Posts by mellowbison13

I stumbled upon a health feature in the news today advertising a product called ImmunoAHCC. It seems to be derived from certain Japanese medicinal mushrooms and is used as a form of immunotherapy. Has anyone here had any experience with it, or perhaps heard if it actually works?

Sam Murphy33 said:I'm in complete shock. My mom's initial tests, markers, and CT scans suggest colon cancer with liver metastasis. She’s going into the hospital this Wednesday, and from what I've read online, it would be almost Stage 4. Usually, she's doing fine, just some minor digestive issues and hemorrhoids. I honestly have no idea how to handle this. Please, tell me what to do and how I should act around her. This is terrible.

Sam Murphy33, just stay brave. Be there for your mom; you have to stay strong for her. I know it's a shock, and there will definitely be mood swings... we've been at war with this thing for two and a half years now and we're still fighting. Just show her you're by her side. Dealing with this illness isn't easy, but wait until you get the official results first. In the meantime, just be there for her as much as possible—like Angela Wright said, she's still the same mom. Hang in there!

Maria Fox said:My mother used sage tea as a mouthwash.
She mentioned it helped her a little bit, so I thought I'd share. Hopefully, it helps you too. 🙂

She isn't much of a tea drinker, either. I suggested she try some detox tea that's supposed to help clear out the effects of chemo, but she mentioned a similar blend a friend brought her from Germany once that really messed with her sinuses. My dad, on the other hand, could drink a gallon of the stuff, but thank God he doesn't have to deal with any of this. I'll still mention it to her, though—maybe she can just swish it around her mouth if she doesn't feel like actually swallowing it.

Susan Diaz91 said:And she shouldn't have to gild the lily regarding those small bites🤷...but let's be honest, everyone has their limits... that's just the truth🙂

Mine was given some extra appetite syrup... so she started eating everything by age 16.. which I am happy about.

Is yours taking an appetite syrup or anything else to help regulate her appetite?

She tries quite hard to eat all those nutritious foods meant to boost her immunity and blood counts, but there are certain things she simply cannot stomach. For instance, she can't stand mushrooms, lamb, seafood, or several other items. However, she loves things like bacon-wrapped sweet potatoes, raisins, fresh Swiss chard, honey, propolis, beta-glucan, and fresh fruit.

Generally, she doesn't have issues with her appetite, except that after chemo, everything tastes metallic and her mouth feels dry, so not all food sounds appealing. She always manages to find something that works, forcing herself just a little bit. Once the side effects pass, she eats normally again... she actually gained 10 pounds after the first round of chemo. She is on her second round now, and is actually receiving her third treatment today... my love.

I'll pass that along to her, though I'm not quite sure how she'll take it... she can be pretty picky about certain flavors, but I'll try to nudge her toward it anyway. Thanks for the tip.

Susan Diaz91 said:Yes... beet juice, blackberry wine, raspberry juice... all of those help the overall blood count, but brewer's yeast specifically for boosting white blood cell counts—that’s really targeted for leukocytes (or so her doctor told her).
Since she started taking it, her white cell counts have been absolutely perfect 🙂 clearly it works 🙂. I've realized how incredibly vital those levels are for continuing chemotherapy... essentially, if they drop too low, they have to stop the treatment cycles... so keeping everything in balance is essential...

How often should one take a small amount? Every day? My mother's levels are right on the edge, actually slightly below, so I want to give her the right advice. Thanks!

Grace Stewart6 said:So, my mom went to get her stitches removed today and we finally got the results.
It turns out it was skin cancer, but the surgeon cleared everything out and the specialist at Dermatica said it should be enough. No radiation or anything else is needed😁.
Mom just needs regular checkups now to make sure everything stays clear.
I really hope everything goes smoothly for your mom after her procedure, too.
Dermatica mentioned to my mom that it’s one of the less dangerous types of cancer.

👍That is wonderful news, I am so happy to hear that. Wishing you all the best with the follow-up appointments!

Barrett, I am truly sorry you are going through this and feeling this way. It feels unfair for any of us to be in these positions, doesn't it? But unfortunately, here we are. I understand why you feel wounded and helpless, but taking it out on others because of your own pain isn't the right way to go.

Angela Wright and gentletiger46 gave you some great responses, so I don't want to just repeat what they said. This Forum is meant for discussion, sharing experiences, and finding support, which often leads to really helpful information. However, looking at how many different topics there are, it’s unrealistic to expect that every single thread will have someone facing your exact issue or someone who specializes in your specific struggle.

Personally, this Forum helps me. It gives me strength to see people fighting through such difficult times and cheering each other on against this terrible disease. I can't be online constantly to reply to every post, and I also don't want to be repetitive if someone has already answered.

I believe your "accusatory" post came from a place of overwhelming sadness that is hard to manage, but please try to release that emotion in a different way rather than attacking others who aren't at fault. We all have our own ways of coping with an easy life, and receiving support from those with similar stories can be so incredibly helpful.

I hope that, alongside your doctor's consultations, you've been prescribed a medication combination that eases your current condition.

Sending my heartfelt support to everyone else, hoping things start looking up!

Hello everyone!

I just caught up on the posts now that I've finally hopped back online... it really warms my heart to see all the positive vibes you've sent my way.

Things are moving along here; Mom has recovered quite a bit from her first round and is getting ready for the next chemo session in two weeks. She decided to shave it all off yesterday so she wouldn't have hair everywhere once it started falling out, so today we're in Washington, D.C. picking out a new look (maybe even two🙂).. she isn't a fan of the style she rocked after the first round of chemo anymore. Now she can actually choose whatever she wants!

So, we just keep moving forward... the fight continues..

Wishing you all plenty of strength to weather your own storms through sheer willpower!

Nancy Hernandez43 said:We tease Mom all summer long because it makes things easier for her—no heat from hair, no shaving required... 😍 When I see her tonight, I think I might actually faint since I haven't seen her in over two months and she's gone completely "bald" (that's our little family nickname for her), though I think she's finally coming to terms with it, just like everyone eventually does 👍 because it really does grow back.

It was such a wonderful moment for me when my mom's hair grew back after her chemo. It was this short, silvery style with little spikes, almost like a pixie cut, and it was pure white. It made her eyes pop so much more than they ever did when she used to dye it... she honestly looked even more beautiful. As far as I can remember, she always had colored hair since she went gray before I was even born.

Laura Williams2 said:Hello. My father has lung cancer that has spread to his bones. I watch him decline every single day. He handles the chemotherapy relatively well, but the illness itself has caused him to withdraw completely; he won't talk to us or leave his room. It is mentally exhausting for our whole family.😳

In times like these, one really needs a moment to clear their head, process everything, and get their thoughts in order. Give them some space, but try to encourage them to stay engaged—don't let the situation completely take over. It might be helpful to try something new or make a change; the goal is to use this time to feel better. Or just stick to what they love doing, especially since you mentioned they handle therapy quite well. During my own low points, when I’m overwhelmed with worry about my mother's health, I have no desire to go anywhere or do anything. It's hard, and that's perfectly understandable. But once that sadness passes, there comes a period of positivity where I feel incredibly grateful for everything I have, even if I don't know how long that feeling will last. You simply learn to enjoy the little things, and after all, life is really just a collection of those small moments that make up the whole.

I am not quite sure what kind of person your father is. Some people find relief by talking through their problems, while others prefer to process everything internally. You will likely have to judge the situation yourself and decide how to handle it accordingly.

gentletiger46 said:Reading this is making me a little paranoid. I am thinking about cutting my hair short since chemotherapy is coming up soon, but I was imagining a cute short style rather than going straight to bald.😢😲 😢 At what point did you all cut yours? When did it start falling out? When did that happen? 🙂

You can definitely cut it short first just to get used to the idea. Don't worry too much about the loss, because it grows back so fast once treatments are done—and thicker than before, like I said. My mom started losing hers after her second chemo session, I think. To avoid having hair all over the house, she just cut it all off and my dad shaved her head. Wigs, scarves, and that's that. During that time, I kept telling Mom to enjoy how smooth her legs were, like a baby's, since she didn't have to worry about shaving anymore... except for the hair loss. You have to find the silver lining in everything; it makes things easier. Plus, washing and blow-drying hair can be such a chore sometimes. At least you get a break from that, and once you're finished with therapy, you'll have plenty of thick hair to figure out what to do with next.🙂

Melissa Parker37, how is your dad doing? I really hope he’s still keeping his spirits up.

I think it works both ways. Just as we try our best to stay positive and support our loved ones through this, they try to lift themselves up—and us, too—so we don't get swallowed by the gloom. Parents often understand their kids much better than we realize. Sometimes I'm surprised by how much my own mom "gets" me; even when I think I'm hiding everything, she just picks up on the vibes. At the end of the day, parents are there from the start; they know us better than we know ourselves sometimes. They want to breathe some positivity into us to protect us. We have to look out for one another and listen to what's needed. Sometimes you need to show them how much you're standing by them, but other times, you just have to forget the illness exists for a while. You can't dwell on it constantly; it's just too heavy. Everyone needs to "clear their head" occasionally—both the patient and the family—to recharge before the next round.

Olivia Miller said:mellowbison13,
I used to drink aloe vera (homemade, not store-bought), then switched to tahéebo tea followed by green honey. That was about 10 years ago and I didn't experience any side effects at all.

Thanks, Olivia Miller. We might give that a shot. It could help my mom regain some strength since she's feeling so drained. I suspect it's just that spring fatigue, because I've been feeling a bit sluggish myself.

Has anyone mentioned green honey for boosting immunity before? I picked some up at the pharmacy for my mom since they claim it helps during recovery from chemo, radiation, or surgery. Their website even says it’s certified by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Since I know people sometimes warn against mixing medical treatments with natural supplements, I was wondering if anyone here has actually tried it? Does it work? I really don't want to cause any adverse reactions, so I'm second-guessing whether I should give it to her, even though she loves honey.

Nancy Hernandez43, you fighter, and Lajavica, thank you both for the advice. I've been feeling a bit "falling apart" lately, so please forgive my constant whining; I was just completely overwhelmed. But Mom is doing better, which makes me feel even better, and I've decided we're going to take things one day at a time to make the most of this good period. Whether a person is sick or healthy, you never truly know what tomorrow holds, so it's important to be grateful for every single new day and find joy in it.

How can I let a beloved family member know how much I love and appreciate them—and how grateful I am for everything they've done—without being overly sentimental and making the focus entirely about their illness? Plus, I'm not in a position to visit them regularly right now.

To be honest, just like with you guys, Nancy Hernandez43, my family isn't really the type that's constantly hugging and kissing and being mushy. We love each other, but we don't say it out loud. I usually assume everyone else feels the same way, but sometimes I wonder if they truly realize the depth of it. Every family shows love differently. But right now, I want to make sure my mom knows she's my queen, without making her feel like we're saying goodbye... because that’s not an option; there are still battles to win. If I were home right now, I'd just want to hold her hand and never let go, but I'm afraid of overwhelming her. I also struggle with expressing emotions verbally; I've always been better at writing things down, but even a letter might come across like a final farewell. Oh God, I've never been able to properly describe how much the soul can ache.

Melissa Parker37, please try discussing that option with the doctor. I know a friend whose grandfather stayed at home and was given morphine, though it was via patches. If the doctor agrees, Mom would definitely want that, and I’m sure it would also give Dad some peace of mind to have him at home. Angela Wright gave you some solid advice, but please run everything by the doctor first; the priority right now is just making him as comfortable as possible. Hang in there!

I joined this thread just a few days ago. Unfortunately, I am also dealing with my mother being ill with ovarian cancer. My internet connection at home isn't great, and I can't spend all day browsing the forum while I'm at work, so I haven't managed to read everything yet, though I am trying. Sending so much support to all of you.

She has been battling this for over two years now, ever since her ovarian cancer was first diagnosed. It was quite advanced, and the initial prognosis was very grim. Her first surgery didn't look promising, but after a round of chemo, another surgery, and more chemo, things had actually stabilized over the last year. My mom is a true fighter. But now, her markers have spiked again, the CT scan results were bad news, and they’ve prescribed the same chemotherapy that she couldn't tolerate at all. We are currently trying to switch up her treatment plan, even if we have to pay out of pocket to make it happen.

I don't know all the specifics because, honestly, I've been working from home for the last ten years. 311 miles It’s exhausting. It kills me that I can't be there to see her or do anything meaningful, or even just be by her side. On the bright side, I'm taking a short trip home for the Easter break soon, but it's only for a few days. My dad is there taking care of her, but it isn't easy on him either. I really want to help carry some of this weight; I want to share the burden with them because they—and Mom especially—gave me everything they possibly could throughout my life. It’s been hard lately; I've been crying for the past few days, I'm not sleeping well, and I've been smoking far too much. I know none of that helps, but it feels like I'm punishing myself. I realize now how much I used to snap at her for no reason, or how I'd put up this defensive shield whenever she tried to talk to me. I can't turn back time, but I just want to help her now. I know her biggest wish in life is simply for my brother and me to be happy. I'm pretty shaken up right now, but I hope seeing her soon will bring me some peace.

Human life and destiny are so unpredictable. If they weren't, I suppose we wouldn't be human. My mind has been racing with all sorts of thoughts lately, and I can't seem to focus; as soon as I try to distract myself, the thoughts just come rushing back. I guess that's just what happens when you're in shock.

To everyone here who is standing by their loved ones during times like this, please cherish that time and make the most of it. Sending big hugs to everyone.🙂