uncertainty and fear never truly leave them. This is made even harder by the fact that they are going through one of the toughest times of their lives, currently both being unemployed. With their lives split between cities and the massive expenses required for Daniel's treatment, they wouldn't be able to cope without the help of friends and family. They are also incredibly grateful to the local community outreach group providing them with an apartment in the city. Denis works as a roofer, though he can only find construction work on an irregular basis.
Because of this, Daniel needs the help of kind-hearted people. A fund for assistance has been opened in his name at Chase Bank account 236000-1000000013, number 3114543578. For international transfers, an account is also available at Chase Bank IBAN 602360000 3114543578.
Anyone wishing to help can contact Daniel’s father directly at 555-012-466.
Let’s help this brave boy get well and achieve his dreams.