Support resources for families dealing with cancer and other serious illnesses

ILDZIS said:Hey everyone,
I’m not really the type to go around making apologies; my intention was to help someone out, not to put anyone on a pedestal. This whole awkward situation reached Dr. Fauci, who criticized my actions because he believes I shouldn't have done what I did—after all, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. As for him, he's actually quite proud that no one has dared to criticize him personally. From his perspective, he doesn't want any toxic vibes swirling around his name because, as he puts it, his goal is to provide aid, not to get dragged into conflicts because of people he didn't authorize to write about him.
To be clear, I am simply relaying his exact stance and his explicit demand that I apologize to those I offended. So, I am using this space to personally apologize to everyone, and specifically to Angela Wright. We share a common bond: we've both endured struggles, and I’ve realized we’re moving in a similar direction now that we know who is truly responsible for our losses. Enough is enough with all this negativity in the air; let's change the energy. Once again, my apologies.

Angela Wright;25194369
On this forum said:

...So, does that mean American conventional medicine—aside from surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy—refuses to recognize nutritional therapy, specifically immunotherapy and anti-angiogenic therapy, as a valid support? Given that even standard medical school curricula acknowledge that a tumor isn't the root cause, but rather a symptom... I’m curious to hear everyone's thoughts.😕
This has absolutely nothing to do with that controversial doctor, as I haven't the slightest clue who he is or what his business entails. No one in our association has ever heard of him or his specific supplements.
Personally, I have always been interested only in actual pharmaceuticals—medications backed by legitimate studies. Any possibility of manipulation is usually exposed quite rapidly, much like what happened with the swine flu vaccine, largely thanks to the reach of the internet.☕

Keith Thompson said:.....so does this mean that American mainstream medicine—aside from surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy—doesn't recognize nutritional therapy, split into immunotherapy and anti-angiogenic therapy, as a valid support? Since even standard medical textbooks clearly state that a tumor isn't the root cause, but rather a consequence...........I'm curious what people think.😕
This has absolutely nothing to do with that controversial doctor; I have no clue who he is or what he actually does. No one in our association has ever even heard of him or his products.
Personally, I’ve always been strictly interested in actual medications backed by legitimate studies. I want options that haven't been rigged, because those things leak out pretty fast—just look at how the swine flu vaccine situation went down. Thanks to the internet, everything eventually comes to light.☕

Angela Wright;25206464 said:Anything that lacks scientifically backed evidence through relevant studies is categorized as alternative.

...and we could go on forever regarding those studies. Based on the latest information I have, at least concerning Germany, there aren't many reliable local studies available. It seems all the research being utilized originates from the USA. This was actually confirmed during a recent lecture where the Head of Medicine at a clinic in New York City mentioned it—they host monthly lectures featuring various experts, ranging from traditional medicine and nutritionists to biologists and practitioners of alternative therapies. He noted that their facility is currently the only clinic in Germany that began implementing cataloged patient tracking two years ago specifically for tumor treatment studies.
Furthermore, the American Cancer Society Annual Meeting 2010 is taking place in Washington, D.C. on February 28th, so perhaps there will finally be some discussion regarding those studies; I am hopeful they might actually originate from Europe this time around.
As you can see, the association is quite active. They provide updates on critical and cutting-edge therapeutic approaches, including radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, nutrition (which covers several specific topics), mental health support, Active Surveillance (monitored waiting), and counseling for newly diagnosed patients, among others.
Additionally, you have the opportunity to meet individuals who have been living for 15 years or more following their initial diagnosis. You can learn about their specific treatment paths, where they sought care, and much more. The association isn't run by doctors, but rather by the patients themselves—both those currently battling and those who are, shall we say, "cured." There is zero manipulation involved here; everyone maintains the autonomy to select their own cocktail of treatment options.👍

Keith Thompson;25226496 said:

Angela Wright said:Anything that lacks solid scientific backing from relevant studies is automatically lumped in with alternative medicine.

...and we could debate those studies forever. From what I’ve gathered lately—at least regarding Germany—there aren't many reliable local studies out there. Almost all the research being used actually comes from the USA. A chief professor at a clinic in New York City confirmed this during one of their recent lectures (they hold monthly seminars featuring big names in medicine, alternative therapies, nutritionists, biologists, you name it). He mentioned that their clinic is currently the only one in Germany that started a cataloged patient tracking study for cancer treatment two years ago.
On top of that, the American Cancer Society Annual Meeting 2010 is happening in Washington, D.C. on February 28th, so maybe we'll finally hear about some studies—hopefully ones coming out of Europe this time.
As you can see, the association is incredibly active. They provide info on the latest therapy options: radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, nutrition (which has its own sub-topics), mental health support, Active Surveillance (monitored waiting), and guidance for newly diagnosed patients, among other things.
Plus, you get the chance to meet people who have been living for 15 or more years after their diagnosis. You can see exactly how they were treated and where they went for care. The association isn't run by doctors, but by the patients themselves—both those still fighting and those who are "cured," if you'll excuse the term. There’s no manipulation here; everyone has the freedom to pick their own cocktail of treatment options.👍

Could you perhaps log onto Reddit for the "for a new day" association and bring back some of those texts? It would mean the world to us. Unfortunately, we just don't have the funds to travel to Washington, D.C., so that kind of help would be massive.

Angela Wright said:

Keith Thompson As stated by:
I suppose I might have been able to log in. Reddit Could the "For a New Day" associations perhaps forward some of those texts? It would truly mean a lot to us. Unfortunately, we just don't have the budget to make the trip up to Washington, D.C., so receiving that kind of assistance would be incredibly helpful.

I would be more than happy to assist, though I must ask you to specify exactly which texts you are referring to. If you mean the presentations from the conference, I can certainly provide those. The convention spans three days, but the sessions intended for association patients and the general public are only held on Sunday. Given the breadth of topics scheduled, we shall have to see what the actual depth and quality of the presentations turn out to be. Since I am not a physician, I will only be attending on Sunday.
Topics:
Colorectal tumor.
Lungs.
Prostate issues. It’s one of those topics people tend to avoid at dinner parties, usually because they assume the conversation will veer into uncomfortable territory. Yet, here we are. Dealing with prostate health feels like navigating a labyrinth where the walls are constantly shifting, and the map provided by modern medicine often feels more like a rough sketch than a reliable guide. One moment you think you have a handle on things, and the next, you're staring down a list of symptoms that feel entirely too personal to discuss with anyone but a specialist. It's a heavy subject, certainly, but perhaps necessary to address if we want to make sense of the complexities involved.
I find myself contemplating the subject of breast health again. It is a topic that demands a certain level of measured attention, though I often feel I approach it with more gravity than necessary. One must be diligent, I suppose, if one intends to navigate these matters with any degree of composure.
Goats.
Leukemia and lymphoma. Two distinct battles, yet both fought on similar fronts within the blood and lymphatic systems. It is a heavy subject to broach, one that requires a certain level of clinical detachment to discuss without becoming overwhelmed, though I find that difficult at times. One involves the bone marrow's overproduction of abnormal white blood cells, while the other focuses on the malignancy within the lymphatic system itself. Both are complex, both are taxing, and both demand a level of resilience that most people simply aren't prepared for.
The reality of pediatric tumors is a heavy subject, one that demands a certain level of gravity and meticulous attention to detail. When we discuss cancer in children, we aren't just talking about medical statistics; we are discussing the profound disruption of a life before it has even truly begun. It is a clinical nightmare wrapped in a human tragedy.
Dietary choices and the underlying rationale behind them—it’s a subject I find myself pondering more frequently than I care to admit. One doesn't simply eat; one navigates a complex web of biological necessity, social pressure, and perhaps a touch of sheer willpower. It isn't merely about fuel, though that is the fundamental premise. It is about understanding why we gravitate toward certain substances while systematically avoiding others, often without a clear roadmap. To truly grasp the "why" behind our nutrition, one must look past the fleeting trends of wellness culture and consider the deeper implications of what we put into our bodies. Wrong. Dietary habits represent a significant risk factor, much like smoking or exposure to an unhealthy environment.
The merits and complications of preventative care—a subject that remains critically important for every citizen in this country.

If any specific questions arise, I can certainly pay close attention to them and provide a report.👍

Keith Thompson;25245735 said:

I'd be happy to, but you'll need to specify exactly which texts you're referring to. If you mean the stuff from the conference, I can pull that together too. The convention runs for three days, but it’s only open to association patients and the general public on Sunday. There's going to be a massive range of topics covered, so we'll have to see just how much substance and depth they actually bring to the table. Since I'm not a doctor, I'll only be heading over there on Sunday.
Topics:
Colorectal cancer. It’s a heavy diagnosis, one that hits you like a freight train before you even have time to process what happened. When you're staring down a tumor in the colon, everything changes—your diet, your daily routine, and your entire outlook on life. It isn't just a medical term; it's a fight.
Lungs.
Prostate issues aren't just some minor inconvenience you can ignore until they go away; they’re a fundamental hurdle that hits men right where they live. It’s like having a faulty engine component in a high-performance car—you might be able to drive around the problem for a while, but eventually, that friction is going to cause a total breakdown. Whether we're talking about BPH or the much heavier shadow of cancer, you have to face the reality of what's happening inside your own body. You can't just wish it into submission. You deal with it head-on, get the facts, and figure out the mechanics of the fix. No fluff, no stalling. Just direct action.
Breasts.
Goats.
When you're staring down the barrel of leukemia and lymphoma, you aren't just dealing with two different names on a medical chart; you're looking at two distinct ways the body’s internal security system goes completely haywire. Think of it like this: if your immune system is a high-tech security network designed to protect a skyscraper, leukemia is like a glitch in the software that causes the guards to start producing endless, useless clones of themselves instead of actually patrolling the halls. Meanwhile, lymphoma is more like a localized breach where those rogue units cluster together, setting up unauthorized checkpoints in specific areas of the building. Both are aggressive, both disrupt the status quo, and both demand an immediate, heavy-handed response to get things back under control.
When we talk about pediatric tumors, we aren't just talking about medical statistics; we’re talking about a fight that hits much closer to home than most people care to admit. It’s a heavy subject, and frankly, it's one that demands more directness than the usual clinical fluff you find in a hospital brochure. When a child is diagnosed, everything changes instantly—the world shifts from being predictable to feeling like a complete minefield. You have to look at the reality of how aggressive these things can be and how differently they behave compared to adult cancers. It isn't just about treating a disease; it's about navigating an entire system of survival.
Diet and why it matters—it’s the foundation of everything. Wrong. Diet is a massive risk factor—it’s right up there with smoking or living in a toxic environment.
Prevention—it’s a topic that hits home for every single citizen, whether they want to admit it or not. We can talk about the massive advantages of staying ahead of health issues, or we can dive into the frustrating hurdles that make proactive care such a headache. It's a double-edged sword that affects us all.

If there are any specific questions that come up, I can keep an eye out and report back.👍

Honestly, whatever you’ve got, just keep it. We’re way too short on resources like that here in the States. We’d love to take the initiative to handle our own translations and publishing, but the sheer cost of printing and distribution is a massive wall. Between the economy being what it is and the constant financial squeeze, nobody is stepping up to donate a dime.
It would be incredibly helpful if you could share some insights regarding nutrition. People are feeling pretty lost on this subject, particularly when it comes to managing diet alongside certain types of gastrointestinal tumors.
If you have any information regarding children, I’d really appreciate it. I want to pass everything along to our partners over at the local youth foundation we work closely with.
Man, I can't thank you enough. Seriously. 🙏
I'll shoot you my email address via DM if that makes it any easier for you to pass along those materials.

Nancy Hernandez43 said:Unfortunately, I don't have much internet access right now, and I haven't been able to dedicate enough time to this—which is a deeply personal issue for me. I missed the broadcast, sadly.

I can only say that I am utterly bitter regarding our healthcare system; it feels like everything they do comes at the expense of those who actually need it most.

My mother scheduled an appointment at the Mayo Clinic two months in advance. Then, on Friday evening, right before her Monday PET/CT scan, the clinic called just to see if we were still planning to come given the terrible road conditions. Of course, we made the trip, but we were absolutely appalled and ended up turning right back around. All that 177 miles on ice and snow just to hear, "We're sorry, but we don't have the isotope liquid ready for the scan." Thank goodness they called us Friday night instead of waiting until Monday at 10 in the morning to tell us they couldn't perform the scan.😕

Why am I even writing this? Because this sense of helplessness is just heartbreaking... yet, I find myself not reacting outwardly because I don't want to upset my mother any further (I try to shield her from every little thought or involvement since I see how hard this is taking her).

The scan finally happened a week later than planned, and one might think, "Oh well, at least it's done." But no. We put my poor mother, who has been fighting for three years, through that extra exhausting travel for nothing. There was no happy ending. Despite the specialist's opinion that it’s just another buildup of fat, her oncologists suspect a mistake was made and fear there are new malignant cells. Why is it that abroad, they immediately raise suspicion and move toward radical procedures, while here, people just shrug their shoulders and wait until things become catastrophic? How many people would actually have to speak up publicly to change this? People will protest for days like a "brick wall" over something like Flower Alley, but if you asked those same people if they'd tackle a burning issue like this, I doubt they’d join in...

Kimberly Wright said:Yeah. I don't get why people feel the need to hide it when someone in their family is battling cancer. Why treat it like some dirty little secret? 😕

So, we went to pick up the results today, followed by an appointment with the oncologist. What's next?

I noticed the oncologist took quite a while to digest that PET/CT scan before deciding how to break the news to us. A knot formed in my throat, so I shot a quick glance at my wife—she saw exactly what I saw.

The metastases have spread to the abdominal lymph nodes, including some settling on the head of the pancreas. It looks like she’s headed for the heavy-duty chemotherapy. That’s the catch—she keeps losing weight and is already incredibly weak. What are you supposed to do?

I used to trust my gut, but now my gut is telling me there’s no such thing as a full recovery. Who knew?
My doctor wants to see me privately next week. We’re going to sit down and hash out all the options—including the possibility of my mom skipping chemo and radiation altogether. What else is there to do? 😢

gentletiger46 said:Nancy Hernandez43 — I find myself wondering why this wasn't documented in the patient feedback logs at the Mayo Clinic... Why am I seemingly the only individual who has voiced a negative critique in those records? I visited on February 16th, and to this very day, I remain the sole outlier. It isn't an overly complex task to speak up. Furthermore, why aren't you alerting your oncologist regarding these discrepancies? Yesterday, during my appointment with my hematologist, she actually reached out to Serena Williams to express her concerns that something was amiss with the PET-CT ordering process. I stepped in immediately to confirm that my experience was identical. You really should tell your own oncologist or hematologist. Change is impossible if we choose to remain silent about these systemic failures. You are welcome to message me privately—I had the exact same ordeal, traveling all the way from San Francisco only to end up with nothing to show for it... Perhaps we could organize ourselves for a new day and provide a statement to the press. We cannot allow this silence to persist. You don't even have to go public with your name; I am perfectly willing to use mine. However, there must be more of us...

slyseal28 said:I am in agreement with gentletiger46 🙂.

Nancy Hernandez43—you are attempting to draw a parallel between grassroots urban activism and the organized efforts of patient advocacy groups, which is quite a stretch... they simply aren't comparable. If we actually saw a massive wave of patients or their families publicly protesting or throwing their weight behind these advocacy organizations, believe me, the landscape would shift overnight. After all, when just one courageous patient and a single physician stood up to force an increase in coverage limits and emergency financial assistance for oncology services in San Francisco, it proved that meaningful change is possible, even amidst a recession...

Kate Reed63 said:On Sunday at 7:45 PM, my mother—my guiding star, my everything—passed away, enduring intense, truly excruciating pain that lasted for forty-eight hours... that cursed cancer... we genuinely believed we could defy those damn... statistics, but alas, we could not... her final words before the pain took hold, while she was still lucid, were spoken to my father: watch over my grandchildren and ensure they never forget me, especially my youngest, who sadly won't have any memory of me... it is just so difficult... because it has already been a week since I last heard her voice or her laughter... it is hard; there is a void left in my heart, deep and immense...

Kate Reed63 said:On Sunday at 7:45 PM, my mother—my North Star, my entire world—passed away, and she went through such intense, truly agonizing pain that lasted for forty-eight hours... damn this cancer... we really believed we could beat those terrible statistics, but I suppose we couldn't, unfortunately... her last words before the pain took over, while she was still lucid, were spoken to my father: "Please, look after my grandchildren and make sure they never forget me," especially the youngest, who, sadly, won't have any memory of her... it’s just so hard, because it’s already been a week since I last heard her voice or her laughter... it’s difficult, there is just this massive, hollow emptiness left in my heart...

Megan Fowler78 said:Last year, my husband was diagnosed with lung cancer. He went through chemotherapy, radiation in the lungs, preventative radiation in the head... now, after nine months, the cancer has flared up again in his lungs, liver, and adrenal glands... Following the oncologist's recommendation, we jumped straight back into chemo, even though they told us straight to our faces that there’s basically no chance of stopping it.
The other day, I happened to overhear a woman from Belgrade talking about Dr. John Holt, who runs a cancer treatment clinic in Perth using radio waves (www.radiowaveclinic.com). Does anyone here know anything about this method?
Sending love to everyone, and I just hope this damn disease stops stealing our loved ones...