Support resources for families dealing with cancer and other serious illnesses

Angela Wright said:I wouldn't be quite that enthusiastic. That’s exactly what they said about Microsoft. You should try everything, sure, but stay cautious.

True, but this isn't hearsay. It’s clinically tested with actual scientific data, developed by professors from a university in Maryland. Microsoft is just ground-up rock.
My cousin used IP6 (hence my knowledge here) both before and after using this supplement, and the difference was night and day. He wasn't taking it during his first round of chemo, and we honestly thought he wouldn't make it. It hit him hard—he caught an infection and ended up at the hospital. After just five days on this stuff, he was a different person. He eats normally, hasn't lost his hair, his beard grows fine, and he's walking and functioning perfectly. Even his doctors are skeptical that it's the same man. So, you decide.

Frank Taylor4 said:Sure, but this thing has actually been clinically tested; there are real scientific results here, and the formula was developed by professors over at the University of Maryland. Calling Microsoft just "ground-up stone" is a joke!
My cousin used IP6—that’s why I know so much about it—both before and after taking this supplement, and he was a completely different person. During his first round of chemo, he wasn't taking the supplement, and honestly, we thought he wouldn't make it. He took such a beating from it; he caught an infection and ended up stuck in the hospital... But after just five days on this preparation, you wouldn't even recognize him. He eats normally, his hair didn't fall out, his beard grows back fine, and he walks and functions perfectly. His doctors can't even believe it's the same guy. So, you tell me...

If you had bothered to actually read the conclusion of that scientific study, you would have seen that the tests were performed on animals. It showed no toxicity, sure, but they couldn't determine an exact dosage for humans; they just scaled up based on the animal results. Look, what we're talking about here is clearly a dietary supplement—a potent antioxidant that helps boost the immune system and gets the body into enough decent shape to fight cancer on its own and handle the brutal hit of chemo and radiation. To go around calling this some kind of "universal cancer cure" is beyond pretentious. There hasn't even been a human clinical trial conducted under a specific protocol, which usually takes a decade to complete.
We also have studies done at the Ruđer Bošković Institute for things like Hedge's Native Propolis, which is another antioxidant. Their research and testing on rats proved that propolis repairs damaged DNA, stops carcinoma progression and metastasis, and kills tumor and abnormal cells without touching healthy ones. In cases of brain tumors like gliomas, it essentially prompts the body to manufacture its own medicine (immunosuppressive therapy). My mom took high doses of Propolis while dealing with a glioma. She still passed away, but she went peacefully, with far less suffering and much later than others facing the same diagnosis. It helped her tolerate the chemo incredibly well.

Regarding Microsoft, here is your list of "scientific studies" that supposedly "speak in their favor."😉

Like I said, you should try everything, but my experience tells me that this isn't THE answer, no matter how much we want it to be.😢

wanderingharbor61 said:The link for Quest Diagnostics is right here on these pages, so I won't repeat myself, but since you need the latest details, here they are:

- The PET/CT equipment is located at the Mayo Clinic, though it belongs to Quest Diagnostics, so you have to coordinate the appointment through them...

- You need to print out certain forms (A and B) from their website, which can only be filled out by an ONCOLOGIST—meaning the specific doctor referring the patient for the scan—and those are sent via fax; they then provide a date, and for faster communication, you can just call them (the entire registration protocol is detailed on their site)

- Getting the exam through Medicare is free if one has supplemental insurance, otherwise, there is a co-pay amounting to $433

- A private exam costs roughly $11 $0.00, but even then, you are still waiting for the first available slot, meaning there is no skipping the line...

Since the wait felt far too long for us (we applied on April 10th and didn't get an appointment until May 19th), we decided to go to Budapest; the cost was €1000 plus travel expenses, all organized by the firm DMGV PET CT USA (I am attempting to open their website, but it seems to be down), and from securing the appointment to actually having the scan, it took a total of seven days...

Now, given that your mother is doing well and this is merely a follow-up, you should probably register her in the US as soon as possible; we were in a rush because my mother was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, and that was essentially the only way to determine if there were further metastases, unfortunately 😢, as a primary lesion cannot be detected using this method...

To everyone battling this illness and their families, I wish you immense strength and success in your fight...

Thank you for such a comprehensive response; as far as I know, my father has already arranged that once he contacts Quest Diagnostics, he will wait no more than two weeks for the appointment, though it seems the PET/CT might not actually happen before summer...

Incidentally, if it were an emergency, we would have already done it at Avian, but the price there is $1500...

I appreciate your concern; stay resilient in your struggle and keep moving forward bravely...

My mother was diagnosed today with bone cancer or leukemia. It’s bad. She’s lost a significant amount of weight, she can barely move, and she’s generally lost all hope and spirit.
She spent two months being shuffled from one specialist to another, only to finally receive a definitive diagnosis today. I am in shock. It’s difficult, and I honestly don't know if she's going to make it.
I spent the day at the hospital brushing her hair, tidying her up a bit, and making her some sandwiches. She managed to finish about half a yogurt.
Tomorrow she undergoes a bone marrow biopsy. Once they confirm the exact type of cancer, therapy will begin.
Does anyone here have any experience with this? Is there a chance my mom will be okay?

Angela Wright said:Read this for yourselves and witness the sheer disgrace of a Secretary of Health:...

I wonder who will take the responsibility for this wonderful woman, or if they'll even have the decency to seek out her family's vote when election season rolls around...☕
Simply appalling.🙂

Tragic, yet undeniably true...🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Just two weeks ago, when my mother had to go in for blood work, she was forced to wait for two hours without even a single chair to sit on, and she actually had to pay out of pocket for the service... at the time, she remarked, "just imagine if things were any worse, if I couldn't even access my medication; there's no one to protect us, and we don't even have the flu..."

One can only hope that some semblance of reform finds its way through the bureaucracy, because it truly must...🙏

neonhound32 said:My mother was diagnosed today with bone cancer or leukemia. It’s incredibly bad; she has lost so much weight, she can barely move, and she has essentially lost all hope and her spirit...
She spent two months being shuffled from one doctor to another, only for them to finally tell us what she's actually facing today. I am in total shock, struggling to process this, and honestly, I don't even know if she'll pull through.
Today, I brushed her hair at the hospital, tidied her up a bit, and made her some sandwiches. She managed to finish half a yogurt...
Tomorrow they are performing a bone marrow biopsy, and once they confirm the exact type of cancer, her therapy will begin.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Will my mom be okay?...

I can only imagine the shock you're feeling, and I truly empathize... Given how much care and devotion you've already shown, just keep going; give her every reason to hold on and find the strength to fight. Don't let her spirit fade, and please, don't let your own spirit break either...

Hang in there... and have faith...

Angela Wright said:Take a look at this and see just how much shame one Secretary of Health can carry:

Who is going to take responsibility for this wonderful woman, and who will have the nerve to expect her family to cast their vote for them during the next election?☕
Disgusting.🙂

Having seen it play out a thousand times through my own father's experience, I can tell you that we are truly lost with a healthcare system like this.
Despite every ounce of will to live—despite fighting through the grueling physical and mental agony that comes with chronic illness—critically ill patients constantly run headfirst into a massive, cold, and often insurmountable wall called the American National Health Service. Hippocrates? What an absolute joke.

neonhound32 said:My mom was just diagnosed with bone cancer or leukemia today. It’s bad—she’s lost so much weight, she can barely move, and she’s basically lost all hope and spirit.
It took them two whole months of dragging her from doctor to doctor just to finally tell us what she’s actually dealing with. I’m in total shock; everything feels heavy right now, and honestly, I don't even know if she's going to make it.
I spent today at the hospital brushing her hair, tidying her up a bit, and making her some sandwiches. She managed to finish half a yogurt.
Tomorrow they’re doing a bone marrow biopsy, and once they pin down the exact type of cancer, the treatment starts.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Is my mom going to be okay?

If I'm understanding this correctly, she has leukemia that has metastasized to her bones?
I know you're reeling right now. But listen: your mother is going to live. There is a fight ahead of her, yes, but don't go spiraling into thoughts of death. We are all mortal, and nobody knows when or how our time comes. Your mom has "now" and she has "here." Let her live those moments to the absolute fullest, just like you should. Just stay by her side.

Angela Wright said:Take a look at this yourselves—just see the absolute disgrace of a Secretary of Health:

It's horrific 😲—honestly, I just hope someone from the Department of Health actually reads these threads and does something about this immediately!

neonhound32 said:My mom was just diagnosed with bone cancer or leukemia today. It’s bad—she’s lost so much weight, she can barely move, and honestly, she’s just completely lost her spirit.
It took them two whole months of dragging her from doctor to doctor just to finally tell us what’s actually going on. I’m in total shock right now; everything feels heavy, and I have no idea if she’s even going to make it.
I spent the day at the hospital tidying her up a bit and making her some sandwiches. She managed to finish half a yogurt.
Tomorrow they’re doing a bone marrow biopsy, and once they pin down the exact type of cancer, the treatment starts.
Does anyone have any experience with this? Is my mom going to be okay?

I am so sorry it took them this long to get an answer, especially since it sounds like things aren't even fully cleared up yet!

I totally get that shock you're feeling. When I found out about my mom's diagnosis, it hit me like a freight train—especially because she hadn't been complaining about anything. She went in for a routine follow-up after a cyst surgery and came back with a diagnosis of metastatic melanoma😢!

But look, once that initial shock wears off—which, reading through here, seems to have wiped everyone out—you just have to get organized and keep moving. There isn't really any other choice.

I really hope you find the strength you need quickly so you can tackle this head-on alongside her.

Sending my best to you and your mom, and to everyone else in this thread.

Hang in there!

Rebecca Young63 said:Hey there—early May, I had my breast removed due to cancer. I'm supposed to start chemo in a few days, and honestly, I'm terrified.
I'm only 24, and man, life has really thrown everything at me lately. Sometimes I feel like I'm buckling under the weight of it all, but I have every reason to keep fighting—my 3-year-old daughter needs me. It's the chemo that scares the hell out of me; I just don't know how I'll handle it, and that's my biggest fear right now.

hey

Hey Rebecca Young63, I was in almost the exact same boat about four years ago. I was 27 then, also had a 3-year-old, and was dealing with some really nasty breast cancer that had spread to my lymph nodes. They removed the breast and all those nodes, and I went through six brutal rounds of chemo plus 25 radiation sessions. I won't sugarcoat it—it wasn't easy. But honestly? I found a strength in myself that I didn't even know existed, and I actually feel stronger now than I did four years ago. My little girl was my entire world—she was the only reason I needed to stay focused. I never even let myself think about dying; I was just counting down the days until treatment was over so I could get back to a normal life. The chemo definitely kicked my butt, but I stayed on schedule and didn't miss a single session. Radiation was way more manageable, by the way. Look, it passes quickly, and you just have to grit your teeth and get through it. I’ve been healthy for four years now, living a pretty regular life. Sure, I still go in for checkups every six months, which gets the nerves jumping a little, but it's okay. I'm still here, and my girl is finishing up first grade now. So, please, don't let the fear win. Just be brave—you can do this, and you will. It’ll be over before you know it, and soon enough, you'll be living your life and enjoying your daughter, only visiting the doctors twice a year to remind yourself that this stupid cancer was just a temporary visitor that's gone for good. Sending you so much love and luck!

Thank you all for the kind words of support.
Yesterday I was still reeling from the shock, but today I feel a bit more composed. I'm frightened because she has become immobile due to the illness, and they can't extract the bone core from her spine—they have to go through the sternum instead. Apparently, that's a very bad sign. The doctors aren't optimistic since the disease has progressed, but we're still holding onto hope for the best.
Best of luck to everyone fighting these terrible, awful diseases.

Well, looks like we’ve got another case just like Alen's, unfortunately:

And once they actually manage to raise the money—assuming they can—will they even be able to bring it into the country, considering it isn't registered here in the States?

What an absolute disaster our healthcare system is—honestly, calling it a disaster is an understatement; it’s a total disgrace.👎
It is such a massive waste of talented professionals working within such a broken system, not to mention the nightmare patients have to endure.😢

People, please, don't let them push you around!!

neonhound32, this is just straight-up evil, and I am honestly so sorry you're going through this.😢
Hang in there, things will get better.🙂
The initial shock is always gut-wrenching, but I personally live by my own rule: it isn't over until I say it's over.🙂
Mom is going to be fine, she absolutely has to be.😉

Hi everyone
It’s my first time posting here—and like most of you, I’m probably here for all the wrong reasons.
My dad has lung cancer, and yesterday I saw some news segment about a drug called Tarceva.
Does anyone actually know where I can get my hands on it?
Thanks

neonhound32 said:My mother was just diagnosed with bone cancer or possibly leukemia. It’s a devastating situation; she has lost a significant amount of weight, she's practically immobile, and quite frankly, she's lost all hope and her spirit is completely broken.
It’s been two months of endless running from one specialist to another, only for them to finally sit her down today and tell us exactly what we’re dealing with. Honestly, I'm in total shock. It’s been incredibly heavy, and I’m sitting here struggling to process everything—I don't even know if she's going to make it.
I stopped by the hospital to see her earlier today. I spent some time tidying up her space and made her a few sandwiches. She managed to finish about half of her yogurt, too.
Tomorrow, I’m heading in to have the bone marrow biopsied. Once we finally get the exact diagnosis on the specific type of cancer, the doctors will begin the actual treatment plan.
Does anyone have any experience with this? I’m just wondering if my mom is going to be okay.

A friend of my late mother is currently battling leukemia—I'm not entirely sure which specific type—but he’s been managing it for seven years now. He goes in for testing whenever necessary and has even undergone treatment with Flucytosine. Given that he’s also dealing with epilepsy on top of everything else, I have to say, he looks remarkably good and is holding up incredibly well. He’s truly showing a lot of courage.👍

neonhound32

My mom actually went through that bone marrow biopsy too. It isn't exactly a grueling procedure; she had hers done as an outpatient, and she just had to lie still for a few minutes afterward. I guess you really do have to do the bone marrow biopsy to get the full picture. After my mom’s biopsy, they told her she had benign monoclonal gammopathy, so it wasn't cancer. Looking at what you mentioned about your mom, it sounds like it might be multiple myeloma—or plasma cell myeloma, which is basically the same thing—which can develop right in the bones. So, it's not really metastases; instead, the myeloma itself shows up in the bone and causes changes that make them brittle and easy to break. It isn't technically leukemia either, even though it involves blood cells. I think the prognosis is tougher if more bones are affected. There are effective ways to treat this disease here in the US, too. Just... please try to stay positive and don't lose hope. You can find quite a bit of information about myeloma on www.myeloma.org . If you can, maybe help your mom when you're with her, just to help her stay on her feet or take a few steps. I know how it was with my grandmother. Once she stayed in bed too long, she just couldn't walk at all anymore.

Frank Taylor4 said:Get in touch with Dr. Slavoj Žižek (098331420)—she’s an immunologist and honestly has a killer solution. They call this IP6 with inositol formula the "Cacner killer" because it boosts the immune system and makes chemo way easier to handle. It’s basically a miracle—just look. Check out www.inocell.com.

Thanks for the tip! I actually read up on that "cancer killer" stuff a few years back—didn't really do much for me, though—since it’s just a general approach rather than actually targeting the cells. Mesothelioma is basically a death sentence... at this point, only God can help.

Angela Wright said:Read this and see the absolute disgrace of a Secretary of Health:

Who is going to take responsibility for this beautiful woman? Who will have the decency to look her family in the eye when they inevitably come looking for their vote during election season?☕
Absolutely disgusting.🙂

If this involved his own family or some high-ranking politician, you can bet that medication would have been approved in record time. Since there are so few people suffering from this specific disease, it’s clearly not worth the effort to get the drug added to the Medicare coverage list. To them, eight young lives aren't worth the administrative headache.
As long as the money keeps flowing to certain people—I mean, even professional athletes get paid millions of dollars without a second thought—they're happy.
Scum.😠

My mom started her chemo yesterday. Thank God she didn't have any major issues yesterday or today; just some digestive trouble, though that’s likely from the major intestinal surgery. I'm hoping it's just a matter of giving everything time to heal...

The standard blood work looks great, and we got the tumor marker results back today. As far as I can tell, they look fine too. We're staying optimistic!!!