Posts by Richard Sanders7

feralsurfer72, this whole waiting game without a clear diagnosis is dragging on way too long. It reminds me of when I was at Mayo Clinic with my dad back in Rochester; you just feel stuck in limbo while waiting for answers.

Angela Wright said:Basically, the standard procedure is to request a release of the tissue or puncture samples—specifically the slides themselves—from the hospital's pathology department. From there, you request a second opinion via a new pathology review at a different hospital. It’s important to choose a major university medical center or a large teaching hospital; smaller community hospitals often just send their samples to the local big hospital anyway, which means you might accidentally end up back at the exact same pathology lab that did the first review. I believe you can even get a referral from your primary care doctor for this purpose. You just need to submit a formal request to the pathology lab where the sample was originally taken, stating that you want the slides released specifically for a second opinion and a repeat pathology study.
I know the pathologists over at Johns Hopkins have some really solid experts. If you don't find what you're looking for there, you could always look for an opinion further afield—maybe somewhere in Europe or even a specialized clinic out West. Most of this can be coordinated through email and handled via mail, so there's really no need to travel.

Just a small follow-up on that. For a pathology review to actually work, those slides need to contain tumor tissue. Based on what I understand, the initial biopsy they performed didn't actually capture any malignant cells. Because of that, a new biopsy will likely be necessary to get the right material. At the end of the day, the pathologist is the one who provides the final diagnosis, every single time.

feralsurfer72 said: The patient was evaluated by an oncologist who isn't recommending active oncology therapy, but rather just focusing on symptomatic care.

Did they confirm the exact type of tumor cells involved? If we are looking at pancreatic adenocarcinoma, then standard chemotherapy often doesn't yield much benefit. However, if it turns out to be small cell carcinoma, then treatment options definitely make sense.

I would strongly suggest seeking a second opinion as soon as possible and asking specifically about the histological type of the tumor. If the diagnosis is indeed pancreatic adenocarcinoma, you might want to ask for a specialist's opinion regarding therapy involving Sunitinib.

In my opinion, this wait is just way too long. That abdominal CT scan really should have been handled as an emergency priority, especially since getting targeted therapy started as soon as possible is the whole goal here. If your budget allows for it, I’d honestly recommend just paying for the CT privately to get it done immediately. How old is your dad now?

Let's just cut to the chase here 🙂

Merry Christmas to everyone 😍

There are actually a few other options you might want to look into, such as Zofran (ondansetron) or its generic version, Ondansetron. Both medications work exactly the same way; it's just that the first one tends to be about three times more expensive.

Ronald Hughes10 said:Good afternoon, everyone.
I've mentioned this before, but my mom is battling pancreatic cancer. She had surgery back in May where they removed two-thirds of her stomach, her spleen, and the tail of the pancreas; it was a full anesthesia procedure. Mom isn't interested in any further therapy right now, so she's resting at home...
The biggest struggle we're facing is the vomiting. It’s getting worse and happening more frequently—but she isn't actually throwing up food. Even though she eats very tiny amounts, she just brings up clear liquid and this sort of mucus. Does anyone know what might be causing that?
The internist I spoke with mentioned that part of the pancreas responsible for nausea and vomiting has been affected. We've tried everything we could find at the pharmacy (Megostat, Reglan, Controlok, etc.) along with some natural alternatives like Graviola and AHCC, but nothing seems to provide relief.

Have you guys asked about trying Reglan intravenously? If she keeps throwing up, a pill just won't be able to absorb properly.

Even if they keep eating normally, the weight loss will likely continue if there's an issue with exocrine insufficiency. It might be a good idea to check in with an internist about potentially adding some pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy via tablets. Also, it wouldn't hurt to get their blood sugar levels checked just to be safe. As for the hemp oil, I wouldn't stop using it—if anything, keep it going.

I'm so sorry to hear that, Lily. Hang in there. 🙂

I’d definitely suggest seeking out a second or even third opinion from a specialist who deals specifically with cases like this. Best of luck!

Alex Hayes2 said:It’s been a really heavy time lately, and I wanted to share a bit of what we’re going through with my mom. We just received some tough news from her doctors—it turns out the cancer in her lungs hasn't stayed put. It has spread beyond that, moving into her brain, her bones, and her liver as well. It’s a lot to process, and honestly, it feels like the ground shifted under our feet a bit. I’m trying to stay steady and keep things as calm as possible for her, focusing on one day at a time and making sure she's comfortable. If anyone has gone through something similar or has any advice on navigating this kind of stage, I’d truly appreciate hearing your thoughts. Sending strength to anyone else dealing with a difficult diagnosis right now. 😢
My doctor just gave me some pretty heavy news—she’s forecasting that I don't have much time left. It's a lot to process, but I'm trying to stay steady and take things one moment at a time.
I honestly can't quite wrap my head around it. Just a few days before he started feeling under the weather, we were all out swimming together and going for long walks. Now, he’s having to hold onto someone just to stay upright, he spends way more time resting than actually being on his feet, and he's lost even more weight. It's just hard to process how quickly things changed.

He’s still taking black seed oil every single day. Honestly, I find myself constantly wondering if there’s anything else I can pick up for him—something to help him regain even a tiny bit of strength. It’s hard because I’m terrified that once he completely loses his ability to get up, that will be the end of the road. For now, though, as long as he’s still able to push himself up on his feet, he keeps telling me that he’s going to stick around for a while longer. I’m trying to hold onto that hope.

I’m so sorry to hear that. Please, just be there for him and help out in any way you possibly can. Regarding unconventional options available here in the States, I’d suggest looking into medical cannabis oil. Now, I’m not saying it’s a magic cure—I don't believe it will fully heal him—but it might offer some much-needed relief. I’ll add this disclaimer just so I don't come across as some fringe conspiracy theorist or someone pushing illegal stuff! Here is the link to the scientific article you were looking for. I hope you find the data useful!.

It’s been a really heavy week for me. My mom passed away this past Sunday, and it all happened so incredibly fast—it had been less than two months since her pancreatic cancer diagnosis.

Dear Linda Patel21, I truly understand what you're going through, and my heart really goes out to you regarding your dad. To be honest, I’m feeling just as lost right now. My mom was still working just two months ago; only a month ago, we were dancing around and joking each other silly, and just two weeks back, she could sit up and hold a conversation. Now, she’s stuck in a hospital bed, unable to move—except for those frustrating moments when things go wrong, like needing a diaper change or nearly falling out of bed, which is actually why, after literally five days of zero sleep, I decided it was time to move her into 😢 . She can't really talk anymore, aside from some muffled sounds or a quick "yes" or "no" when I ask if she wants something.

I feel like I'm drowning in this helplessness. I spend my time massaging her with lotion, cleaning her eyes, flossing her teeth, washing her hair, helping her sip water through a straw, or trying to feed her a few grapes (though half the time I have to fish them back out because she can't swallow properly). I sit there and talk to her for hours, hoping that any of it might make her life a little easier. But sometimes, it all feels so futile, especially when I find myself waiting for—and honestly, in a dark way, almost wishing for 😢 —the end. Looking back, I think I would have been more at peace if my mom had passed away sooner, while she was still herself and full of life.

Sending you my sincere condolences once again. I really hope you find some sense of peace and healing from this loss very soon.

Does anyone happen to have a contact number for a home nursing service in Washington, D.C.? I'm looking for something reliable, besides the usual ones everyone mentions. I noticed you only sent a single word, "ove." It looks like that might have been a typo or perhaps an incomplete thought! If you were trying to share a specific post or some text you'd like me to rework, please go ahead and paste it. I'm ready to dive in and give it that polished, authentic American feel while keeping the original spirit intact. Just let me know what you need! I tried giving them a call today just after 4:00 PM, but I couldn't get a hold of anyone—it was just total silence on the other end. I'm a bit concerned because I really need to have this sorted out by tomorrow morning. 🙂

I’ve been lurking in this thread for a while now, wanting to contribute, but I kept typing and deleting everything before finally finding the courage to post...

About a month ago, my mom was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma that had already metastasized to her liver and lungs, along with pleural carcinoma and ascites... 😢

Right at the moment of diagnosis, she wasn't really experiencing any major symptoms. Over time, things have started to decline slowly. Her legs have weakened, making walking harder, and she’s lost some of her appetite, though she still felt relatively okay and was eating reasonably well (I’ve been keeping her fueled with plenty of fruits and veggies—swapping out regular oils for coconut oil, cutting out red meat entirely, and making sure flaxseed oil and low-fat cottage cheese are staples...). Most importantly, she wasn't in pain.

She was initially against chemotherapy because, in her eyes, it would just signal the beginning of the end. I eventually managed to talk her into it, though. We saw the oncologist, and on July 18th, she received her first dose of gemcitabine (just a single infusion, not a full cycle yet). Since then, her condition has taken a drastic turn for the worse, and she seems to be declining every single day. 👎 She spends entire days confined to bed, barely eats anything besides a little fruit in the morning, vomits at least twice a day, struggles to walk, and worst of all, is suffering from intense pain. Honestly, I’m sitting here wondering if continuing with chemo makes any sense at all, especially considering how aggressive this particular cancer is. But at the same time, I don't see any other path forward.

Yesterday, I ordered some raw propolis, and tomorrow I’m heading over to Whole Foods to pick up some high-quality honey with royal jelly. I’ve also read that beet, lemon, carrot, and apple juice can be beneficial, so I’m going to start prepping that for her too.

I’ve spent so much time scouring the internet, reading every study I can find. The most significant thing I came across was an article from the Cancer Research Institute journal, but I’m having a hard time actually tracking down the full text.

A little while ago, I managed to convince her to try some chair squats. She actually completed ten reps! I even told her she needs to get a T-shirt that says Never Give Up! It actually made her laugh, which was nice. 😁

I apologize if this post feels a bit scattered. I truly wish the very best for everyone here, especially wiredotter75.

I bet I’m not the only one who finds this kind of thing a little irritating.

No, I’m actually quite gentle 😳

What perfume are you wearing? 🍿

Actually, I’m quite a gentle soul 😳

So, tell me—what kind of perfume are you wearing? 🍿

Honestly, mine turned white too, and I didn't even touch anything! 🤔

I know 🥳 Are you a fascist? 🍿

She hasn't confirmed the email change yet (so she really ought to go ahead and do that).