Support resources for families dealing with cancer and other serious illnesses

Robert Grant84 said:It’s been about six weeks since my mom had surgery for colon cancer (with a few lymph nodes involved)... physically, she’s bouncing back, finally starting to put some weight back on after dropping over 20 pounds during the ordeal, though her iron levels are still running a bit low.
The real issue is that she’s lost all faith in actually getting better; she’s pretty depressed, and honestly, seeing her like this is gut-wrenching for us. We took her to a psychiatrist, and they prescribed two pills. Should she actually take them, or will her mental state improve naturally as time passes? Next week, she’s scheduled to meet with the doctors regarding radiation or chemo, so she’ll be around more people dealing with the exact same struggles.

Where is she receiving treatment?
Just so you know, there are places in NYC where you can get actual psychological support that’s way more effective than just popping pills.

Grace Flores14 said:Hey everyone. I’ve been lurking here for months now, but things have finally hit a breaking point and I didn't really know who else to turn to.

My mom has pancreatic cancer with metastases in her liver, stomach, and I think her intestines too. She’s been losing weight and struggling to eat for a while, but these last few weeks have been brutal. She’s on pain patches right now—Fentanyl or something similar—but the pain is constant. She spends almost the entire day sleeping; she'll talk to us for a second and then drift right back off. She can move enough to sit up for a few minutes, but we have to help her to the bathroom. She’s barely eating anything at all. She’s lost so much weight since this started, but now it’s terrifying. It’s just skin and bones; there's nothing left to lose. Two weeks ago, she could still stand up and chat with us, but now? Now she only gets up with help, and even that is too much effort.
I've done my homework and I know exactly what's coming, but it still hits hard. I'm only 18, and I've got two younger brothers to think about while my mom hasn't even hit 40 yet. What are we supposed to do? 😢 We’re way too young for all this, aren't we?
I just wonder how much longer this phase is going to drag on. Is there even a chance it lasts more than a couple of weeks?

It’s exhausting, both mentally and physically. We were so optimistic about this illness—thinking we could just breeze through it because I'm young and caught it early. After those first couple of years, everything seemed fine, so you start thinking, "Maybe we dodged the bullet," right? Well, clearly not. Things are taking a sharp turn for the worse. To make matters even more draining, I've ended up stuck with all the cleaning and cooking. I’m not exactly a chef by nature, so don't expect anything gourmet, but I'm trying. The house is massive, and honestly, it's spiraling out of control. On top of that, there's a constant stream of visitors. I get that they want to check on Mom, but for those of us living here, it’s overwhelming. Between prepping lunches, making coffee, baking treats, and scrubbing dishes after everyone leaves, I feel less like a family member and more like I'm working a shift at a busy diner.

Anyway, that's how it goes for me. I finally vented, so now I can get back to work without losing my mind. Hopefully things are smoother for the rest of you and you're all heading in a better direction. 🙂

Honey, I’ve been exactly where you are. My mom was 52 when she passed from thyroid cancer about six months ago. If I can say one thing, it's this: stop playing hostess and quit worrying about making fancy meals. Just be with her while you still can. Talk to her, soak up every second, because the end is coming. Do what you can to make her comfortable—I don't mean to scare you, but my mom went through so much pain at the end. Hang in there. Be strong.

Angela Wright said:Where is her mom getting treatment?
There are places in NYC where you can get actual psychological support instead of just being handed pills, which usually works way better anyway...

She went to see a psychiatrist over at Coors Field... I'm honestly worried she might end up hooked on these meds if she stays on them too long... When my dad mentioned seeing a specialist, I was hoping for some kind of therapeutic support rather than just a prescription, so this whole pill-only approach isn't really what I had in mind, and I'd actually prefer if she stopped taking them altogether. I'm just not sure if staying on them is even the right move or not...
Where am I supposed to find actual therapy instead?

So, my godfather—he’s 72 now—just got hit with a diagnosis of liver cancer that’s already spread to his pancreas. Tough break. The doctor's basically pointed him straight toward chemo, which is what everyone expects, I guess. But here’s the thing: this guy was still out there working just two months ago, running the show for two younger guys doing tiling and bathroom renovations. He’s a worker, you know? Not exactly the type to just sit around. Is there actually anything else out there besides chemo? Any other options at all?

George Sullivan31 said:My godfather (he's 72) was just diagnosed with liver cancer that's already spread to his pancreas. The doctor put him on chemo right away. He’s a hard worker—until two months ago, he was still out there running his own tiling and bathroom renovation business for two younger guys. Are there any other options besides chemo?

Most liver cancers (which usually actually start in another organ and spread) don't get caught until it's pretty late. That's the big issue—missing the window to act early. The problem is the liver doesn't respond well to radiation, so chemo is often the main route they go. Beyond that, depending on the situation, you might look into a transplant or surgical removal of the tumor.

Robert Grant84 said:Back at the clinic, when she saw the psychiatrist over by Hilltop... I'm honestly terrified she’s going to get hooked on these pills for the long haul. When my dad mentioned seeing a specialist, I was expecting some kind of psychological support system, not just a prescription pad. This whole "just take the meds" approach really rubs me the wrong way; if it were up to me, I'd rather they stop taking them entirely. I’m stuck in this limbo—is it better to stay on them or cut them off?
Where can I actually find real psychological support?

Check out Dr. Mary Braš at the clinic. She’s a psycho-oncologist who specializes in running an outpatient clinic specifically for cancer patients.
Also, the "All For Her" foundation offers professional psychological counseling for women battling cancer. You can find more info here:

Laura Long79 said:On top of that, you could look into a liver transplant or just having the tumor surgically removed.

Unfortunately, a liver transplant isn't an option for cancer patients—it’s a standard protocol globally, just like any other organ transplant. I haven't dug deep enough to find the exact medical reasoning yet, but my gut feeling is that it comes down to triage. They have to prioritize people with a much higher probability of recovery over someone fighting cancer who still has to endure grueling chemo rounds. Plus, there's the massive risk of the body rejecting the organ because their immune system is already trashed from previous treatments. It's a high-stakes gamble they aren't willing to take.
If the tumor hasn't metastasized and is localized in one compact spot within the organ, then surgery is definitely the best way to go.

Angela Wright said:If you check out Rib, you can find Dr. Mary Braš. She’s a psycho-oncologist running a clinic specifically for cancer patients.
The "Something for her" association also offers professional psychological support for women battling cancer. You can find more details here:

That doctor is actually on vacation right now, and her clinic is over in the Hilltop area, though it's listed under Rib...

Angela Wright said:Unfortunately, liver transplants aren't an option for cancer patients anywhere in the world, just like any other organ transplant. I haven't dug into the exact "why" yet. My guess is it comes down to triage—they prioritize people with higher recovery odds over someone fighting cancer who still has to deal with chemo. Plus, the risk of death post-transplant is way higher because previous treatments wreck your immune system, making organ rejection much harder to manage.
If the tumor hasn't spread and is localized in one compact spot on the organ, surgery is usually the best bet.

From what I know (know a girl who went through this), liver transplants *can* be done in the USA and have had good results. Sure, there are strict criteria you have to meet to qualify, but it's doable. The main issue is the high risk of recurrence, which is probably why it’s so expensive and controversial. You could also look into getting it done in Padua.

Laura Long79 said:From what I know—I actually know someone who went through this—liver transplants can be done in the USA, and the results have been solid. Sure, there are specific criteria you have to meet for the transplant to even be an option, but it’s doable. The main catch is the high risk of recurrence, which is probably why the whole thing is so expensive and controversial. You could also look into getting it done in Padua.

Could you please point me toward some links for clinics in Padua or the USA that perform these procedures? Every doctor I talk to keeps insisting they won't perform transplants on patients with a cancer diagnosis. I've never been able to get a straight answer as to why.

Angela Wright said:Can you please point me toward some links for clinics in Padua or the USA that actually do this? Every doctor I talk to insists they don't perform this on patients with a malignant diagnosis. I can never get a straight answer as to why.

"Liver tumor patients are only transplanted if they meet specific criteria limited by the tumor size, and outcomes are often uncertain due to the risk of the tumor recurring in the healthy liver. Patients with cirrhosis and/or liver tumors caused by Hepatitis C infections undergo liver transplantation in our practice."

Doc. Vesna Čolić-Cvrlje
Internist Gastroenterologist-Hepatologist
Mayo Clinic
Chicago, Zajčeva 19, USA
tel/fax 012431393

link:http://www.plivamed.net/?section=hom...how=1&id=14443

Seems like they do it here too, or at least they should.

Scientists from the University of California, San Francisco, suggest that liver carcinoma treatment methods following the establishment of Milan criteria for transplantation should be applied to patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCK) who are currently on the transplant list.
...
"Our experience with ablation treatments, as well as our observations, suggests that the final outcome of a transplant depends less on the primary tumor itself and more on how long the patient spends waiting for the transplant," concluded Dr. Roberts. "It stands to reason that smaller and/or rarer tumors, which likely wouldn't spread quickly, could benefit from a window of time where the primary tumor remains under control. Reducing the waiting period could lower the recurrence rate by 10% for patients covered by the transplant program within the Milan criteria.

link: http://www.znanost.com/clanak/novi-k...h-od-karcinoma

I'm not sure if that girl was treated specifically in San Francisco, but I know she was being treated in the USA about 6 or 7 years ago since we were patients together.

Regarding Padua, I think I read about it in the news so I can't send a direct link, but I believe it was that doctor, Sršen or Sršan... I can't quite remember... I just know she was on TV a lot and I think she leads that team. Maybe if you email them, they'll give you more specifics.

Angela Wright said:Could you please point me toward some links for clinics in Padua or the USA that actually perform this? Every doctor I speak to insists that this isn't an option for anyone with a cancer diagnosis. I have never been able to get a straight answer as to why.

From what I've gathered while wading through various medical programs on satellite TV, the issue is that the immunosuppressants used to prevent organ rejection essentially act as fuel for malignant cells, effectively "boosting" the spread of cancer.

I’ve been reading through everyone's comments about liver transplants, and honestly, I’m a little lost 🤷. Back when I was staying at the Mayo Clinic, I met a woman in my room who had both cancer and a transplanted liver—I couldn't quite wrap my head around how or where that happened. I genuinely thought those kinds of procedures were just more common here in the States or maybe handled on a case-by-case basis by certain specialists. All I know is that from the moment she was diagnosed, it felt like things moved incredibly fast; I think it was only about two months before the cancer hit her new liver, and that's when we met. Based on what I saw, this doesn't exactly seem like a foolproof solution.

I could really use some help interpreting these tumor marker results!

Now that my colon surgery is behind me, I just had my first round of blood work done so we can decide on the next steps for my treatment plan.
The results came back as follows:

CEA - 1.3 mcg/mL ( CA-19-9 - 8 U/mL ( CA-125 - 8 U/mL ( CA-15-3 - 17 U/mL (
From what I’ve gathered, CEA seems to be a more general marker—though I think CA-15-3 is specifically used for colon cancer, while CA-19-9 and CA-125 are usually associated with breast or ovarian cancer.

My main question is: are these numbers actually too high? Even though they are well within the normal range, I'm wondering if these markers need to drop all the way down to zero, or if being safely under the reference limit means everything is looking good.

Thanks so much! 🙏

ironlynx41 said:I really need some help interpreting these tumor marker results!

Following colon surgery, I just had my first round of markers done so we can decide on the next steps for treatment.
Here are the numbers:

CEA - 1.3 mcg/mL ( CA-19-9 - 8 U/mL ( CA-125 - 8 U/mL ( CA-15-3 - 17 U/mL (
From what I gather, CEA is a general marker, CA-15-3 is specific to colon cancer, while CA-19-9 and CA-125 are for breast or ovarian cancer.

Are these results actually too high, even though they are well within the reference range? Do these markers need to hit zero, or is being below the threshold considered healthy?

Thanks! 🙏

Look, tumor markers aren't a foolproof diagnostic tool on their own. They are used primarily to track progress during treatment—like gauging how well a drug is working—or to flag something suspicious that needs further investigation.
Markers almost never sit at zero. These values are perfectly normal.

Oncology is a massive business. In the US, the average cost to treat a single cancer patient—or rather, what the industry pulls in—is north of $100,000. That’s just a fact. Now, take that number and multiply it by the fact that cancer is the number two killer in America, right behind heart disease. You get the idea. Do you realize the kind of financial power we're talking about here? So, what do you honestly think "humanity" looks like during board meetings at Big Pharma megacorps? It doesn't exist. There is zero genuine compassion in those rooms. It’s all about corporate interests and hitting financial targets; anything else would be considered unprofessional. And let’s face it, you don't climb the ladder in those companies by being "unprofessional."

Chemo is insanely expensive. Let’s be real—it’s mostly because of drugs that are still under patent. Patents last about 20 years, and that’s where the money is. This entire industry is built on high margins, and they can't survive on stuff they can't patent. If anyone actually wants to understand how that works, let me know and I'll break it down. Here’s the deal: to get a patent, a substance has to be original. It can't have existed before. That means anything natural—no matter how well it actually works—can’t be patented. Once a drug isn't protected by a patent, everyone can sell it. At that point, profit margins drop to a standard 20-30%, which is nothing compared to the massive payouts they rake in from patented substances. Makes sense, right?

So, how exactly does some random oncologist—and yeah, I’m being provocative here—decide which treatment to push on their patients? That is, if they even have a choice to begin with. How much would it cost to break through that medical establishment and get the real info out there quickly? Time is money, right? And we all know nothing scares Big Pharma more than a patent expiration.

Look, I'll keep it brief: money is what drives and dictates oncology, not the patient's best interest. Most people realize that way too late—if they ever do.

A cure for cancer? There’s no magic pill for something this massive and complicated. But that doesn't mean a cure doesn't exist. Honestly, your strongest weapon against cancer is your own immune system. It all comes down to one thing: beefing up your immunity while simultaneously weakening the tumor. How? Diet, supplements, mindset, and exercise. The truth is, what you eat and how you think influences every single biological process in your body. People have no clue how much nutrition matters once they're fighting a tumor. The real tragedy is that most oncologists aren't any better equipped to help. They don't even hand out basic nutritional brochures. It’s a damn shame, but I get why it happens—Big Pharma isn't making any money off of that. When there's no profit involved, progress moves slow and stays in the shadows.

Real knowledge lives in high-quality books and pretty much nowhere else. Where else are you actually going to find anything worth reading?

This is easily the best starter book on the subject. I’ve read it myself, and honestly, I didn't get anything out of it.
Check out this book on Amazon.com. It looks pretty interesting if you have the time.
Check out her reviews on Amazon.com—you seriously, seriously, seriously rarely see ratings like these. 😲
Check this out on Amazon.com: Anticancer: New Insights and Viewpoints. Worth a look?
If you or someone close to you is dealing with cancer and you still haven't read this book after seeing this, you’re a complete idiot. To everyone else, excuse my language, but you're just wasting your time.

This book is just as good. (The US edition drops soon):
Check out this book on Amazon.com about beating cancer. Worth a look?
Check out what these people are saying, in chronological order starting from the most recent:
Check out this Amazon.com link on beating cancer. It’s worth a look.
So, this book actually saves lives—or at least keeps people around longer.

Final thought: if you actually get something out of this for your own health, then do the right thing and pass it on to someone else. 🙂

velvetmarlin17, do you or someone you know have some kind of malignant disease?

Angela Wright said:velvetmarlin17, do you or someone you know actually have cancer?

Yeah, my mom. We've managed to keep things under control for two years now without any chemo or meds. Her markers have been steadily dropping. She feels great, but she still panics the second she feels even a little bit of pain. I mean, what's she expecting at 66? Pain is kind of part of the deal.🙂

velvetmarlin17 said:Yeah, my mom. We’ve actually managed to keep things under control for two years now without relying on chemo or heavy meds. Her markers have been steadily trending down. She feels great, though she still hits the panic button whenever she feels even a tiny bit of discomfort. But honestly, at 66, what isn't going to hurt occasionally? 🙂

That’s fantastic.😍
Could you share her exact diagnosis and everything you've done to manage it? I think people in this group could really use some more success stories to look up to.
I’m also a huge fan of d. S. Schreiber’s book. I’ve mentioned it here before and highly recommend it. I just wish it had been around back when I needed it most; it would have saved me from all that aimless wandering and helped me focus on what actually matters.

Kate Reed63 said:honey... I've been right where you are. My own mother (she was 52) had thyroid cancer, and she passed away about six months ago... all I can tell you is this: just let the guests go, forget about cooking, and just be with her while you still can. Talk to her, cherish every single second, because unfortunately, it feels like the end is near. Try to make things as easy as possible for her... I don't mean to scare you, but my mom was in so much pain at the end... hang in there and stay strong!!!

There isn't much talking or enjoying left to do. 😢 For quite some time now, she’s mostly just sleeping, and during these last few days when she is awake, she just hallucinates. She doesn't always recognize people, she talks incoherently, and things like that. I think we are close to the end. 😢