Support resources for families dealing with cancer and other serious illnesses

nimbletrucker72 said:So, we’ve finally finished our battle, even though we had only just begun to arm ourselves. Nothing will ever be the same again. The only solace is that there is no more pain or suffering for that poor, weary body... .................................sending my love and thanks to everyone! I LOVE YOU DAD, FROM YOUR LITTLE GIRL

No matter how much it feels like the fight is over, unfortunately, the struggle continues in the form of acceptance. Please, stay brave and truly believe that it was better for the pain to end. My deepest condolences and a virtual hug to you. Hang in there, and remember everything he would have wanted for you—how he would have loved to see you walking forward... because he will be right there following you..

Hi, I have two friends who recently shared the news that they’ve been diagnosed with cancer... I really want to be there for them, but I’m feeling quite lost on how to actually help. One is dealing with a benign tumor, while the other is facing a malignant one. There are moments when the weight of it all hits them, and seeing them so heartbroken is honestly devastating for me too. Ever since I found out, I’ve been spiraling into endless research, scouring the internet and reading every book I can get my hands on regarding treatments and recovery. My heart just aches for them. I feel so helpless, not knowing what steps to take. They try to stay positive and tell me everything will be fine, but deep down, I'm terrified of losing them. It feels especially cruel because they're only 15 years old. Could anyone offer some advice on how to navigate this?

The best thing you can actually do for them is to stop pitying them. Just hang out with them like you always have. Sure, there’s always that looming possibility of losing someone, but dwelling on that pessimistic outlook doesn't help anyone—least of all them. On the flip side, don't swing to the other extreme and act like nothing is even happening. That just makes things awkward and tense. Just be their friend.
Carcinomas aren't nearly as lethal today as they used to be. If they stick to their doctor's orders and maintain a healthy, varied diet, they'll be in much better shape.

I couldn't agree more. Instead of seeing pity in your eyes, they should be feeling encouraged and optimistic. Medicine has actually made some massive strides in cancer treatment lately, so there’s really no reason to be so pessimistic. Why shouldn't they eventually pull through and get back to living their lives normally?

Paranoia is just one of those inadequate ways the body reacts to stress—basically just another version of an adrenaline spike. Take it easy. There aren't any grand mysteries, miracles, or reasons to rush things... there's just life as it actually exists, and that’s the only thing we can be sure of. Once we calm down, there’ll finally be enough room for actual arguments.

As for that MMS mentioned in the link, I see immediate red flags regarding self-administration—it looks incredibly dangerous. We're talking potential metabolic acidosis (which can be fatal), worsening conditions like gastritis or ulcers in anyone with stomach issues (potentially leading to perforation, which is also lethal), massive and deadly bleeding in cases of esophageal varices, or even pancreatitis...
I don't see how it would have any impact on cancer. What I do see, however, is how it could potentially cause it through chronic damage to the digestive tract lining.

@silentlynx36—I feel a profound sense of sorrow regarding the circumstances you find yourself navigating, yet you must realize that you cannot offer them some grand miracle or a sudden cure, especially when such things aren't what they truly require from you right now. What they need is genuine support and empathy, though certainly not the kind of pity those guys were talking about earlier. Do not dwell on the terrifying thought that you might lose them; instead, accept that it is a possibility—however slim—and refuse to let it weigh you down, for ultimately, their fate is not within your grasp. Rather, simply spend your days with them to the absolute best of your ability, keeping a smile upon your face whenever possible. Talk about the boys, play with makeup, or try on clothes you have no intention of actually buying just for the fun of it, exactly as you would normally do. When they need a shoulder to lean on, simply be there, and let that be enough. Do not attempt to diminish the stress and pain they are enduring, nor should you amplify it. Just take it one day at a time.
That is the only way both you and they will successfully weather these grueling periods.

The mere fact that you are worried proves how deeply you care, and that alone is enough to carry you forward.👍

p.s. I implore you, please do not neglect yourself in this process. Illnesses of this nature are devastatingly difficult for both the patient and those surrounding them, and it is vital that you also have a mature, trusted person in your life with whom you can talk openly. If you completely break down while trying to sustain them, you will find yourself unable to achieve much of anything.

The post this and my previous reply refer to has been deleted (just so we don't cause any confusion).

There are no magic bullets—no single drugs that act as a cure-all. That’s always a lie. Magic doesn't exist.

Furthermore, it’s irresponsible to lobby for something without at least mentioning that it carries risks, because that is exactly what it is. Every organism reacts differently, and a person's general health status matters immensely. Your neighbor's "genius" remedy (which might very well just be a placebo) could end up doing serious harm to someone else. Drugs aren't whipped up in a kitchen or sold through random private websites; they are distributed through pharmacies and clinics, and there are valid reasons for that—reasons far more important than the potential flaws in the current system!

At school, I’m always the one smiling, trying my hardest to crack a joke and lift everyone's spirits. But sometimes, they are just so profoundly unhappy that no amount of humor can touch them... When we message each other, they insist everything is fine and tell me things will turn out okay, only for them to admit the next day just how devastating their situation actually is.... Now, that girl's mother was even considering moving the whole family to Vienna... The doctors warned them that if they succumb to stress or fall into depression, their condition will only worsen... They are simply grieving every single day, and I notice it, even when they try so desperately to hide it... And when I see them drowning in that sadness, I find myself sinking right along with them...

Thanks to everyone for all the advice...

the short version:
I've been fighting colorectal cancer for about a year now. I went through chemo and intense radiation, and things actually seemed to settle down for a bit, but it’s back. Now my doctor is telling me that an abdominoperineal resection is my only shot. Honestly, I don't have much time to waste, and before I commit to such a massive surgery, I really want to try Dr. Simoncini's alternative approach. There are two ways to do it. One way (the "better" one) involves inserting a catheter directly into the tumor, but let's be real—that's just not financially feasible for me right now. The other option involves infusions of a 5% sodium bicarbonate solution, and what I need is a nurse who can help me administer that!
So, if there's a nurse out there willing to help me carry out this therapy in exchange for a fee, please shoot me a PM.

silentcanyon36 said:In short:
I've been fighting colorectal cancer for a year now, through chemo and intense radiation. It receded for a while, but it’s back, and my doctor says an anal resection is the only way out. I don't have much time left, and before I let them cut my anus away, I want to try Dr. Simoncini's alternative therapy. There are two versions. One (the better one) involves inserting a catheter directly into the tumor, which I simply can't afford, and the other uses infusions of a 5% sodium bicarbonate solution—but I need a nurse to administer it!
So, if there is a nurse out there willing to help me carry out this therapy for a fee, please PM me.

😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲

Look, honey, I think this might be the single biggest mistake you could possibly make right now. It’s the equivalent of walking straight into a firing squad.
Simoncini is a fraud, a con artist, and a bottom-tier human parasite. He was kicked out of the medical board for fraud and murder.
Anyone who reaches out to offer you something like this is operating at the exact same level as Simoncini. This is nothing short of attempted murder.
There is an entire topic about sodium bicarbonate covering the exact delusion you're describing, explained very clearly by Vanda, a fellow forum member who is a scientist and also a cancer survivor.
I get it—you feel the desperate need to take action—but this is completely irrational and it isn't going to help you. In fact, it’s going to complicate everything and could kill you, especially if some other charlatan shows up claiming they can perform this madness for you.

Angela Wright said:😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲

Look, honey, I honestly think that might be the biggest mistake you could possibly make right now. It’s basically like shooting yourself in the brain.
Simoncini is just a liar, a fraud, and a bottom-tier scumbag. He was actually kicked out of the medical board for fraud and murder.
Anyone who reaches out to you suggesting something like this is just as bad as Simoncini himself. It’s a straight-up attempted murder.
There is an entire topic about sodium bicarbonate and the whole delusion, which was laid out super clearly by Vanda, a scientist who also dealt with cancer.
I get that you’re desperate to do something, I really do, but this is totally irrational and isn't going to help you. Honestly, it’ll probably just mess everything up and could kill you, especially if some other con artist tries to talk you into this madness.

Reading stuff like that is just gut-wrenching, but I guess when people feel backed into a corner and don't have real answers, they'll try anything—it’s enough to drive you crazy.

I don't have any big new breakthroughs to share with you all, I just wanted to say, based on my own experience, to everyone here who is going through what I went through,
please stay as close to your loved ones as you can.
When I think back to how much it meant to my dad that I was only ten minutes late once when we had plans to see him, it just brings tears to my eyes.
For him, those ten minutes were everything for ten years.

Angela Wright said:😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲

Look, honey, I honestly think that’s probably the biggest mistake you could make right now. It's like taking a shot straight to the temple.
Simoncini is a total fraud, a complete con artist, and honestly, one of the lowest-life scum you'll ever meet. He was kicked out of the medical board because of his shady dealings and straight-up murder.
Anyone who actually reaches out to you to pull a stunt like that is right up there with Simoncini himself. It’s a straight-up attempted murder.
I've got the whole thing. So, I’ve been diving deep into this whole sodium bicarbonate thing lately... just obsessing over the research. It's one of those topics that sounds almost too simple to be true, right? Like, how could something as basic as baking soda actually make a dent in what's happening inside the body? But the science behind it is wild. There's this specific study—I think it was 2009 research by the folks over at the University of Arizona—that really changed how I look at things. They were looking at how the environment around a tumor works. Basically, the external PH of solid tumors is acidic, which is like their secret weapon for growing and spreading. But, get this: they found that NaHCO3 selectively increased The PH of tumors and reduced The formation of spontaneous metastases in mouse models of metastatic breast cancer. It’s pretty heavy stuff when you dig into it. It makes you wonder why more people aren't talking about the pH levels of the microenvironment instead of just focusing on the cells themselves. Anyway, I don't want to go on a massive rant, but I just felt like sharing because it's such a game-changer if the logic holds up in humans too. Just something to chew on while I grab my coffee. What do you guys think? Is anyone else following this rabbit hole? And then there’s that whole confusion she talked about—she laid it out super clearly, too. It was Vanda, who’s actually a scientist herself and has dealt with cancer firsthand, explaining exactly what went down.
Look, I totally get that urge to just *do* something—I really do. But honestly? This is completely irrational, and it’s not going to help you. If anything, you're just making things way more complicated, and it could actually be fatal. Especially if some other snake oil salesman comes along and talks you into this madness. Please, just be careful.

Does anyone actually have some hard evidence—either for or against his method? I was digging around online and stumbled upon that study from the Arizona Cancer center at the University of Arizona... what's the deal with that one??? Is it just straight-up fake news?

Bicarbonate Increases tumor PH and Inhibits Spontaneous Metastases this article Has been published by The AACR
Published Online First on March 10, 2009
Research by:
Arizona Cancer center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
Arizona Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Michigan H. Lee Moffitt Cancer center and research institut, Tampa, Florida
Ian F. Robey, Brend K. Baggett, Nathaniel d. Kirkpatrick, Denise J. Roe, Julia Dosescu, Bonnie F. Sloane, Arig Ibrahim Hashim, David L. Morse, Natarajan Raghunand, Robert A. Gatenby, and Robert J. Gillies

Robert J. Gillies Abstract
So, here's the deal with how things work inside those nasty solid tumors. Basically, because they're cranking through glucose like crazy and don't have great blood flow, the area right outside the tumor ends up being super acidic. It turns out that this acidic environment actually helps trigger the tumor cells to start invading nearby tissue and spreading around—you see it happening in lab dishes and even in cells right before they move into the bloodstream. This whole study is basically trying to figure out if we can step in and neutralize that acidity to see if it actually drops the chances of those metastases showing up in the body.
So, check this out—there’s this study that shows how taking NaHCO3 orally can actually work its magic by selectively bumping up the pH levels within tumors. It basically helps slow down the whole process of spontaneous metastases in mouse models dealing with metastatic breast cancer. To really prove it, they used 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which showed that this specific treatment regimen significantly raises the extracellular pH, though it doesn't touch the intracellular pH. They even went a step further using fluorescence microscopy on tumors grown in window chambers to watch how the acid gets exported from those growing tumors. Pretty wild stuff, honestly.
So, get this—the NaHCO3 therapy actually helped drop the rate of lymph node involvement too. But here’s the kicker: it didn't touch the levels of circulating tumor cells at all. To me, that really suggests that the reduction in organ metastases wasn't happening because of an increase in intravasation or anything like that. It's pretty wild when you look at the mechanics of it.

On the flip side, using NaHCO3 therapy really helped cut down on how many liver metastases popped up after an intrasplenic injection. It looks like it actually works to stop them from leaking out and setting up shop elsewhere. When they tried tail vein injections in other cancer models, the results were kind of all over the place—bicarbonate helped stop metastases from PC3M prostate cancer cells, but it didn't do much for the B16 melanoma ones. We don't have a 100% clear answer on exactly how this therapy works yet, but it turns out that low pH levels trigger more of that active cathepsin B to be released, which is a big-deal protease involved in remodeling the matrix.
source : Cancer Res 2009;69(6):2260–8 | PMID: 19276390 [PubMed - in process]

Bicarbonate Increases tumor PH and Inhibits Spontaneous Metastases this article Has been published by The AACR

So, I finally went ahead and sent off an inquiry to those folks over in Arizona, so now we just sit tight and see what they come back with...🤷

silentcanyon36 said:So, all in all, I finally sent off my inquiry to those folks over in Arizona, so now we just sit tight and see what they come back with...🤷

So, if I actually pull the trigger on surgery, which surgeon should I be looking at? Any recommendations?🤷

silentcanyon36 said:Basically:
I've been fighting colorectal cancer for a year now—gone through chemo and intense radiation. It actually backed off for a bit, but then it came crawling back. Now the doctor is saying an anal resection is my only shot left. I don't have much time to waste, and before I go through with losing my anus, I really want to try Dr. Simoncini's alternative therapy first. There are two ways to do it. One (the better way) involves inserting a catheter directly into the tumor, but honestly, that’s just not financially feasible for me right now. The other way uses infusions of a 5% sodium bicarbonate solution, and I desperately need a nurse to administer it!
So, if there's a nurse out there willing to help me carry out this therapy for a fee, please hit me up in a PM!

Like I mentioned, I deal with Crohn's😢, but cancer is a whole different level of nasty.
I've had an anal ostomy for a year now, and let me tell you—if it's something you're facing,
don't be afraid. You can absolutely live a totally normal life with it. But man, I am rooting for you to make that therapy work!👍

Elizabeth Nguyen79 said:So, like I mentioned before, I've got Crohn's.😢Honestly, cancer is just a whole different level of nasty. It’s way worse than people give it credit for.
I've been dealing with anal cancer for over a year now, and honestly, if you ever find yourself in a position where you absolutely have to go through it... yeah, it's a lot.
Look, you really shouldn't be scared. You can totally live with this and still have a normal, everyday life. But honestly? I'm rooting for you big time—I'm pulling for you to totally crush it with the therapy!👍

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!!!!! MUAH!

silentcanyon36 said:Does anyone actually have concrete evidence—either for or against his method? There’s a study floating around the web involving the Arizona Cancer center and the University of Arizona... what's the deal with that? Is it a total fraud?

Bicarbonate Increases tumor PH and Inhibits Spontaneous Metastases this article Has been published by The AACR
Increases tumor PH and Inhibits Spontaneous Metastases Published online First on March 10
Research by:
Arizona Cancer center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
Arizona Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
Michigan H. Lee Moffitt Cancer center and research institut, Tampa, Florida
Ian F. Robey, Brend K. Baggett, Nathaniel d. Kirkpatrick, Denise J. Roe, Julia Dosescu, Bonnie F. Sloane, Arig Ibrahim Hashim, David L. Morse, Natarajan Raghunand, Robert A. Gatenby, and Robert J. Gillies

Robert J. Gillies Abstract
Think about how a fire burns faster when there's a constant supply of oxygen and fuel. In the world of oncology, solid tumors act similarly, but with a twist: because they gulp down glucose so aggressively and have such terrible blood flow, they end up creating an incredibly acidic environment around themselves. It’s like a toxic wasteland surrounding a growing fortress. We already know from lab tests—both in petri dishes and right before injecting cells into animal models—that this acidic pH actually acts as a chemical signal that tells tumor cells to start invading nearby tissue and spreading elsewhere. It basically paves the road for metastasis. This current study is digging into one specific question: if we can step in and neutralize that acidity, can we effectively shut down the spread of cancer in a living system?
The data is clear: using oral NaHCO3 selectively increased the pH of tumors and reduced the formation of spontaneous metastases in mouse models of metastatic breast cancer. It’s like trying to neutralize an acid bath before it can eat through the floor. Using 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy, researchers proved this regimen significantly bumps up the extracellular pH—without touching the intracellular levels—while fluorescence microscopy of tumors grown in window chambers confirmed that the process actually forces the acid out of the growing tumors.
The data shows that NaHCO3 therapy actually cut down the rate of lymph node involvement. Interestingly, though, it didn't touch the levels of circulating tumor cells. This suggests that the drop in organ metastases wasn't happening because of an increase in intravasation, but rather through a different mechanism entirely.

On the flip side, using NaHCO3 therapy made a massive dent in how many liver metastases formed after an intrasplenic injection—which basically suggests it actually works to stop those cells from breaking out and setting up camp elsewhere. When they tried tail vein injections in other cancer models, the results were a bit of a toss-up; it successfully blocked metastases from PC3M prostate cancer cells, but didn't have the same effect on B16 melanoma. We still don't have a definitive answer on exactly how this therapy pulls it off, but we do know that a low pH environment triggers the release of active cathepsin B, which is a major player when it comes to remodeling the cellular matrix.
source : Cancer Res 2009

Bicarbonate Increases tumor PH and Inhibits Spontaneous Metastases this article Has been published by The AACR

Go read everything Vanda has posted in this thread. She laid it all out perfectly. This woman isn't just talking out of her hat; she’s done the heavy lifting and looked into this thoroughly. Besides, she's dealing with this herself, so believe me, she has every reason to get the facts right.
Look, I know you feel like you're backed into a corner right now, and being in that position makes you the perfect target for psychopaths like Simoncini.
Look, you still have options on the table. One of them is taking your test results elsewhere to get a second opinion. You’re dealing with a condition that isn't exactly rare, which means there’s a massive wave of ongoing clinical trials out there that you might actually qualify for. Do some digging online. If you find something that looks promising, ask your doctor to draft a formal recommendation, then send your translated records over to the institution you're targeting. I’m convinced there’s a way in; I’ve seen people dealing with much more obscure tumors manage to track down studies and successfully land a spot. Don't just sit there—go hunt for it.
First things first, get yourself a referral to a top-tier clinic. You need the best experts in the business if you're going to tackle this head-on. Dana Faber can walk you through all the potential paths available to you right now. It’s an investment, sure, but it won't break the bank. Your best bet is to reach out via email first; they'll lay out exactly what they need from you and give you a clear breakdown of the cost for their consultation.

Don't let your hope slip away, and don't go wandering aimlessly through the fog.
Hang in there.

I am reaching out because I am asking for help. My father is battling cancer, and his condition is quite critical right now. What we urgently need is an oxygen concentrator (I'm not entirely sure of the technical term). If anyone has any information on where we can acquire one, please let me know. We need this as soon as possible. Thank you.

Laura Scott48 said:I'm reaching out because I desperately need some help. My father is battling cancer, and his condition is quite dire right now. What we urgently need is an oxygen concentrator (I'm not entirely sure of the technical term). If anyone has any information on where we can source one quickly, please let me know. We need this as soon as possible. Thank you.

I'll send you a PM.