Support resources for families dealing with cancer and other serious illnesses

Nathan Martinez9 said:I’m looking for anyone who has any kind of insight or experience regarding that herbalist, unknown. I don't care if it's positive or negative. Specifically, I'm interested in treating multiple sclerosis, because his website claims he can cure it in 30 to 60 days using herbal teas. To be honest, I'm not necessarily expecting a total cure, but any improvement in my health would give me a fresh sense of hope and momentum. Since these teas are $1333, I want to know if anyone has actually seen progress from them. Please send me a private message with your experiences; I'm living in Mexico and don't have much free time for forums due to work. I want everyone to overcome their illness and come out on top.

Nathan Martinez9 said:Can anyone tell me if they have any experience—good or bad—with that herbalist unknown? I’m specifically looking into treatment for multiple sclerosis. His website claims he can fix it in 30 to 60 days using tea blends. Look, I’m not delusional enough to think I’ll be totally cured, but any improvement would give me some much-needed momentum and hope. Since these teas are $1333, I want to know if anyone has actually seen results. Please just DM me your stories. I’m living in Mexico and don't have the luxury of hanging out on forums all day because of work. I just want everyone to beat their illness and come out on top.

Amy Torres4 said:ruggedpuma47, Angela Wright.... I feel like an orphan now..😢

Amy Torres4 said:ruggedpuma47, Angela Wright.... I'm all alone now..😢

Amy Torres4 said:ruggedpuma47, Angela Wright.... I feel like an orphan now..😢

Angela Wright said:When the treatment actually hits the mark, you at least know what you're fighting through.

It feels plausible that we're looking at some kind of occult carcinoma in the colon. Because of how winding the large intestine is, things can easily be missed during a colonoscopy, and even a PET scan can sometimes miss it. Usually, it tends to jump to the liver first.

What specific treatment protocol is she on right now? Any particular meds? If you can get a copy of her doctor's report, I might be able to make sense of it, or maybe one of the doctors in this group could offer some direction on next steps.

Andrew Cruz3 said:@dunjaranka
My sincere condolences
😢

She hasn't had a PET scan yet.
The doctor insists it isn't necessary, but my mom refuses to let us organize one at a different facility.

I'm not entirely sure which specific medications she was put on 🙈
All I know is she completed two cycles (6+3) of chemo—a mix of oral pills and IV—and this is her first check-up after a break.

I'll grab the paperwork from my mom and type out the details.
The latest report indicates significant progression of secondary tumors 🙂 (I didn't catch the medical terminology immediately)

Angela Wright said:Yeah, honestly, there are moments where it feels like we’re carrying way more weight than they are—like we’re staring down this massive wall of a problem, knowing we should be doing something about it, yet we just sit there paralyzed.
I think your grandpa basically figured out that if someone in the family had to catch this thing, he’d much rather it be him than you.
Sometimes I wish I could just take my mom's illness onto myself—just swap places so she wouldn't have to suffer—but she'd probably find it even harder. She always tells me that even though she's still relatively young, she's lived a whole life, built a family, raised me... she says she couldn't be prouder of the person I've become; then again, I’ve got my entire life ahead of me.

Don't sweat it—your grandpa’s hair will grow back, and it’ll probably be thicker than it ever was.👍
And hey, even if it doesn't come back and he stays bald, as long as he's healthy and looking sharp, who cares?

Amy Torres4 said:thank you all. It’s just so incredibly hard—there's this emptiness I can't even put into words... I know deep down that she's better off not suffering anymore, but the void she left behind is just massive. It feels like I'm stuck in some kind of fever dream, honestly, I can't tell if any of this is actually real or if I'm just dreaming it all up...😢

Casey Booth3 said:Hey—I’m reaching out because I’ve been exactly where you are right now. I feel for you. You're looking at your mother, trying everything to help her, breaking your own heart in the process... but maybe this is just how God intended it. You have to stay positive, especially when you're sitting there by a sickbed.

Casey Booth3 said:I am just so incredibly sorry! I know how much this hurts, and honestly, even after six years, things still aren't easy for me either! Just hang in there and try to live your life as best as you possibly can!

feralridge3 said:I honestly don't even know where to start. 😢
My mom just got home from the hospital after having her breast removed. She saw the surgeon yesterday and has an appointment with the oncologist tomorrow. It turns out the cancer has already spread to her bones. 😢
For months, she was just complaining about occasional aches in her hip and knee. Her GP sent her for some imaging and then referred her to physical therapy. Things actually seemed to get worse during that time; I kept nagging her to stick to her exercises, but she wouldn't listen. 🤦
I had no idea that breast cancer frequently metastasizes to the bone.
The absolute worst part is that she knows exactly what this looks like—a very close friend of hers went through the exact same diagnosis about 15 years ago and passed away.
Right now, she seems motivated to fight, though I can't tell if that's real or if it's just how things look to me and my brother.
She’s generally a pessimist, so truthfully, I’m struggling to stay hopeful that she'll pull through, especially since this is her fifth bout with cancer. 😢

Angela Wright said:The one thing you can actually believe in—the one thing you have to—is that she’ll fight with everything she’s got, heart and soul. That’s the only certainty. In this life, there are no guarantees for anything else.
If those radiation beams hit her bones, they'll stop eventually. What matters most is ensuring there's a response to the chemo when the time comes. Just be there for her. Be her support system.

Angela Wright said:I hope you're doing okay and that aside from your ear, everything else is fine. You really are an incredibly resilient woman with that diagnosis; you've got such grit, both mentally and physically.

feralridge3 said:It’s no walk in the park trying to be there for someone who treated me pretty poorly growing up—especially once she remarried. My brother, or rather my half-brother, gets all the affection because she treats him so much better, which she actually admitted to me a few years back. My feelings toward her are just a mess. Our relationship is basically a hollow shell; there’s zero closeness here. 😢
Most of the help I provide is strictly financial.

My former oncologist (who’s retired now) told me straight up when I asked about my survival odds that I’d definitely make it because I’m a fighter. During those darkest stretches, I leaned on that thought constantly. That was back when I first started scraping money together for Temodal. "Resilience" is a flexible term, isn't it? 😉
I’m thinking about seeing a private psychiatrist. This whole situation is incredibly stressful, and honestly, I don't want to risk my tumor coming back. 🙂 After everything I've been through over the last five years, I decided to finally put myself first. It's "me first," then everyone else. But now, that resolve is wavering. I'm torn between "dying" for her or standing my ground. 😕 I am genuinely terrified of a recurrence.

Yeah, my last check-ups were fine. The issue is this hole in my eardrum. They won't say for sure if it's from the radiation. Because of that gap, I've dealt with two brutal throat infections. I'm waiting on an appointment with an ENT surgeon and some testing. Regardless of what the results show, I'm going to push to get that hole patched up. I'm done with constant infections and swallowing antibiotics.

Angela Wright said:Just give whatever support you can, and make sure you're doing it solely for your own sake—for your own peace of mind and mental health. Don't leave any room for yourself to regret it or feel like you're being blamed for anything later on.
And yes, prioritize yourself first and foremost. Everyone fights their own battles. There are countless ways to offer support without overextending yourself beyond what's necessary or even possible. You mentioned your brother is healthy and that you two are close, so it’s only right that he’s the one stepping up to drive, cook, and handle the logistics.
Keep staying brave.😉🙂