Support resources for families dealing with cancer and other serious illnesses

Saw this popping up on the news feed today—might actually be useful for some of you:

Hang in there, everyone. Stay strong.

Hey everyone!

Quick question for the group.

My dad finished his first round of Zometa, but when it came time for the second dose, the Department of State wouldn't approve the Zometa, so they switched him over to Aredia instead. Is that basically the same thing?
Is it just as effective?
(The nurse told me it’s effectively the same drug as Zometa...)?

Thanks!

Looks like there's some good news floating around too! Love to see it. Hang in there, everybody!

Always a race on my end... hey y'all!😉

From The New York Post...

casualrider21 said:Hello everyone!

Just a quick question here...

My father received his first dose of Zomet, but by the second scheduled appointment, the Department of State hadn't approved the Zometa, so they switched him over to Aredia. Is it effectively the same thing?
Is it just as effective?
(The nurse mentioned it’s essentially the same medication as Zometa...)

Thanks!

I see there is some good news circulating too! That's heartening to see. Hang in there, everyone...

Things are always moving fast on my end... helloooo...😉

Hello to you too, stay strong. I don't have any specific information, unfortunately, but I certainly hope the medication is just as effective! Take care...

Look, if you want something that actually works across the board, I’d suggest Royal Jelly. I use it myself and can vouch for its effectiveness.

If you're interested, hit me up!

Joseph Nguyen2, I think you’ve got the wrong venue for this. This i s just a tiny classifieds board, not some marketplace for people peddling "miracle cures." It’s not that mother's milk isn't beneficial, but if you actually bothered to read the archives on these forums—which clearly you haven't—you'd see we've already covered it extensively, along with countless other products targeted at desperate, terminally ill patients. Honestly, it feels incredibly disrespectful to walk into a space dedicated to genuine, life-and-death struggles and try to hawk a "universal remedy." Ugh, it's infuriating!

Joseph Nguyen2 said:Guys, if you want something truly effective for everyone, I really recommend Royal Jelly—I use it myself and I know it actually works...

If you're interested, just reach out!!!

Susan Ruiz76 said:Joseph, I honestly think you posted this in the wrong place. This i s just a small forum, and people who make a living selling all these "miracle" supplements aren't really welcome here. It’s not that Royal Jelly isn't good or anything, but if you had actually read the rules on these boards—which clearly you haven't—you'd see there's already plenty written about it and a bunch of other products that desperate, seriously ill people cling to. I feel like it's a bit disrespectful to offer a "universal cure" on pages where people are describing actual, real-life battles for survival—ugh, I'm actually getting angry just thinking about it!

Wow, five times on one single page 😲
it's honestly just terrible how some people profit off of others' misery 😠

👋Stay strong, my dear friends.

I just wanted to pop in quickly to say hello to everyone...
I haven't been posting much lately because things have been incredibly hectic at work🙄

Does anyone have any good news to share?

And I could really use some advice if anyone happens to know...where in Chicago can I find a good place to buy a wig?
My mom hasn't started losing her hair just yet, but we want to be fully prepared so she has a wig ready by the time it does start to fall out...😢

Thank you all, and please take care of yourselves.

Sending kisses,😘

Linda Cox69 said:👋Hang in there, everyone.

Just wanted to pop in quickly to say hello.
I haven't been posting much lately; things have been pretty hectic at work.🙄

Any good news to share?

I could also use some advice if anyone knows.Where in Chicago can I find a good wig shop?
My mom hasn't started losing her hair yet, but we want to be prepared so she has a wig ready when it does.😢

Thanks, and stay strong.

Love,😘

I'm not in Chicago, but I do have a tip. You can actually request a wig through Medicare; they'll cover part of the cost for you. There was also this little loophole I discovered when I was getting my first one... you get some paperwork (an application, I think) where you specify the style, like long or short. I wrote down long, but then changed my mind, and it turned out Medicare reimbursed me for the more expensive long wig even though I ended up getting a short one, so I paid way less than expected. Since then, the head nurse at the Oncology Department tells everyone—ask for the long one, but take the short one. 😉

I’ve ended up with my mother’s wig—it's a brownish-red shade, chin-length, and still in decent shape. If anyone could actually make use of it, I’m more than happy to pass it on for free. Just shoot me a DM if you're interested.

Hi everyone...
thank you all so much😍

regarding the whole hair length situation, our dermatologist actually gave us some specific advice on what to look for.👍
so, this past Saturday, we went ahead and bought a wig.
if anyone else is looking for info or thinks this might help, there is a shop near the Mayo Clinic in Columbus—it's right by the medical supply store near the train station.

we picked out a medium-length one, nothing overly fancy—the gentleman helping us mentioned there was a wig available for $500, but honestly, he said there wasn't much difference in quality compared to the pricier ones.

we ended up paying around $500 and then added about $102 more on top of that, if I remember correctly...

Mom is really happy with it; it looks so much like her natural hair.

She hasn't actually lost her hair yet, but she wanted to have everything sorted before her next round of chemo starts.

Then yesterday, she told me herself that when she feels for that lump, it seems smaller... she used to be able to find it instantly, but now she really had to search for it.

I am just praying that this chemo does its job and absolutely destroys that thing...😠
otherwise, we are just waiting for the treatment to begin. Mom is holding up so well. I can feel my heart tightening just thinking about it, but she is just so brave and strong, truly like a rock...

my mom😍😍

Linda Cox69 said:my dear ones...
thank you all😍

regarding the issue of hair length, our dermatologist actually provided us with a specific recommendation...👍
we went out this past Saturday to purchase a wig.
if anyone finds this helpful or is seeking information, there is a shop in Columbus located near the medical supply center by the hospital and the train station...

we opted for a medium one, nothing overly extravagant—the gentleman assisting us insisted that while there was a wig priced at $500, there wasn't truly a noticeable difference in quality...

we settled on one for about $150 and paid an additional $30, if I recall correctly...

mother is quite pleased; it looks remarkably similar to her natural hair...

she hasn't actually lost her hair yet, but she wanted to have this resolved before her second round of chemo begins...

just yesterday, she told me herself that she can feel the lump has shrunk when she touches it; previously, it was easy to locate, but now she really had to search for it...

I am hoping the chemo does its job on that thing, and just destroys it completely...😠
otherwise, we are simply waiting for the treatment to start. mother is holding up well. my own heart feels a bit heavy with anticipation, yet she remains as brave and steady as a rock...

my mother...😍 😍

That is what mothers are like! They are tougher than any of us, and they carry themselves differently... Be proud of your mother, and keep giving her strength and smiles so she never wavers! May that thing vanish once and for all... 👍

The reality is that nothing truly compares to one's own hair. Losing it brings both physical and psychological strain, but new, stronger hair will eventually grow back. If it were possible, everyone would opt for a high-end wig made of real human hair, but those cost far more than just a few hundred dollars—they can run several thousand euros... Regardless of the price tag, the most important thing is that it suits her, because honestly, there isn't much of a qualitative difference... I already have two myself. The first was cheaper and didn't survive this second round. This second one is pricier, but I don't see any significant distinction between them...

Stay strong!!!!!! Just be brave, because... fortune favors the bold... 👍

Has anyone here ever tried using herbal therapy—specifically a blend of 180 different herbs—to help treat cancer with metastases? My mom had surgery for ovarian cancer about 20 days ago, and she’s scheduled to start chemotherapy tomorrow. Right after her operation, I started giving her a tea blend from a herbalist based in Columbus who is convinced his formula can provide a cure. She’s been drinking it for 15 days now, but we’re feeling pretty stuck. We aren't sure if she should continue drinking it once the chemo kicks in because we're worried about potential contraindications, even though the herbalist insists there won't be any issues. Has anyone on the forum had any experience with this? Any advice would be so appreciated.

ruggednomad182 said:The hardest part is just finding the courage to take that first step; after that, it all just becomes part of your routine. Honestly, following this therapy isn't nearly as difficult as people make it out to be. Now that I understand the process, I feel like I could even manage the shorter 21-day course while heading into work. I actually know someone who was completely bedridden, but after just 12 days of this treatment, they were able to sit up, and by day 21, they were standing. They haven't been back in a hospital bed since. They're 91 years old now. One thing to watch out for, though, is trying to mix different alternative remedies together. It’s better not to. If you're doing one specific therapy, don't try to layer others on top of it. They might interact poorly, potentially causing side effects that could lead to much more serious complications that we aren't equipped to handle.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation myself. My mom was diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer that had already metastasized throughout her body. The doctors told us there wasn't really a point in surgery or further treatment, so we decided to buy an herbal blend from a phytotherapist in Columbus (it's a mix of 180 different herbs). He insists his tea will heal her, but he also advised us to stay away from conventional medical treatments entirely. However, after buying the tea, the doctors ultimately decided to proceed with surgery anyway. She's going in for her first round of chemo tomorrow (which is 20 days post-surgery). Since the operation, we've been giving her these teas, and now we're stuck—we don't know if we should keep going with them alongside the chemo or if we're risking making things worse due to potential contraindications. We asked the herbalist, and he said there shouldn't be any issues and that she can drink the tea whenever she wants during chemo. He claimed that if we asked the doctors, they'd think we were crazy because they don't recognize anything outside of standard medicine. We're really torn on what to do. Has anyone here tried the herbal treatments from the phytotherapist Branko Jaramaz in Columbus?

Angela Wright said:I decided to start this forum because I’ve seen firsthand how incredibly difficult this period is—not just for patients, but for their families and loved ones too. There’s such a massive lack of psychological support and resources available in our society. Having been personally caught up in this struggle, I wanted to create a space where those of us who have been through it (or are currently in it) can offer each other genuine advice and emotional support.

Please feel free to post here. I promise I will always try to reply, whether it's to offer advice or just to let you know you aren't alone. Sometimes, being a caregiver or a bystander can be even harder than fighting the illness itself.

I've personally walked through hell, and I'm still walking through it. I truly believe no one should ever have to face this kind of hardship by themselves.

Sending big hugs to everyone.

I'm facing a very similar situation. My mom was diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer that has already metastasized throughout her body. The doctors told us surgery or further treatment wouldn't make much sense, so we ended up buying a herbal blend from a phytotherapist in Columbus (a mix of 180 different herbs). He insists his tea will heal her, but he also told us to steer clear of conventional medical treatments altogether. However, after we bought the tea, the doctors decided to proceed with surgery anyway. She’s actually heading in for her first round of chemo tomorrow (20 days post-op). We've been giving her the herbal teas since the surgery, and now we're stuck—we don't know if we should continue using them alongside the chemo or if we might cause a bad reaction due to potential contraindications. When we asked the herbalist, he said there’s no issue and she can drink the tea whenever she wants during chemo, claiming that if we asked the doctors, they’d just call us crazy because they don't recognize anything outside of mainstream medicine. Now we're lost on what to do. Has anyone else tried the herbal treatments from the phytotherapist Branko Jaramaz in Columbus?

Angela Wright said:Could you please point us in the right direction regarding therapy? If you have any links or book recommendations, I’d really appreciate it. Personally, I’m quite interested in learning more about this.
I’ve come across a few stories online about people who decided to pivot toward alternative healing methods and actually saw real results. There was one woman I read about who was dealing with an astrocytoma—a brain tumor. Much like my mother, she eventually reached a point where she stepped away from conventional medicine. She started working under the assumption that her body was reacting this way because of how she had lived her life—always putting everyone else's needs before her own. She actually began "communicating" with the tumor itself, asking it what needed to happen for her to heal and for it to leave. She learned how to say "no," overhauled her diet using macrobiotics, started staying physically active, and cut out everything that caused her tension or stress. Essentially, she reorganized her entire life to prioritize her own well-being. She recovered, and the issue hasn't returned. That was ten years ago.
We all have those moments where our primal defense mechanisms kick in—that deep-seated instinct telling us exactly what we need to do. The problem is, most of the time, we either don't recognize the signal or we just aren't ready to listen to it. I’m a firm believer that the human body is capable of overcoming almost anything if the immune system is properly engaged, but why that vital spark sometimes fails to ignite remains a mystery to me. Maybe it's because we've drifted so far away from nature. Unlike a dog or a cat that instinctively knows to eat grass to settle its stomach and trigger a physical response, we've lost that intuitive connection to the natural world.
My grandfather used to have this cat that was obsessed with catching rattlesnakes. It happened more times than I can count—the snake would strike, and he’d immediately bolt out into the field to chew on certain wild grasses. After doing that, he’d spend the entire day vomiting this dark, nasty stuff. Then, for about three days, he’d just mope around, refusing to eat anything at all, only sipping on a little water. By the fourth day, he’d finally be back to his old self. One time, though, a snake came out of the brush before the grass had even grown back. The cat went after it, got bitten, and since there wasn't any grass for him to eat to settle his stomach, he didn't make it.
I honestly feel like we’re constantly surrounded by a pill for every single ailment, yet somehow, we've lost touch with those primal, time-tested remedies that people used to rely on. It makes me wonder if certain indigenous cultures living close to the land might actually hold the key to treating things like cancer, simply because they understand nature in a way we've forgotten.

Don't beat yourself up about not doing more research before you started your treatment. At the end of the day, what matters most is that you're feeling better and that this actually worked for you. Now that you know it works, you can pass that knowledge along to others. Honestly, it might even save me from trying to micromanage things for people whose approach just wasn't helping me anyway.

When you're dealing with illness—especially when you're part of that inner circle watching a loved one suffer—finding an outlet is absolutely vital. You have to find some way to channel all that stress and the trauma we carry inside, otherwise, it’ll eventually break us too. For me, these forums serve as that release valve. Writing about what my mom and my family are going through, while hopefully sharing what I've learned to help others, is how I cope. It looks like a huge part of my daily life is going to be dedicated to fighting cancer for the rest of my years. To me, cancer is a demon, and I’ve made it my life's mission to fight it tooth and nail wherever it shows up. It doesn't just physically or mentally torture the patient; it takes a massive toll on the souls of everyone who loves them. It’s a total curse.😠

I’m facing a very similar situation right now. My mom was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer with metastases throughout her body. The doctors initially told us there wasn't much point in surgery or traditional treatment, so we decided to go a different route and bought a blend of 180 different herbs from a herbalist based out of Indianapolis. He’s convinced his tea blends can heal her, and he actually advised us to step away from conventional medical treatments altogether. However, after we got the tea, the doctors decided to move forward with surgery. She’s currently recovering, and tomorrow—just 20 days after the operation—she starts her first round of chemo. We've been giving her these herbal teas since the surgery, and now we're stuck in this nervous limbo. We don't know if we should keep using them alongside the chemotherapy, or if we might actually be doing more harm than good due to potential contraindications. When we asked the herbalist about it, he insisted there wouldn't be any issues and said she could drink the tea whenever she wants during chemo. He claimed that if we asked the doctors, they’d think we were crazy for using it because they only recognize mainstream medicine. Now we're just lost on how to handle this. Has anyone here ever tried the herbal treatments from John Branko, P.E., over in Indianapolis?

Megan Chase63 said:I’m dealing with a similar nightmare right now. My mom was diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer with metastases spread everywhere. The doctors basically told us there was no point in even attempting surgery or treatment, so we went out and bought this massive herbal blend from a phytotherapist based in Indianapolis. It’s a mix of 180 different herbs, and he’s insisting his tea will cure her—he actually told us to ditch conventional medicine entirely. But here’s where things got complicated: despite what the specialists said, the medical team decided to move forward with surgery anyway. She’s twenty days post-op now, and she starts her first round of chemo tomorrow. We’ve been giving her these herbal teas since the surgery, and now I’m stuck in this agonizing limbo. Should we keep going with the teas alongside the chemo, or are we potentially sabotaging her recovery with contraindications? We asked the herbalist about it, and he just brushed it off, saying there’s no issue at all and she can drink it whenever she wants during chemo. He claimed that if we asked the doctors, they’d think we were insane because they won't acknowledge anything outside of standard medicine. Now we’re caught in the middle, completely unsure of how to proceed. Has anyone else here ever tried using treatments from John Branko, P.E., the herbalist from Indianapolis?

Look, honey, why don't you go ahead and ask that herbalist of yours to sign a formal, written guarantee? Tell him to put it in writing that your mom will pull through without any conventional medical treatment using nothing but his weeds, and then let's see how much he actually has to say to your face.☕

Angela Wright said:Look, honey, why don't you just ask that herbalist of yours to sign a written guarantee? Tell him to put it in writing that your mom will recover fully using nothing but his herbs instead of standard medical care. I'd love to see what he has to say to that.☕

I’m thinking along those same lines, too. Honestly, if you actually heard him explain how much he trusts his herbal teas, you’d probably be just as confused as I am. I'm really torn—I don't know if I should tell her to stop drinking that tea while she's undergoing chemo. I'm worried about things getting complicated. I mean, I'm not entirely sure if herbal teas can actually be dangerous or if they might cause some kind of adverse reaction when mixed with chemotherapy drugs?
Is it possible that nobody on this forum has ever heard of the herbalist John Branko, P.E., from Indianapolis? He develops various preparations designed to help manage other health conditions as well...

My mom was just diagnosed with uterine sarcoma, stage 3 I think. She was supposed to go for radiation in Chicago, but it looks like they’re pivoting to chemo instead. After the medical board met, the doctors gave us this pretty vague statement:

"Based on a review of the extensive medical records, we recommend chemotherapy using the IA regimen (Ifosfamide + Adriamycin), which can be administered at...
Follow-up with the attending gynecologist after the second cycle of chemo to evaluate treatment response."

If anyone wouldn't mind breaking down the situation, the treatment options, etc., I’d really appreciate it. I've heard that native propolis is actually quite helpful during chemo, along with a solid diet—I specifically came across lepina.blog and loved what I read. If it's not too much trouble, could someone from there get in touch?

I've also heard about Mr. Domančić and people who follow his methods, as well as some gentleman in Rome. I'd love to hear from anyone who has had similar experiences and can describe what that was like.

Does anyone happen to have a phone number for Mr. Domančić or any contact info for anything that might help even a little? I honestly don't know where to start.

Are there any specific details I should know regarding the treatment for this type of sarcoma?

Stay strong, everyone. Wishing you all health.

casualraven24 said:My mother was just diagnosed with uterine sarcoma—Stage 3, I believe. She was originally supposed to undergo radiation in Chicago, but it looks like they’re pivoting toward chemotherapy instead. After the medical board met, the doctors issued a rather brief statement:

"Upon reviewing the extensive medical documentation, we recommend chemo via the IA regimen (Ifosfamide + Adriamycin), which can be administered at..."
"Follow-up with a gynecologic oncologist after the second cycle of chemo to assess treatment response."

If anyone wouldn't mind clarifying the situation for me—explaining the condition, the various treatment paths, and so on—I would appreciate it. I've heard that native propolis can be quite beneficial during chemotherapy, as can a healthy diet. I was particularly impressed by what I read on lepina.blog; if it isn't too much trouble, I'd love to get in touch with lepina somehow.

I have also heard about Mr. Domančić and those who follow his methods, as well as a gentleman based in Rome and others. I would be grateful if anyone could describe their experiences with similar approaches.

Does anyone happen to have Mr. Domančić's number or any contact information for anything that might offer even a little bit of help? I honestly don't know where to begin.

Are there any specific details regarding the treatment of this particular sarcoma?

Stay safe, everyone, and I wish you all good health.

You can find more detailed information about uterine sarcoma right here.

Did your mother undergo any surgery? As for Domančić, you'll find much more information over on the alternative medicine sub-forum...