Posts by Kenneth Bailey27

neoncyclist792 said:Does anyone have experience dealing with bladder cancer? My dad is in the hospital right now, and they suspect it might be that.

I don't have any firsthand experience with bladder cancer, as my own diagnosis was breast cancer, so please take my advice and comments as purely general observations.

neoncyclist792 said:If they are only removing the tumor, does that mean the disease hasn't spread? Because when they did his chest X-ray, they mentioned shadows and metastases, but wouldn't they run more tests if they actually suspected metastasis?

From what I gathered during my own journey, doctors generally won't touch the primary tumor with surgery if they strongly suspect it's already metastasized. That said, I actually went through surgery despite having metastases myself, so it seems like every case is a bit of a toss-up—it really depends on the specific nature of the illness and how the medical team evaluates it individually. Based on what you've shared, it sounds like the surgery is being done primarily to confirm the bladder cancer diagnosis once and for all.
It strikes me as a little odd that they haven't ordered a CT or a PET scan for your father yet, since those are pretty much standard procedure whenever there's even a hint of metastasis.

I am so incredibly sorry for your loss.
Sometimes preventive screenings can change the course of things, and sometimes they just don't.
In my own experience, they found metastases alongside another cancer, and the whole thing unfolded in a whirlwind of about six weeks. It was just one test after another, with bad news piling on top of more bad news. Before that started, I had been doing checkups every three months and was still on hormone therapy because of my initial breast cancer diagnosis.
I’m not going to sit here and claim that preventive screenings are useless—of course everyone should stay on top of them.

@Linda Fox2/">@@Linda Fox2 My sincere condolences.
Cancer is just brutal. Honestly, once we finally kick the bucket, at least there isn't any more pain to deal with—that’s the one thought that actually brings me a bit of peace when I start thinking about death. I'm sure he's also finding some solace in the fact that you all got to see each other again and clear the air.

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Linda Fox2 said:Prekjucer’s mom passed away. It was cancer, too. It started with her uterus, they caught it somewhere around month one, and she went through five cycles of chemo. It really took its toll on her—so much so that she couldn't even start her next cycle for a whole month because the side effects were just brutal. In that month of downtime, the tumor spread so aggressively it was impossible to save her; it was one of those rare, galloping types. Now we're all sitting here looking back at everything, wondering if we're staring down the same barrel very soon. It's a heavy, gut-wrenching feeling.

I am so incredibly sorry...
I can only begin to imagine what you all are going through. I don't have any family members fighting this, but I'm dealing with it myself (breast cancer with metastasis). Watching the people closest to me struggle every single time my own condition takes a turn for the worse makes me think that maybe the absolute worst thing isn't actually having cancer yourself—it's watching someone you love go through it.

Linda Fox2 said:I’m just talking to myself here, I guess, but I need to get this out. They managed to schedule an appointment at Avian on May 30th, and the specialists at the Cancer Clinic said they’ll provide a second opinion as soon as the pathology report comes back (should be about 10 days), because they can't say much without it. They also mentioned they'll bring everyone in to assess his overall condition.

But now my husband is calling me because my father-in-law is vomiting something brown, and the doctor is saying—based on experience—that it looks like liver tissue. Does that mean he’s already reached the terminal stage? On top of that, his mental state has really plummeted over the last two days, and he keeps saying he's in Pain.😢
The big question is whether he’ll even be physically able to make it to the appointment at Aviano in five days. Is it actually possible for things to go from finding out a diagnosis to being beyond help in just three weeks????

I really hope that isn't the case... Regardless, you're getting a second and third opinion. Personally, I feel like there's always a reason to start treatment and keep pushing for it.

driftinghawk48 said:Hey everyone!

Could someone please tell me if anyone here has had any positive experiences at the Radiosurgery clinic?

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I actually went in for a consultation at the Chicago Radiosurgery clinic, but they told me that because I have such a high number of tiny metastases, their specific treatment isn't really an option for me right now. Even so, the doctor was incredibly kind and took all the time in the world to walk me through everything and answer every single question I threw at her. From what I gathered, Radiosurgery is more of a specialized tool for when you're dealing with a small number of larger, more superficial metastases. All in all, I was perfectly happy with the consultation and the level of care provided.

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Linda Lopez26 said:Hey there!
My mom has been heading out once a year for pulmonary rehab at this small town, USA facility for years now. To be honest, she finds the whole intensity of it pretty draining, but looking at the big picture, it really does the trick. Over the last few years, they’ve stopped playing around with those exercises—it’s not like you can just opt out because things get tough anymore; you show up, you do the work, and that’s that. They spend a lot of time on the stepper machines, and they tailor the lung capacity exercises specifically to whatever diagnosis a patient is dealing with. If you're asking me, go to that facility; you won't find a better respiratory team anywhere else in the country.

Thanks so much. I'm actually heading in because of a pleural effusion that’s finally started receding over the last couple of days. My doctor mentioned it’ll mostly involve some nebulizer treatments and breathing exercises...

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dustyangler73 said:It’s been a minute since I’ve had to deal with prescriptions. From what I gather, you just head to the doctor, then swing by the pharmacy, and pick everything up using your insurance card. They don't really do those paper scripts at the pharmacy counter anymore.

Yeah, that’s exactly how it works now. Once the doctor sends over the electronic prescription, you just show your insurance card at the pharmacy and they handle the rest.

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dustyangler73 said:Does anyone know what the damage is for Albuterol and Flovent? I'm wondering about the price difference if you have a prescription versus trying to buy them over the counter. Thanks.

If you look at the pharmacy database, Albuterol 100 mcg inhaler is sitting at about $9.50, and since it’s on the standard insurance formulary, there shouldn't be any out-of-pocket copay. That requires a doctor's prescription, though. As for Flovent, they don't have a specific price listed right now, nor is its current coverage status clearly defined on the list. Both of these definitely require a prescription, so honestly, I doubt you'd even be able to walk into a local CVS or Walgreens and pick them up without one.

So, here’s the situation: I’m currently dealing with breast cancer that has spread to my lungs. I have a referral coming up soon for some pulmonary rehab, and I was wondering if anyone could share their experiences. Did it actually make a difference for you or someone close to you? I realize the quality can vary wildly from one hospital system to another, but if you have any specific recommendations for facilities where the care was actually decent, please let me know.

Steven King78 said:What can I do to get a specific medication that several specialists have prescribed, but my primary care physician refuses to write the prescription for? Does a GP actually have the right to decline a medication recommended by a specialist? ...

Hi there,

If you were sent to see those specialists via a formal referral—essentially a consultation request—your family doctor technically maintains the authority to decide whether or not to follow those specialist recommendations. Additionally, they are required to prescribe the most cost-effective option available on the approved list.
My advice would be to reach out to the medical review board at your local Social Security Administration office in your county; you can check with them to see if that specific drug is covered and under what exact conditions it’s authorized for your condition.
Another resource where you might find information regarding prescribing restrictions is https://mediately.co/hr/drugs - this is a drug database.
Hope this helps.

urbanharbor15 said:Thanks for getting back to me...

No, Mom isn't receiving any more active treatment since the disease progressed during her chemo rounds... So everything she’s getting now is strictly palliative, mostly just focused on managing her pain.

I don't think an abdominal ultrasound is even on the table right now; her condition is such that she’s bedridden about 90% of the time. We had to call an ambulance just to get her moved when things got critical, and we aren't even bothering with CT scans anymore because there's really no point—the sheer effort of getting her to the hospital would be too much for her. I was mainly wondering if the fluid could just be water, because you always hear that when fluid builds up in the lungs or abdomen, it's a bad sign, like it's pointing toward a terminal outcome?

I actually have fluid in my own lungs, and I've been living with pleural effusion for eight months now. I also dealt with pericardial effusion—fluid around the heart—but that eventually cleared up. What I'm trying to say is that these kinds of effusions don't necessarily have to be a definitive omen of the worst. The real issue is how much fluid is accumulating; the more it builds up, the more serious the situation becomes because it puts more strain on the organs involved.

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urbanharbor15 said:Hey everyone in this thread

My mom is fighting lung cancer that has spread to her esophagus, abdominal lymph nodes, and bones (at least, that’s what we know), so she's in a terminal stage. For a few days now, I've noticed the right side of her abdomen is quite swollen and feels much firmer to the touch. She mentioned her breathing is getting worse—though they did surgically remove the primary lung tumor, so I'm not sure if that's related—and she also has this sensation of bloating, almost like she swallowed something huge when she hasn't.

I'm wondering if this could be fluid buildup in the abdomen (ascites)? Her feet and fingers have also been slightly swollen over the last couple of days. Reading about this online makes it look like, in certain cancers, this can signal that the end is approaching; should we be preparing ourselves? On top of that, Mom's pain is escalating rapidly (every 3-6 days we have to increase the dosage of her pain patches and other meds), and if she isn't in pain, she's just sleeping, and she's lost quite a bit of weight. Last night, she got confused and didn't even recognize me as her daughter, which has me terrified—could this be related to liver issues?

I really don't want to put her through the ordeal of hospital trips if it isn't absolutely necessary because that's what she fears most, so I figured I'd check here first... Thanks.

Hi there,

I am so incredibly sorry you're going through this....
It's hard to draw any firm conclusions based solely on what you've described.
I'm not sure if Mom is currently undergoing any specific treatment? If she is, the best move is to just ask her oncologist everything you're worried about during her next session. Free fluid in the abdomen can be spotted via an ultrasound, and you don't usually need a long hospital stay for that kind of scan.

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Paul Scott74 said:I want to apologize upfront if I’m totally off-topic here!

My dad was diagnosed with stomach cancer back in June. Luckily, we caught it early, so they started with chemotherapy which managed to shrink things down a bit. His doctor suggested that to be on the safe side, he should undergo surgery to have his entire stomach removed. A follow-up CT scan after the operation showed two remaining lymph nodes, but the doctors mentioned that can be handled with more chemo. He had the surgery in October, where they connected his small intestine directly to his esophagus. At first, he could manage soft or pureed foods, but for the last month, he hasn't been able to eat anything at all. It feels like everything just gets stuck in his intestines—not just food, but even water. After a little while, it all just rushes through him. He went to see his doctor, who sent him for a gastroscopy, but the results came back completely clear; there aren't any physical obstructions in the digestive tract. Has anyone else dealt with something similar? Thanks

Look, I don't have much firsthand experience with stomach cancer specifically, but I’ve certainly dealt with my fair share of digestive issues. I’m currently on Docetaxel, and the diarrhea and vomiting are absolutely brutal. For me, what really helps is using aerated green clay and psyllium husk flakes—you can pick both up at any local pharmacy. Before I tried those, I was using Enteros gel and various probiotics. My best advice would be to check with his medical team to see if any of those options would be safe for him to try.

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