Posts by crimsonmason44

My parents, my grandparents, and the whole extended family basically treated me like I was made of glass my entire life. I lived in this little bubble, an idealized tiny world that I thought was my permanent reality, until the day my mom ended up in the hospital with a horrific diagnosis. That’s when the shell finally cracked. For six months, I was a complete mental wreck. I honestly can't pinpoint the exact moment I finally snapped out of it and realized that this stuff happens to everyone—not just us—and that everything before was just a manufactured illusion. That was when I finally decided to step up and deal with reality head-on.

Dear Ivanica, I know exactly what you mean... except I'm currently stuck in those first six months you described. I spent 27 years living in this perfect little fantasy world, and then, overnight, everything changed because of my dad's illness. Those first few months were absolutely terrifying, and honestly, I'm not doing much better now. I feel like nobody gets it, not even my boyfriend... I don't know what's happening inside me, but I can feel myself slowly coming to terms with the situation, even though I'm still fighting it. Right now, all I want is to stay home with my dad and the rest of the family. I want to soak up every single second with him because his diagnosis is devastating (they gave him 3-6 months), though I refuse to believe it! I have zero desire to go out anymore, and most of my "friends" barely even check in on me. It feels like they just don't get it, and it's hard.
Sometimes I have nobody to vent to, so this forum and prayer are what keep me going. 🙂 Even though we're strangers, I feel this deep connection to all of you. Hang in there, everyone. 👍

Hey everyone, I could really use some tips on how to jumpstart an appetite after chemo...🤷 My dad’s barely touching his food, and it’s already been a week since his last session.😢 I know this topic has probably been covered a thousand times on here, but honestly, I just don't have the bandwidth to go digging through old threads right now. He’s finished two cycles and is heading in for his first round of follow-up tests since the diagnosis, so I’ll keep you all posted on how things are looking.
Thanks, guys—hang in there.🙂

Amy Hayes28 said:Welcome, Robert 🙂

I don't want to blow up Jane's inbox with private messages,🤷 😉

We really need more info on head radiation—specifically for metastases, standard radiation therapy...
What kind of side effects are we talking about? Does it always cause burns? Any tips on how to get through it smoothly? 😢

Thanks, everyone.

Hey. My dad just finished 10 sessions of head radiation, 8 minutes each (for brain metastases he’d already had surgery for). We didn't apply anything at first because his doctor advised against it, but then he ended up with some nasty burns and his ears swelled up like crazy. It looked pretty terrifying, honestly...🤷 We saw a dermatologist and used boric acid solution (3%) compresses along with some Bactine cream on his ears. That cleared up in about three days.🙂 His hair started thinning out after the 8th session, and he was pretty wiped, but nothing else really hit him. He drank beet juice, took Ocean21, and we overhauled his diet—lots of raw fruits and veggies, cottage cheese, and flaxseed oil. Nothing heavy or sugary. Overall, he handled it pretty well.🙂

Hang in there, everyone.👍

Hey everyone... I’m finally posting for the first time, even though I’ve been lurking here for about three months now. You guys are honestly wonderful, and reading your stories is what keeps me going. My dad was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma. It all kicked off about six months ago when they found some brain metastases. He had surgery to remove them, and thank God, it went smoothly! He finished ten rounds of radiation on his head and is currently mid-way through his second cycle of chemo. He handled the first round just fine, but this second one? Not so much. He’s actually in the hospital right now getting IV fluids because he got hit with some brutal weakness. Once this second cycle wraps up, we'll be heading back for more scans and tests to see where things stand. Our family's entire world flipped upside down overnight—you know how it goes. There are moments when I feel incredibly small and alone, but this community gives me the strength to keep pushing. As for "friends"... let's just say I've realized how few people actually show up when things get real, which definitely stings. But honestly, whatever. All that matters is getting my dad through this.🙂 Hang in there, everybody! Sending huge hugs to you all!