Support resources for families dealing with cancer and other serious illnesses

Mom, my mom is actually doing a bit better today, thank God, she’s more alert and present, even if she's still feeling incredibly weak. But honestly, can I even let myself hope yet?

Amy Torres4 said:Mom is doing better today, thank God. She’s lucid, though she's still incredibly weak. Is it okay for me to hold onto hope?

Always

Amy Torres4 said:I am truly happy for you all, ruggedpuma47, I mean it from the bottom of my heart. May God grant you health. I’m heading over to my mother's place now; please, just pray to God that she feels better and that I find the strength to handle everything coming my way.

Amy, thanks for the support. 🙂

My family was absolutely pulling their hair out yesterday, all because they were trying to be there for me...
They were attempting to cheer me up with some jokes, but instead, I just broke down in tears—though, honestly, my heart felt so full and happy in that moment..
If I can just make it through today with these remaining lungs of mine—everything feels so tight and constricted, like I can barely catch a breath—then maybe tomorrow will be okay. Then, I can finally go to war with this absolute bastard that forced its way into my life..
Keep your fingers crossed for me. 🙂 🙂

Amy Torres4 said:Mom is doing better today, thank God. She’s lucid, even if she’s still incredibly weak. Is it okay to let myself hope?

I just caught up on your last post, Amy...

You should absolutely hope—and try to cherish every single good moment while they come. 🙂

ruggedpuma47 said:I just caught your latest post, Amy Torres4...

just try to hold onto hope and soak up every single good moment you can 🙂

Thanks so much, ruggedpuma47... you really have such an amazing family and circle of friends surrounding you... I truly hope they can be your rock right now, and may their positive energy help pull you through this, God bless. Just take it one step at a time, one minute at a time, and keep fighting... please know I'm right there with you, keeping your mom in all my prayers, and I won't forget about you guys either... I really hope God gives us all the strength and health we need to get through this.

ruggedpuma47, hang in there! We’re pretty much the same age, and honestly, I don't know if I'd have the guts to handle things the way you do. You are incredibly brave!

Hannah Williams51 said:ruggedpuma47, hang in there! We're pretty much the same age, and honestly, I have no idea how I’d handle myself if I were in your shoes. You are incredibly brave!

Thanks, Hannah 🙂

I'm terrified, sure, but I am not backing down... I suppose that's what bravery actually looks like, isn't it?
I feel lucky that I'm the one dealing with this monster instead of my kids—God forbid anyone else had to face this. As long as they are safe and sound right here with me, I will do absolutely everything in my power to stay by their side for as long as possible.
There was a day recently where I was in a really dark place mentally, and Angela Wright... she literally pulled me back from the edge with just her words.
My signature is actually a quote she gave me. I can't thank her enough for truly hearing me, for reading between the lines, and for just grabbing me by the collar and dragging me away from the path I was heading down that morning without asking a single unnecessary question.

Ugh, you guys, I am feeling so incredibly low today.... I’m honestly having such a hard time coping because of my mom. She’s just completely lost all her spark, and she keeps saying she doesn't even want to be here anymore.... and the worst part is, nothing seems to be changing at all.....😢

Amy Torres4 said:Oh man, I am feeling absolutely terrible today... I'm having a total meltdown over my mom. She’s just completely checked out, constantly saying she doesn't want to live anymore... and nothing seems to be changing her state of mind at all...😢

Look, it’s just a rough patch; it'll pass. I'm currently pregnant with my second child and I felt like giving up yesterday too.

Angela Wright said:Honestly, it’s just a passing flu, she'll be fine. I'm actually pregnant with my second right now, and man, yesterday was just absolutely brutal for me.

Ugh, I seriously can't even describe how much my heart is breaking right now... if I could just reach inside, pull out my own liver, and hand it over to her, I swear I would do it in a heartbeat...

Things are absolutely devastating here... the pain has seeped into his very bones, spreading through his arm and down his leg. His leg completely gave out on him this morning. The agony is just unbearable. Even with heavy-duty medication, the attacks hit him hard. He’s currently relying on 50 mg patches and morphine injections just to function. We’re trying to get him admitted back to the hospital today, but even that simple task has become an ordeal because we need to arrange specialized medical transport. He can only tolerate being lying down; anything else is sheer torture and he simply cannot endure it. I want to send strength to everyone else navigating this nightmare, because we are all fighting together to stay strong, but this whole situation is soul-crushing 😢

Kate Brooks2 said:Things are just brutal over here right now... the pain has basically seeped into his very bones, spreading through his arms and legs until there's nothing left. His leg just completely gave out on him this morning, and honestly, the agony is just unreal. Even with heavy-duty meds, these attacks hit him like a freight train out of nowhere. He’s currently relying on 50 mg patches and morphine injections just to get by. We’re trying to get him back into the hospital today, but everything has become such a massive headache because we're stuck waiting on an ambulance service to pick us up. He can only handle being lying down; anything else is just too much for him to bear. I really want to send so much strength to everyone else out there going through this same nightmare, because we're all just trying our best to hang in there together, but man, this stuff just drains the life out of you. 😢

Hey there, Kate Brooks2,

We really have to stick together right now and keep our heads up, you know? We need to be praying to God to give some extra strength to those who are feeling completely powerless lately, just so they can find the will and the energy to keep pushing forward with life. And honestly, we need that same strength for ourselves too—for everyone standing right by their side trying to hold everything together through this... because man, it’s tough, it is just so incredibly hard. But I guess God knows exactly how much we can take before we break, right?
Stay safe out there, everyone! 😘

Hey everyone, I’m reaching out because I am honestly spiraling a little bit here. For about six months now, I’ve been dealing with this constant pain in my arms and shoulders... and get this, every single scan I’ve had so far has come back completely clear. So, naturally, my brain went straight to the darkest possible corner: could this be lung cancer? I had an X-ray done on my chest and heart about three years ago and everything looked perfect then. Am I totally losing my mind with worry here? I have a CT scan scheduled for my heart and lungs just to be sure, but the anxiety is killing me. I don't have any other symptoms besides the pain... thanks in advance for any sanity checks.

Larry Rivera6 said:Hey everyone, I’m spiraling a bit here and really need some perspective. My arms and shoulders have been aching constantly for about six months now, but every single scan I've had comes back totally clear. I started doomscrolling and now I'm convinced it might be lung cancer. I had a chest X-ray three years ago and everything looked fine then. Am I just being paranoid? I've got an MRI for my heart and lungs scheduled, but besides this pain, I don't have any other symptoms. Thanks in advance.

I don't buy it; you'd be dealing with a whole different set of symptoms if that were the case. It's way more likely that you're looking at issues with your cervical spine or maybe some chronic back problems.

Hey everyone... It’s day three since my first round of chemo, and I won't lie, it hasn't been easy. I'm doing my best to push through though.
Hang in there, everyone. Stay strong.

ruggedpuma47 said:hey everyone... it's my third day since the first chemo session, and man, it's really hitting me hard... but I'm hanging in there and trying my best.
stay strong, everybody, and please keep fighting.

Just stay brave, ruggedpuma47! You've got to try to keep those thoughts positive and just send all the love you can to your body... God will help you through this.🙂 We're actually headed to the doctor tomorrow to see what's going on with my mom's lung infection, because that damn thing just won't quit. May God help us all. Sending big hugs to you.

I’m honestly at a loss for words here. 🤷
I’ve been scouring the internet, but I haven’t been able to track down my mother’s official pathology report, which just arrived two days ago. 🙂

carcinoma lobulare solidum

I am reading up on various types of lobular tumors, but I cannot find any mention of this "solidum" subtype anywhere.
The literature says these types make up less than one percent of cases, but if it isn't even listed, how prevalent is solidum really? 🤷

The fact that it is invasive is deeply unsettling.
For now, my mother is maintaining a positive attitude. Her surgeon mentioned that this is a rare variant of carcinoma, so I think I’ll just tell her that I couldn't find anything helpful online.
She is heading into the hospital this Tuesday, so we will simply have to wait and see what the next steps entail.

Hey everyone, I could really use some help here. Does anyone know what actually works when it comes to boosting the immune system for someone dealing with liver cirrhosis? I’ve heard people talk about drinking beet juice or carrot juice, but is there an actual supplement or something you can buy at a pharmacy that really helps? Thanks so much

Amy Torres4 said:I am looking for some advice. Does anyone know what actually works to boost the immune system when dealing with liver cirrhosis? I know about beet and carrot juices, but are there any specific supplements available for purchase that help? Thanks

You can find certain herbal teas at local pharmacies, though availability varies. It might be best to check with a specialized herbalist. Without trying to sell you anything, I would suggest looking into Hepatovit tea or the capsules produced by Pfizer out of Pittsburgh. My late mother fought Hepatitis C for many years, which eventually led to cirrhosis, and we had nothing but positive experiences using those specific supplements.
I personally take Hepatovit capsules for fatty liver disease; after taking them for two years, my liver fully recovered and the condition is gone. I realize I am drifting slightly off-topic, but the liver is a critical organ regardless. Naturally, diet is paramount, though I assume your specialist has already provided you with a specific dietary regimen.

shadowfox75 said:You can find certain herbal teas at most pharmacies, though honestly, you might have better luck asking specifically at a local health food store. I'm not trying to sell you anything here, but I'd definitely suggest looking into something like Hepatovit tea or those capsules made by Pfizer out of Pittsburgh. My late mother actually battled Hep C for years, which eventually led to cirrhosis, and we had nothing but positive experiences using that specific supplement during that whole struggle.
Personally, I’ve been taking Hepatovit capsules myself because I was dealing with a fatty liver—I stuck with them for about two years and my liver completely recovered. Like, seriously, the fatty liver is totally gone now... Okay, maybe I'm drifting a little bit from the main point, but let's be real, when it comes to the liver, it's all connected, right? And obviously, I don't even need to tell you how massive a role diet plays in this, but I'm guessing your specialist hepatologist already put you on a strict meal plan.

Yeah, regarding the diet, she's on a strict regimen—no salt, no heavy spices, and so on—mostly because Mom is also dealing with ascites. But I wanted to ask, does that tea and those capsules actually help boost the immune system, or are they more focused on supporting liver function directly?