Posts by Benjamin Grant6

Susan Gonzalez4 said:Thanks for getting back to me... my mother-in-law will be taking the lead on his care since we don't live under the same roof, though I wanted to prepare both her and my better half for what's coming. My father-in-law is doing okay, all things considered; the surgeries were quite grueling, though not necessarily because of the cancer itself, but rather because they failed to notice during his colonoscopy that his bowel had been perforated... he had to undergo cleaning twice before they finally managed to remove the carcinoma on the third attempt. He was discharged from the hospital about two months ago, regained some weight—about 30 pounds—and now they’ve informed us it’s time for chemotherapy. It seems they were simply waiting for him to stabilize first... I truly believe he'll pull through, given everything he endured during those four months in the hospital...

Susan Gonzalez4 said:Hi everyone, I have a question regarding chemotherapy. My father-in-law had rectal cancer which was surgically removed; there were no metastases and his lymph nodes were clear. He is mostly "recovering" from the surgery now—which is a whole other complicated saga involving a surgeon's incorrect assessment or medical error—and he just had his oncology follow-up. They told him he needs to start chemotherapy as soon as possible. My question is: how can I help ease the side effects, and what are the "typical" ones to expect? I know the answers are likely scattered throughout this thread, but I am currently pregnant and would prefer not to read through them all, as I’ve been feeling quite emotional lately... thank you in advance.

mistyridge5 said:We’ve hit those rough patches again following the chemo sessions.

I honestly find myself at a loss regarding what to cook or even prepare, as it feels like everything I make just ends up being thrown away...
Next week means back to the hospital, more injections, and then we wait for the beta results to arrive, which will finally tell us how to proceed...

Lisa White54 said:My husband went to our local general hospital this past Friday (08/08) for a CT scan of his chest and abdomen, and what he experienced was nothing short of horrific.
They kept demanding his previous medical records, but all he had were the discharge papers from Jordanovac, since every single one of his scans and reports are filed there. We have never even seen the actual files ourselves. His last CT was performed two years ago, which showed everything was fine, but we simply don't have any other documentation on hand.
He is my husband, after all, so he just handed over exactly what he had—those discharge papers.
What followed was a relentless barrage from the medical staff at the CT department: they told him he should be getting treated at Jordanovac, that he should be doing his scans there, questioning his right to even be there and whose recommendation he was following (it was an internist’s referral, based on a pulmonologist's opinion from Jordanovac!). It was all delivered through shouting and condescension, only for them to ultimately tell him: "Sir, you are extremely ill."
By what authority can they say something like that? My husband is now in a state of complete despair. He is convinced they saw something catastrophic and that he is gravely ill, simply because that is how they chose to deliver the news...
Where do they get the right to decide who is allowed to have a CT scan, if we can't even get one here, where else are we supposed to go? We have lived in this community our entire lives.
By what right do they argue with a patient suffering from a severe illness? Did they not teach them anything about patient psychology during their training?
Where do they get the right...
And the results... will they be ready next Friday, 08/15, on Our Lady, which is a holiday???
So, I suppose we'll have to wait until Monday, 08/18!
Does anyone else experience a ten-day wait for CT results elsewhere?

dustyranger11 said:Hi, I’m checking in too. I am still struggling with the whole home situation, though perhaps slightly less intensely than before. My father has been there for nearly two weeks now, and in just seven days, he ended up in the ER nine times. On the first day, they pulled out his cannula and didn't set it quite right—which happened three times—but the absolute worst part was when the feeding tube got clogged. I blame myself; I made a foolish mistake by creating a little blockage that sealed the tube shut. At that moment, I truly believed I had killed my own father... thankfully, they eventually managed to swap it out after an immense amount of struggle. Then there was the water issue... and then they had to pull the tube again, which they finally handled successfully...
He seems to be doing somewhat better over the last few days. He has a physical therapist helping him with exercises, and he isn't getting disoriented anymore; even when the cannula gets blocked, he can still speak. He manages his own gauze changes under the cannula and applies his own cream. He is actually walking, which the nurses at the facility consider nothing short of a miracle. He isn't being difficult, and he hasn't been back to the ER since last Tuesday (he went on Saturday for a preventative check-up at my request, but I won't count that). He doesn't call me incessantly asking when I'll visit, and the staff at the facility haven't called me either... at least not at five in the morning. He just seems so much better. I never realized what a fighter he actually was...
I threatened the facility about fixing the suction machine, and they promised to have it sorted this week. I've already given my notice at work, but the worst part is that Dad is actually starting to like it there.
For now, he’s just dealing with the fluid issues, and he has an infection under the cannula because he pulled it out, tearing the skin in the process; it's all festering and looks quite gruesome. I apply a certain cream, but it doesn't seem to help much. The skin at the ER gives me such a hard time whenever I go in to clean the cannula. I tell them it's only happening because the suction machine at the facility is broken, and they just go quiet. If that redness doesn't subside by Saturday, I’ll drive him straight to the ER and give that irritated skin a good slapping myself. Honestly, I don't even want to go there; it would almost be easier to leave him to their mercy so they'd have less work to do. Unfortunately, my father suffers because of that. It is tragic. But a small spark of hope remains within me... simply because he refuses to give up, and more importantly, he is no longer losing his grip on reality and is physically strengthening. As for that wretched cancer, for now, it appears it hasn't spread past his neck... if only he could get strong enough for chemo...

Ethan Garcia8 said:How long have you been training, and have you noticed any actual movement on the scale? You really ought to be mindful of your intake of Omega-3s and healthy fats... It is an essential consideration for anyone attempting to shed weight, as one must ensure the body receives sufficient fat to prevent it from stubbornly storing everything in sight instead of actually burning it...

Dana Miller2 said:And I’m not even looking bony anymore 😢.
Personally, my goal is to reduce my bust size—I want small and firm, much like those silicone implants you have... 😁.
Even after a month, I checked my measurements yesterday: I've lost inches everywhere else, yet my chest remains exactly the same. It feels like an impossible mission... 😢

slyseal28 said:We aren't backing down just yet... truth be told, this recent complication caught us somewhat off guard... I had somehow convinced myself that the actual side effects of the chemotherapy would wait a bit longer to manifest...

The fundamental issue here is that his primary tumor is situated right next to the heart, which is likely why these initial symptoms have already started to surface... It’s truly unfortunate because this third line of chemotherapy actually seems to be working, so they will probably have to scale back the dosage now...

Yesterday, I reached out to request a second opinion from The University of Texas M. d. Anderson Cancer center, which remains one of the premier sarcoma centers in the country... They got back to me today to let me know that their specialist plans to call within the next two days, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that they might offer us a viable path forward... As for the Pigeon, the plan involves at least two surgeries—one abdominal and either one or two thoracic procedures—but the issue lies with that thoracic surgery, as it simply isn't an option here in the States...

When it comes to getting a second opinion on X-rays or any medical findings, we make it a point to always consult at least two different experts. We had a CT scan performed on July 21st covering the chest, abdomen, and pelvis over at MedExpress, and they completely misread the results... A similar situation occurred today with the chest and lung X-rays. The Radiologist at the Sun clinic is insisting it’s pneumonia, yet the oncologists over at Mayo Clinic don't see it that way at all... I suppose everything simply must be verified at least twice...

To all my dear friends, thank you so much for the support. I am sending each and every one of you a warm hug, along with strength, courage, and persistence... There is no giving up...

Grace Fowler said:Greetings!
To all the fighters out there, my very first line of chemo back in 1999 involved Adriamycin, which left me with some pretty grim cardiology results—specifically complications involving the thoracic organs... and what was even worse was how poorly everything looked after the initial 6+2 rounds, yet I still pushed forward with a second line using Taxol. I’m telling you all this because I decided to dig through my old journals dating all the way back to the start of the war... and quoting myself here... goodness, how is it possible to feel as though someone has simply sucked every ounce of strength out of me through a straw? It feels as if the bed is the only place where I can find any peace away from the nausea and the pain... But here I am, nearly ten years later, dealing with actual thoracic issues—metastatic changes in the lungs—and facing a situation almost identical to yours... In fact, when the recurrence was diagnosed last year, the specialist Radiologist told me quite bluntly, "...sell everything you own; try to seek help in Stockholm, Paris, or the US, because at this rate, you have about four months left..." I don't know what to tell you, but when I walked out of the hospital, I couldn't even find my car in the parking lot... Yet, I am still here, doing relatively well, and I fully intend to stay that way. I swear that both you and the Pigeon have enough strength to pull yourselves out of this seemingly bottomless pit... Please, I implore you, always seek a second opinion for every radiology report, as I believe that is absolutely vital... If I have misspoken in any way, please forgive me, as I am currently being washed over by a flood of conflicting emotions regarding the situation you are all facing...!!
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT
Grace

slyseal28 said:Dear Grace Fowler, sending you a huge hug!

Things have taken a turn for the worse here... significantly worse than we had ever anticipated...

His blood work remains relatively stable (leukocytes are at 8.9 today, though his erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels are low, and liver enzymes are elevated as expected), and following the second round of Gemzar, we dealt with some minor fever issues, which we managed to control using a Voltaren suppository. However, over the last two days, his cough has intensified to such an irritating degree that he ends up vomiting everything he eats. He didn't sleep a wink last night because of it, so we headed to a private clinic, Sun, this morning to get a chest X-ray and a heart scan. To put it bluntly, the results are grim. The Radiologist looked at me and said, "As an old doctor, I have to tell you first that I am incredibly sorry." I nearly collapsed right then and there... It was a mercy that the Pigeon was waiting outside and didn't overhear that sentence. The Radiologist believes pneumonia has set in... and the worst part is, the Pigeon is already on antibiotics...
Afterward, I took him to the hospital, where he was admitted... I spoke with the physician, and she actually believes it isn't pneumonia; she noted that when comparing the previous scans to today's, nothing significant had changed. Instead, she suspects these are side effects from that first line of chemotherapy—that unfortunate Adriamycin, which is known for its cardiotoxicity...

We also had a cardiac ultrasound yesterday, and our cardiologist gave us a brief, sobering update regarding changes to the heart valve... We should receive the full report and explanation on Monday. Regardless, the situation is dire...

He has been weak all week, tiring out incredibly quickly... and struggling quite terribly to breathe...

What haunts me most is how this third line of chemo is affecting him... what if we are forced to stop... If his heart is beginning to fail, then what exactly are we left with??? Ugh... Damn this sarcoma! I hate it with every fiber of my being!

Grace Fowler said:Hi everyone!!
Just checking in to let you know things are more or less status quo... We managed to escape to the coast for a few days, but after about ten days, everything went south again :-( fever hit, the labs looked bad, and we rushed back to Chicago at lightning speed. We had our consultations, but for now, there’s nothing—just "rest." Honestly, is that even advice? I've been told to rest plenty, but damn, the fever won't listen to reason. So, for the next few days, I suppose I’ll just pretend to be a pillow and stare blankly at some impossible TV programming...

Fighters, I hope everything is fine with the Pigeon and that you're all front and center for the big win!!
Nancy Hernandez43, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you're staying brave!
Muscles, I bet you're already tanned like a fine piece of dark chocolate...
Angela Wright, U Z I V A J for me too
Greetings Din

Amanda Miller69 said:I have been hearing all these theories about how fasting might actually starve cancer cells... so I am considering seeing what Vitamin C can do for me...

Dennis Brown2 said:All this bickering happening between people from different parts of America—all triggered by this single decision from the Pula leadership (assuming they’re actually the ones behind it)—is frankly pointless.
At this stage, this really needs to become a legal dispute between Thompson's attorney and whoever cooked this up; let the courts sort out the mess.

I just don't get it. In an era where everyone claims to be so obsessed with democracy, how can a musician be banned from performing a concert in just one specific region of his own country? The excuses being handed out are pathetic—if the concern is about certain iconography, then that's what the police and private security are there for.
And as for those unacceptable chants? You hear stuff like that at pretty much every major sporting event these days, yet nobody seems to lose their cool over it anymore.

Regardless of what anyone thinks about his music, all of this is essentially free publicity for Thompson. People are calling for the agency to distance itself from various troublemakers, but I fail to see why they should have to keep doing that indefinitely.

I have to say, those clueless, thick-headed types who mistake mere bravado for true patriotism—and use Thompson's concerts as a stage to vent their personal convictions—don't realize they are actually doing a massive disservice to Thompson himself and his actual fans.
By showing up with their performative gestures and cheap accessories bought from some Romani vendors nearby, they provide nothing but an excuse for these bans, ultimately depriving genuine lovers of Thompson's music of what they enjoy.

rapidbison42 said:"Quote:"

Nightlife just isn't the same without Thompson. 😂
Nightlife used to kick off around 1:00 AM here. Now? It’s all wrapped up by 11:00 PM.
Man, when I think back to playing three or four hands on Friday and Saturday, plus a few extra off-the-books ones... those were the days.
Now all that's left is the outcry for Thompson. 😁

Amanda Miller69;15358178 said:

Angela Wright said:Good grief, it really seems like everything is hitting you all at once...🙄

Exactly. It feels almost as if we’ve been cursed by some unseen force. From what I understand so far, they haven't even prescribed a specific follow-up treatment plan yet, so perhaps the situation isn't quite as dire as it seems...

Unfortunately, that is simply the nature of existence. Just when you believe you have reached your limit, life finds a way to present a new hardship, reminding you that things can always become more difficult and more painful. And those circumstances, much like life itself, are often entirely beyond our individual control...

Time will pass, and you will eventually gain a clearer understanding of the illness and what the reality of it truly entails. Try to remain resilient...😉

Thank you for sharing such an interesting perspective; I think I'll go read up on it now. I've actually heard some talk about those theories regarding how fasting might starve cancer cells, so I'm curious to see what the actual data says about Vitamin C...

Bryan Sanchez86 said:I guess you could say die-hard Beatles fans killed John Lennon. People think different things, I suppose, and they definitely have different tastes in music. But claiming musicians are responsible for how some random person in the crowd acts is just total nonsense.

Thompson has thousands upon thousands of fans—just regular, normal people who happen to like his songs and show up to his shows. Who actually has the right, or even the grounds, to take those people away from a concert? Just because of a tiny handful of jerks causing trouble? That’s what the legal system and its institutions are for, not Thompson.

Melissa Richardson3 said:It isn't quite that simple.
If the Thomson concert in Palm Springs hadn't been blocked, we wouldn't be having this debate or anything like it.

Likewise, they wouldn't be pushing for a venue in the Arena. Because political heavyweights effectively banned the audience in California from attending the Palm Springs show, trying to organize a concert in San Francisco is actually pretty logical. Instead of taking the olive branch, politicians are just digging themselves deeper into their own mess. Right now, Thomson is one of the few American artists who can actually pack an Arena. They could have found a date, the Arena would have been sold out, the fans would be happy, the city budget would have seen some revenue, and everyone would be satisfied. It would be that easy if people were just normal and self-assured.

Furthermore, if Miletić had stuck strictly to the formal reasons for denying the permit, he might have gotten away with it. Instead, he doubled down with pure political maneuvering and claims of intolerance. He even went as far as using lies, given how widely known his views on extremists and fascists are.

Is Miletić suggesting he'd block the US National Team from playing soccer just because some fans shout hateful slurs? We all know he wouldn't do that, because consistency and democracy aren't exactly top of mind for these people.

Basically, Miletić (who claims he has a stepmother's surname) perfectly demonstrated exactly what most people think of him: a mindless errand boy with no backbone or principles. He could have proven everyone wrong with a single decision and become a legitimate rival to Jakovcic or Kajin for years to come.
Instead, he's just drifting aimlessly. He's your typical American careerist politician.

James Ramos12 said:We’re talking about a city in total traffic gridlock, where transit fares are among the highest in the country, the cost of living is at the top of the charts, the farmers' market is overpriced, and we've been among the leaders in drug addiction rates for thirty years. It's a city where the promised swimming pool has been "under construction" for years, local sports are struggling with only a handful of top-tier players, and we deal with gas issues, sewage problems, a lack of parking, and rampant illegal construction backed by massive help from local politicians!!!!! Want more? Just ask!

George Morgan3 said:It's just classic small-mindedness... why not? His lyrics are universal—take a look at what the Americans are saying here, for instance:http://www.cro.pl/forum/viewtopic.php?p=275693#275693

😉