Posts by Amanda Nelson54

Angela Wright said:Dear Minister,
will you ever dream of that little girl with blue curls and wide blue eyes, sobbing for a mother who will never show up at her preschool again? You lacked both the courage and the basic decency to simply say "no." You held every bit of state and constitutional authority required to help her, yet you chose to turn your back and instructed your subordinates to merely "study" her case.
Mr. Minister, you are a politician. Tell me, what does a person in your position actually value? Is it just your seat in office, or perhaps my vote? What even constitutes a core value in today’s political landscape?
Personally, I hold you and the entire political establishment responsible for the death of a mother whose child never knew her to be healthy. She was a wonderful woman—someone I met once who won my heart instantly. She was my peer, an American through and through, someone who loved this country and received help from fellow Americans, but not from you. You aren't truly one of us!

Sleep soundly tonight knowing the weight of your responsibility. Just know that you have one less vote to count. Mine. Though, I suppose to people like you, we only exist to serve your interests.

I sign my name to these words as well.

Alenka, rest in peace! I hope you've found a much better place now.

Angela Wright said:Take a look at this and see just how much shame one Secretary of Health can carry:

Who is going to take responsibility for this wonderful woman, and who will have the nerve to expect her family to cast their vote for them during the next election?☕
Disgusting.🙂

Having seen it play out a thousand times through my own father's experience, I can tell you that we are truly lost with a healthcare system like this.
Despite every ounce of will to live—despite fighting through the grueling physical and mental agony that comes with chronic illness—critically ill patients constantly run headfirst into a massive, cold, and often insurmountable wall called the American National Health Service. Hippocrates? What an absolute joke.

Amanda Miller69 said:Another fighter girl lost her battle this morning. My mom passed away at 7:00 AM, peacefully in her sleep.🙂🙂

Please accept my deepest condolences.

Amanda Miller69 said:My aunt has a connection over in Springfield, but it’s basically a geriatric ward, and honestly, I think my brother would spiral into a total depression if he had to deal with that.
Personally, I'm terrified of what happens if she comes home to stay—I just won't know how to handle it. If I try to take leave to care for an immobile parent, I might get exactly four days 😕, which, hello? And I can't exactly take vacation time either; the guy covering my management shift is getting married, so I can't screw him over, and there's no way we can both be out at the same time.

My uncle ended up in a facility near Springfield after his second stroke, and he actually liked it—they have walks along the river, and the medical care is surprisingly decent, which isn't exactly common for state-run homes, plus it's not just a sea of elderly people. In my opinion, it might be worth a shot; if you don't have any other options right now, maybe move your mom there temporarily while you scout for a better nursing home or a rehab center.

I know you can't get sick leave or vacation time for your mom. When I was dealing with my dad, I exhausted every possible option, pushing my doctor to write whatever diagnosis would qualify me for leave—and even then, the most I could squeeze out was 21 days, and that was on my own record. For my father, I couldn't get any leave at all.

Good luck with everything.

wanderingharbor61 said:Dandelion seed I sent you a PM. All the best!

Lindsay I read through your post; it’s excellent, and honestly, I think it’s incredibly important that your father has managed to hold onto his sense of humor. Maintaining a positive outlook is everything when you're dealing with stuff like this.

Opala1 I noticed you’re also new here, just like me, and that you're riding a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. Regardless of how we feel, while our loved ones are fighting these kinds of diseases, we have to keep moving forward—there really isn't any other choice.

Can anyone recommend a good oncologist at a major hospital, maybe somewhere like Mayo Clinic, so we know who to call if things get serious?

Sending my best to everyone. Hang in there.

My dad was treated over at the Mayo Clinic by Dr. Soldic. The doctor certainly knows his business, and I respect his skill, though I wasn't a fan of how he delivered prognoses. He tends to take the worst-case scenario, make it sound even bleaker, and then just throw it right in the patient's face. Then again, perhaps it's better to be braced for the worst from the start rather than being coddled only to face disappointment later.

But strictly speaking, as far as his ability as an oncologist goes, I can recommend him.

Best,

In any case, make sure you get a referral for a urine culture, because I highly doubt this is going to clear up without some antibiotics.

I deal with frequent bladder infections myself, and I usually manage them with Sinersul tablets—it's an antibiotic. But please, don't try to play doctor and start popping pills without waiting for the microbiology results first.

I did pick up some Urosal tablets recently; they're herbal supplements for urological issues and they work wonders for me when it comes to just a minor chill or that stinging sensation, but they won't do a damn thing against an actual bacterial infection.

It’s a grim situation, all things considered.
I find myself in complete agreement with Angela Wright; you can't just swap out your own life, and you certainly shouldn't spend it indefinitely being a servant to someone else's needs. No one can give you a timeline on how long this misery is going to last, and there’s really no logic in being the only person suffering through this entire ordeal. You have to seek out support, whether that’s from various non-profits that might offer even a shred of assistance or from your own family. I realize how incredibly difficult this is—I know your mother is your whole world and you'd do anything for her—but keep this in mind: if everyone eventually walks away, you're the only one left standing. That’s why you need to try to prioritize yourself; if you can't put yourself first, at least try to move yourself up from the very bottom of the list.
I tend to comfort myself with certain phrases, even when they feel hollow, clinging to the idea that after the worst storm passes, the sun eventually has to break through.

So, dig deep and pull from whatever scrap of strength you have left. Grit your teeth and make some noise. Make it clear to your sister that she isn't just your mother's shadow, and tell your dad straight up that you need help. Something has to give.

It’s hard to give you a definitive answer without more context...

What does your complete blood count look like? I work in a lab for a living, and based on how you described those results, I’d suspect some kind of urinary tract infection. Usually, though, that comes with a pretty miserable set of symptoms—you know the drill, if it’s your bladder, it burns like hell, or if it hits the kidneys, the pain is intense. Honestly, there isn't much I can tell you that will help without a doctor getting involved.

That just tells me you've got an infection—could be your bladder, kidneys, or somewhere in the urinary tract. You'll likely get prescribed some antibiotics, and then things should settle down.

Why did you even bother with the urinalysis in the first place? I assume you were feeling off? If this was just about your period, we'd only see erythrocytes, but the presence of leukocytes and bacteria makes it pretty obvious there's inflammation going on. There's no mistaking it.

Hey everyone.

Just wanted to share some good news—the results from the second biopsy came back CLEAN! No new tumor. Turns out it was just an inflammatory issue in the sinus. They’re going to run one more biopsy in about a month just to be absolutely certain, but for now, everything looks fine.
I can't even begin to tell you how much of a relief this is...

On another note, my dad isn't doing great; he's been fighting the flu for ten days now. His fever finally broke and settled at 98.6, but he’s still weak as a kitten, barely able to stay on his feet. I'm hoping he pulls through quickly, especially now that he knows the scan results were good. If anyone has any solid advice or home remedies to help him get back to his usual self, please let me know...

Best to you all.

electrictinker40 said:I honestly don't even know where to start. It’s incredibly hard for me to find the words because I only heard this devastating news about an hour ago, and I’m just sitting here feeling lost, not knowing who to turn to or what steps to take next... My mother-in-law—who is an absolutely wonderful, courageous woman and someone I truly admire—has been diagnosed with uterine cancer. It has already metastasized, and we are completely blindsided by the uncertainty of what comes next or how to handle such a painful reality. Please, if anyone has any advice, I am desperate for some guidance on what to do.

Believe me, you will find your footing much faster than you think, and a sort of superhuman strength will kick in to help you navigate this; things will become clearer in time. I can't quite explain it, but there is always a sense that something is guiding you through the chaos. Unfortunately, when life hits this hard, you don't really have the luxury of staying in shock for long. That initial wave is always the most paralyzing, but it tends to pass quickly because, once you realize how precious every single moment is, you simply can't afford to waste them all on tears and fear.

Hang in there and keep us posted.

First off, I want to apologize to anyone I might have unintentionally hurt with my comments. Truly...

I’m a firm believer in savoring every moment because you really never know how much time you have left. That’s how I try to live my life. But internally, I’ve had to face the brutal reality of our situation—and again, this is strictly regarding my father’s case—which is that things are looking grim. The tumor he’s battling is incredibly rare and completely inoperable. Even if it weren't, his first round of treatment was so aggressive that it took a massive toll on his heart; he can't handle general anesthesia now. At this point, I’m genuinely unsure if his body could even withstand another cycle of chemo.

When I'm with him, I make sure to stay positive. I don't think I mentioned this, but I got him a dog, and honestly, that pup has become his greatest source of joy and his best form of therapy. Believe me, without that dog, I think he would have completely broken down mentally by now. He’s the type of man who bottles everything up deep inside; he refuses to talk about any of it. To give you an idea, ever since we found out about the diagnosis back during Christmas 2006, we haven't had a single friend or relative step foot in our house. He doesn't want anyone around, he won't discuss the illness, and he absolutely refuses to be pitied. He’s even pushed me away at times...

Anyway, I just took him to the hospital; he has another biopsy scheduled for tomorrow. Now comes the ten-day wait for the results, since a rapid analysis isn't an option—you can't risk a false reading when dealing with irradiated tissue. It's just more waiting, and that’s always the hardest part...

Sending strength to all the fighters out there.

Unfortunately, I’m with you on this one. Phrases like "everything happens for a reason" or "just stay positive" feel completely hollow to me. At some point, you just have to accept the grim reality that things aren't going to be okay—cancer is cancer, plain and simple. There isn't a fairy tale ending here.

My dad is heading in for another biopsy this Wednesday... After a year of peace, the bastard decided to show up again... So, the fight goes on.

My deepest condolences to you and your family. I know there isn't much anyone can say right now to ease the weight of this loss, but I truly believe your mother is at peace now, free from all her pain... You’ve gained the best possible guardian angel to watch over you.
Hang in there...

Hi there.

My dad has been battling sinus carcinoma for about a year now. Honestly, most people reading this probably haven't even heard of this specific type of cancer. That was my first reaction too—sinus cancer? Does that even exist?
Unfortunately, it does.
It’s nearly impossible to spot early on because there aren't any obvious outward symptoms. It just mimics chronic sinusitis.
So, these supposed "infections" dragged on for years. An antibiotic here, another one there, nasal swabs, more antibiotics, endless bottles of nasal sprays... It went on like that until, after months of sleep deprivation caused by a constantly blocked nose, my dad finally went to see an ENT specialist at a major hospital in Chicago to discuss surgery.
That’s when we got the truth: he has nasopharyngeal carcinoma. It had already progressed so much that it caused bone destruction in the skull and filled all his sinuses. The prognosis was grim. They prescribed the most aggressive therapy possible—I’ve lost track of how many rounds of chemo and radiation they scheduled. His doctor actually told us that, in his experience, only one patient had ever survived that specific regimen.
But, thank God, we made it through the treatments. It was an agonizing process, but we endured.
After three months, the CT scan showed the treatments had done their job; the tumor had shriveled as much as it could. It’s still there, but it's significantly smaller. We were set for a follow-up CT in six months...
That milestone date was January 15th of this year. We got the results back from the doctor yesterday...
The CT shows a new mass that wasn't visible on the previous scan. Naturally, the doctors don't know what it is yet, but they've scheduled a surgery—specifically a biopsy that has to be performed under general anesthesia because the location is so difficult to reach.
This news hit me incredibly hard... So, I decided to reach out to this group, knowing you all might understand.
If anyone here has dealt with this specific type of carcinoma, please, if you have any wisdom or advice to share, let me know. If not, just keep us in your thoughts. If the biopsy shows the worst-case scenario, I honestly don't know how we'll find the strength to face more treatment...