Support resources for families dealing with cancer and other serious illnesses

Joshua Nguyen9 said:Can someone please walk me through how to get a wig? What exactly does Medicare cover?

Once your Oncologist adds the wig recommendation to your medical history, you take that to your primary care doctor. They’ll write up the authorization slip that you present to Medicare. Usually, what they approve is just some mid-range, basic wig, but if you take that slip and pay a small out-of-pocket difference—just a few bucks—you can typically upgrade to something much nicer. Most specialized wig shops have direct contracts with Medicare; for instance, there's a shop in the Kaptol Center area in Washington, D.C.

I’ve been avoiding this thread, honestly hoping I wouldn't have to come back here again.
My mother had surgery for breast cancer almost five years ago.
She went through chemotherapy, and up until now, her results have always looked good. Her markers were around 13.7.
Just last week, her breast ultrasound came back perfectly normal.
However, her most recent blood work from a few days ago showed her markers at 17.7.
Does anyone here know if a rise like this—while still technically within the "normal" range—is cause for alarm?
Is it actually possible for markers to fluctuate upward even when everything is fine?
She has an appointment with her Oncologist this Tuesday, but this waiting period is absolutely draining us all mentally.

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't let this worry me too much.
While those levels are technically within the normal range, tumor markers near the breast area are notoriously unspecific—so much so that doctors often stop using them altogether because they aren't reliable enough.

Angela Wright said:Melissa Taylor5, unfortunately, this is just how things go sometimes. It’s not ideal—you know that better than anyone—but the fight continues. Hang in there!

Thank you, Angela Wright. For the last two months, I've been reading through everyone's stories here, and honestly, I have nothing but admiration for all of you.
Mom is doing alright; the side effects from the patch finally settled down by Tuesday. She has another follow-up with the Oncologist soon, and we're hoping to start targeted treatment for the spot on her shoulder blade, since that is currently the primary source of her pain.😢

Melissa Taylor5, once they get that air in her, she's going to be feeling a whole lot better

Greetings to everyone,
I am a newcomer here—having registered specifically to join this particular subforum.
My aunt, a 54-year-old long-term smoker, sought medical attention after a period of severe illness—she was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer. She has undergone surgery, where one lung lobe and several lymph nodes were removed. Despite such an intense procedure, she actually seems better now than she did before the diagnosis. If I understood correctly, it is Stage 3. Chemotherapy and radiation are next on her schedule—so, I find myself wondering: what should one realistically expect following the removal of a lung lobe and subsequent radiation?
I realize that everything depends heavily on the individual—and how difficult it is to offer any meaningful advice under these circumstances. I simply wish to hear the experiences of others, as I have never personally encountered this insidious disease before.

Gerald Garcia63 said:Hey everyone,
I’m new here, and honestly, I only signed up specifically to follow this subforum.
My aunt is 54 and has been a heavy smoker for years. After feeling pretty terrible for a while, she saw a doctor—diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. She’s already had surgery to remove one lung lobe and several lymph nodes. Even after such an intense procedure, she actually looks better than she did before the diagnosis. If I understood correctly, it's Stage 3. She has chemo and radiation coming up next, so I’m trying to figure out what the road ahead looks like once the lung tissue is gone and the radiation is finished.
I realize everyone’s situation is different and giving advice is tricky, but I’m really just looking to hear from people who have dealt with this sneaky disease before.

If they managed to get everything out, and the fact that she was even cleared for surgery is a massive win, I think there's plenty of reason to be optimistic about the outcome. Everything else is just a roll of the dice.

Angela Wright said:Melissa Taylor5, if they clear that out for her, she’s going to feel significantly better.

Thank you for your response; the energy and willpower you radiate here is truly wonderful.

Hey everyone. Here I am again, facing my fourth tumor and seventh surgery.
I was wondering if anyone here has ever tried Graviola, and what your experience was like?

🙂 Hi

fadedtrucker5 said:Hey everyone, here I am again after my 4th tumor and 7th surgery.
I was wondering if anyone here has ever tried Graviola and what your experiences have been like?

🙂 all

Oh my God! But hey, the main thing is that you came out on top once again! Just keep being that absolute powerhouse of a woman!😍
How are you feeling? Any side effects kicking in?

Angela Wright said:Oh my God! Well, I guess it doesn't matter that you came out on top again. Just... maybe try being such a terrible woman from now on?😍
How are you doing? Any side effects yet, I guess?

This trip took my left side away from me. I'm still relying on help to walk and my left arm is pretty weak, but... maybe things will improve with time. 😉 I'm alive and I don't have any pain, which I guess is the most important thing. 😁

fadedtrucker5 said:This trip completely wiped out my left side. I’m still relying on assistance to get around and my left arm is pretty weak, but I know things will improve with time. 😉 I'm alive and I'm not in pain, and honestly, that's the only thing that matters. 😁

Did they give you any warm compresses?

Angela Wright said:Did they give you hot compresses?

No, though I guess doing that now would just be torture, since I'm still recovering from those massive surgeries. My physical therapist showed me some exercises... it’s all about reminding my brain that my limbs actually exist. It’ll get there eventually, I suppose. Things are moving along okay, considering I couldn't move a muscle before. Being home is everything, though—my family is stepping up to help. As skilled as the nurses at the hospital were, having to call someone just to go to the bathroom was driving me insane. That level of dependency on strangers... it's too much. And being stuck in that bed for nearly three months? It absolutely killed me.🙂

So, our third round of chemo is officially wrapped up over here. Honestly, things have been going pretty smoothly so far—no major setbacks or nasty mouth sores, which is a huge relief. We've been using Gelclair and I guess it’s doing a killer job. Now we're just playing the waiting game until the next CT scan to see how much of the tumor is actually left. On another note, I wanted to ask about the sweating... it's been hitting me pretty hard lately, especially at night right around my neck. What has everyone else dealt with regarding sweating during or after chemo?

Just checking in here after quite a while...
I had my son on August 16th. :-)
But my mom... she’s just not herself. We took photos of the baby and sent them over; she scrolled through them three times and
just held onto them. But after that—it’s like she just gave up. She refused to eat, became so weak that she’s practically skin and bones... her hands won't stop shaking. Once they told her they'd have to start using a feeding tube if she didn't start eating, she promised she would. She managed to eat for maybe two days—just a few spoonfuls of something soft—and then it was right back to square one. Now she’s refusing food again, won't drink anything either... so they have her on an IV. She doesn't talk at all; she barely waves a hand or mumbles something under her breath. She just sleeps all day.
As for starting chemo or physical therapy? We can forget about that right now. She’s far too weak; none of those treatments have even been touched. She just lies there in silence...😢

Linda Morales66 said:I figured I’d jump back in here after being away for a while...
I gave birth to my son on August 16th. :-)
My mom just isn't herself... we took photos of the baby and sent them over; she scrolled through them three times and
held them close to her heart... but after that, it was like she just gave up. She refused to eat, became so frail that she looks like skin hanging off a frame... her hands shake constantly. Once they told her they'd have to use a feeding tube if she didn't start eating, she promised she would. She managed to eat for maybe two days—just a few spoonfuls of soft food—and then went right back to how things were. Now she's refusing food again, won't drink anything... they've got her on an IV. She doesn't talk at all; she can barely wave a hand or mutter a word... she just sleeps all day long.
As for chemo or physical therapy, we can forget about that for now. She’s way too weak; none of those treatments have even been started. She just lies there in silence...😢

First off, huge congratulations on the new baby! 🙂
Have you guys tried giving your mom any nutritional shakes like Ensure or Prosure? It sounds like she's fallen into cachexia, and right now, it's a full-blown battle to get her strength back and jumpstart her appetite. Try giving her some Pikovit or Multisanastol. We actually pulled my late aunt back from the brink twice using Pikovit. Give it a shot; you've got nothing to lose. I am so incredibly sorry you're going through this. Honestly, she might just be completely exhausted after everything that happened with your delivery. Hang in there, everyone.

Does anyone know how long the wait usually is for CT results over at Rebro Hospital? I guess if it makes any difference, we're looking at a lymphoma diagnosis in the abdomen.

wiredcanyon39 said:How long does it usually take to get CT results back from Rebro Hospital? It might matter since we're looking at a lymphoma diagnosis in the abdomen.

It shouldn't take longer than about ten days. This current backlog is likely just a result of everyone being out on vacation, leaving a pile of scans waiting to be read.

Hey everyone!

It’s been a minute since I last checked in here, so here I am... Just wanted to drop a note to encourage everyone out there fighting this battle, including all the family members holding things down.
My husband is doing okay; we’re heading over to Jordanovac for a checkup this month, but honestly, I have a good feeling about the results.
It’s been eight years since we started dealing with his lung and trachea cancer—non-small cell, late stage, no surgery performed. They told us back then he didn't have more than three months left in him..
So yeah, there’s no rulebook for this stuff.
I’m wishing you all a ton of patience and plenty of grit while you navigate this mess.

Lisa White54 said:Hello, everyone.

It has been quite a while since I last posted, so I thought I might check in... if only to offer a bit of encouragement to those currently fighting this battle and to their families.
My husband is doing well; we have an appointment coming up at Jordanovac this month, though I suspect the results will be positive.
It has actually been eight years since we began dealing with his non-small cell lung and trachea cancer. It was stage IV, and he didn't undergo surgery—at one point, they didn't even give him more than three months to live.
So, I suppose there really aren't any rules.
I wish you all plenty of patience and, naturally, courage during such difficult struggles.

There are rules, and they are exactly what was mentioned above (that three-month window); he is simply a rare exception. But truly, hats off to you!