Support resources for families dealing with cancer and other serious illnesses

brisksurfer said:Listen, everyone, I’ve tried coming back to this thread a few times now, but honestly, I end up breaking down in tears every single time I start reading... It’s just too much. That being said, I truly admire the sheer strength you all show in facing these constant struggles.
At the end of June, we got the news that my Dad has throat cancer. Everything seemed fine up until then. He was doing great, aside from some occasional throat pain. He actually saw his doctor about it for about a year and a half, but they kept telling him it was nothing—until it finally turned out to be a tumor. They initially thought it was roughly 5x2.5cm. He had to go in for emergency surgery at a VA hospital, where they discovered the tumor was actually much larger than they first suspected. Fortunately, it hadn't spread extensively; there were some tiny traces in his stomach, but the doctor says it’s negligible. After they removed the affected area, they had to perform a reconstruction of his throat. He just finished radiation about a month ago, having completed 32 sessions. He’s been holding up okay so far, but the real struggle is that he can't eat or swallow normally since the surgery. Up until the end of his radiation treatments, he was managing on blended food, but eventually, he couldn't even handle that. There was a brief period after radiation ended where he seemed to be improving, but over the last three days, things have taken a turn for the worse. He has absolutely no saliva left and can barely swallow anything at all. His neck is swollen again, and he’s lost so much weight that he has zero energy left. I’m at a loss here—we honestly don't know what else to do. He has another follow-up appointment with the doctor this Wednesday. 😢

Has anyone else here dealt with this kind of mess? 🙂 I don't know anyone who actually gets it... Every single time I think I’ve finally turned a corner or found a bit of relief, everything just goes straight to hell again. 😢

Look, if he’s feeling that miserable, don't sit around waiting for a scheduled follow-up. Get him straight to the ER. That’s exactly what hospitals are there for.
You just have to find a way to wrap your head around it and finally accept that it is what it is. Cancer isn't just some temporary setback; it’s a chronic, grueling marathon that demands long-term management. It's a disease that settles in and stays for the long haul, requiring constant medical attention and an endless cycle of treatment. And even if that period is what we're talking about. It’s just one big, constant oscillation—swinging from good to bad and then right back to good again.The only thing you can really do is grab every good moment while it’s right in front of you, be damn grateful for it, and just pray that the bad stretches stay short and manageable.
Just stay brave and try your best to keep your cool. I know how incredibly difficult that is, but you have to pull yourself together—primarily for his sake. This is happening to him, not you; you're all just caught up in the fallout of his struggle.

Angela Wright said:Look, if he’s feeling absolutely miserable, don't just sit there waiting for the next scheduled appointment—get him straight to the Emergency Room. That is exactly what hospitals are there for.
You have to mentally prepare yourself and accept the reality that cancer is a chronic disease that requires long-term management. It is a journey defined by constant fluctuations, swinging from good days to bad and back again. All you can really do is grab onto every single good moment, be grateful for them, and pray that the rough patches stay brief and manageable.
Stay strong. Everyone needs to try and keep their cool. I know how incredibly difficult that is, but you have to stay composed primarily for his sake. He is the one fighting this battle; you are just caught in the crossfire of the situation.

Thank you for responding... I’ve already realized there are good days and bad ones, and they just keep cycling through. I was out running errands, and over the phone, it sounded like everything was improving, but when I got home, I found him helpless in bed. 😢
I honestly don't know how long this recovery process will take... the doctor told us that if the tumor doesn't return within two years, we can consider him cured. I am just praying it doesn't come back and that we can get through these two years as fast as possible.
We are heading to the follow-up appointment tomorrow morning; I couldn't talk him into going any sooner...

Thanks to everyone who reached out via private message, you truly surprised me... it feels much better knowing you aren't alone in this.😘

Watching this video above, I’m honestly just speechless 👍
It's wild how much people have at their fingertips—yet so many just let it slip through their fingers. I know I definitely have—it's always back and forth with fruit and veggies, then more fruit and veggies again.

Hey there, ladies!!
I’m currently stuck in this phase of "tense anticipation" as Friday gets closer—honestly, my head is just spinning with every possible emotion right now...
This damn flu is making me feel even more melancholic than usual, so I’ve basically been moping around and being a total drag to myself... 😕
I’ve decided that since Wednesday and Thursday are coming up, I’m going to enjoy some good company and a delicious meal, because those "jerks" (yeah, I’m talking about the hospital cooks😠🙂) are definitely going to try and force me back onto a strict diet again... though, not that I’m planning to follow their rules perfectly—I'll probably just sneak a few treats and hide them in my purse... 😍
I bet most of you are feeling a whole rollercoaster of emotions during these pre-holiday days too... BUT WE KEEP GOING, LADIES... WE HAVE TO
We still have so much work left to do...
I’ll check in again before I head off to the hospital...
Best, Dan 👍

Grace Fowler said:Hey everyone!!
I'm currently in this "tense anticipation" phase—as Friday gets closer, I've got the whole spectrum of emotions swirling around in my head...
This depression is turning me into such a melancholic mess—honestly, I'm getting bored of my own face... 😕
I decided I'm going to enjoy some good food on Wednesday and Thursday because those "jerks" (yeah, I mean the hospital cooks😠🙂) are probably going to shove me back onto a forced diet again... though, just in case, I might sneak a few treats and hide them in my bag... 😍
I'm sure most of you are riding a roller coaster of emotions during these pre-holiday days too... WE KEEP GOING LADIES....WE HAVE TO.
We still have so much work left to do...
I'll check in again before I head to the hospital...
Best, Dina👍

Thinking of you, Grace Fowler.🙂Enjoy the food while you can and hopefully everything passes quickly. Hang in there.👍

Grace Fowler said:Hi everyone!!
I’m currently in this phase of "tense anticipation" as Friday gets closer, and I guess the whole spectrum of emotions is just swirling around in my head...
This depression is making me feel extra melancholy, honestly, I think I'm even starting to bore myself with how down I feel.... 😕
I decided that I’ll spend Wednesday and Thursday enjoying some good company and delicious food, because I suspect those "troublemakers" (I'm talking about the hospital cooks😠🙂) will probably force me back onto a strict diet again... though, just in case, I might sneak a few treats and hide them in my purse.. 😍
I’m sure most of you are feeling a mix of different things during these pre-holiday days too... WE CAN DO THIS, LADIES.... WE HAVE TO
We still have so much work left to finish...
I'll try to check in again before I head to the hospital...
Warmly, yours, Grace 👍

Your positivity always cheers me up. Sending you a huge hug, keep staying strong!!!!

Grace Fowler said:Hey there, lovely ladies!!
I’m currently stuck in this phase of "tense anticipation." As Friday creeps closer, I feel like my brain is just a swirling kaleidoscope of every possible emotion...
And honestly, this seasonal depression is turning me into such a melancholy mess; I’m actually starting to bore myself with how much I’m moping around... 😕
I’ve decided that Wednesday and Thursday are going to be my "treat myself" days. I'm planning to enjoy some delicious, decadent food while I can, because I know those "villains" (and by villains, I mean the hospital cooks😠🙂) are going to shove me right back onto a forced diet once I'm settled... though, let's be real, I'll probably sneak a few treats into my purse just in case... 😍
I’m sure most of you are riding a similar emotional rollercoaster during these pre-holiday days... BUT WE KEEP GOING, LADIES... WE HAVE TO.
There is still so much work left for us to tackle...
I’ll check back in one more time before I head off to the hospital...
Warmly, yours, Grace👍

You're in my thoughts.
Sending big hugs!

Hey everyone, please check out this link

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...id=36247222933

If you can help out a three-year-old boy, it would mean the world. Thanks!

stormyjackal46 said:Everyone, please check out this link

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...id=36247222933

And if you have any way to help this three-year-old boy, please do. Thank you.

I agree. This initiative is excellent—the group already has over 50,000 members.🙂

Hey everyone!!!🙂

So, here I am—bags are packed and I’m basically ready to go😁.... I head into the hospital tomorrow, and if everything goes according to plan, surgery is set for Monday. Honestly, since I’ve been through my fair share of this stuff in my life, I pretty much know what to expect.... So, I’m asking you all—please, please cross your fingers for me on Monday so everything goes smoothly... :-)

I’ll check back in once I’m home... until then, stay STRONG and don't you dare give up the fight..
Vasa🙂

Dan, we’re sending all the good vibes your way... hang in there 😉

Grace Fowler said:Hey everyone!!!🙂

Here I am, bags all packed and ready to go...😁So, I’m heading into the hospital tomorrow, and if everything goes smoothly, surgery is set for Monday! Since I’ve been through my fair share of this stuff, I pretty much know what to expect... So please, everyone, cross your fingers tightly for me on Monday so everything goes perfectly... :-)

I'll check back in with you guys once I'm home... until then, stay STRONG and just keep fighting...
Vasa...🙂

Don't you worry about Monday... we're all right here rooting for you! Fingers crossed...👍
Just a bummer of a papaya...🍿Well, if you haven't already, you might as well make it look good... 🙂Spider in his bed... just thinking about how everything is going to work out for the best! I'm absolutely certain you'll handle the physical side of this like a total champ, just like you always do, and your spirit will carry you through the rest...!

We love you, Grace Fowler...!🙂

Chloe Jones95 said:I figured I’d jump in here too... if any of my advice can help anyone out, I’d love to do it.👍
I've personally gone through these brutal illnesses a few times—both my grandmothers, and my Dad, who unfortunately lost his battle with it. Now, I'm going through it all over again with my Mom, and I'm praying we win this time.😍 .
It's rough, and sometimes life just hits you out of nowhere...
Hang in there, everyone. Sending huge kisses!😘

I really admire your strength, your optimism, and your courage!
My aunt had surgery for a cyst and went home to recover. The problem is, she isn't getting better, and that surgery actually revealed a tumor that's been spreading... She's getting so thin, she's practically vanishing before our eyes. And she doesn't even realize it. We think it might already be too late for chemo or anything else, so she just wants to spend her final days hoping everything is okay and that she'll pull through. I'm there every single day telling her, "Take it easy, recovery happens slowly," and we all back her up, insisting that's how it works. I play the strong, happy one then... but once I get home...
I watch people obsessing over cellulite or seeing ads for anti-wrinkle creams, and for the first time, none of it makes sense. I can't even engage with normal life because everyone talking about everyday trivialities seems so shallow. It finally hit me: sickness and tragedy are everywhere, but when it's not happening to YOU, you don't even notice. How many people are fighting battles behind closed doors that you have no clue about?!
I can act tough, but my sister? In a few days, when she sees her and starts crying, I'm terrified she's going to realize the truth. That she'll finally see what's actually happening!
At the end of the day, I just want her to stop suffering. I want her to be at peace and not have to deal with the pain of watching us look at her every single day.
I just want to ask God to let her walk toward a better tomorrow, to stay alive, and to let her go while she still has hope, before she realizes the grim reality...😢 😢 😢

brightgardener8 said:Dear friends,
Over these past 20 months spent on these forums—it has been so incredibly hard to read about your loved ones passing—because I truly felt your heartache and knew that my own moment was coming.
My mom passed away yesterday. 🙂
She suffered for far too long—so, in a way, is there any relief in knowing she is finally at peace?
I sincerely hope she is in a much better place now.

Nothing will ever feel the same without her.

I wish you all so much strength during these toughest battles of life.

brightgardener8, please accept my deepest condolences..
stay strong.

Here’s how my story goes...

Dad is 56. This is a guy who was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders until yesterday, eating like he was feeding a whole damn squad... mentally, he was a powerhouse, building things from nothing (he’s a highly experienced medical professional, by the way).
To make a long story short... about a month and a half ago, he felt this intense chest pain for the first time. Then it was just one scan after another, test after test...

DG: Microcellular lung cancer with metastases in the liver, bones, and spinal cord. According to the doctor, he’s got maybe 1.5 years left. It’s brutal.

My entire world just collapsed. But honestly? That was the wake-up call I needed to finally take action. And I am not backing down.

I’ve thrown everything at this—every alternative option under the sun. We’ve been doing Ante Krešić’s honey from Sturgis, those drops from Marko Rukavina, Antineoplazmin immune drops, Noni juice... and obviously, we started chemotherapy too.

I don't really vibe with talking much to the doctors; they just cling to their diagnoses and statistics and won't even look at alternative stuff.

I’ve been lurking on this forum for a long time, but today a crisis hit and I finally decided to start typing... seeing all of you means more than I can say.

And man, I can't even describe the amount of faith and hope I have inside me right now. It's indescribable.

After spending quite some time reading through this thread, I feel it might be appropriate to contribute.
I simply wish to share our experience. Last August, my uncle was diagnosed with malignant melanoma that developed from a mole. He was sent to New York City, where surgeons removed the mole along with a margin of healthy tissue and a cluster of lymph nodes under his left armpit. Out of the 17 nodes removed, one was positive for melanoma.
The doctor suggested immunotherapy with interferon if we could afford it, though he noted its efficacy remains unproven and clinical statistics are often contradictory. We chose not to proceed with that. A CT scan in December showed no signs of disease in his vital organs, and skin exams were clear. However, the subsequent CT revealed metastases in the liver, adrenal glands, and spleen. This news hit him so hard he required hospitalization in a psychiatric ward for about 15 days. He emerged like a different person, finding the will to work again. Three months later, a CT showed regression in the liver, which gave us hope. Unfortunately, new infiltrated lymph nodes appeared in his right armpit. The following CT showed further progression, leading to a second psychiatric hospitalization due to suicidal idepression. At that point, the doctor switched his treatment from Dacarbazine monotherapy (DTIC) to a combination of Carboplatin, oral Tamoxifen, and another cytostatic. After a few months, this failed; recent scans show increased lesions in the liver, larger lesions in the spleen, a 2cm metastasis in the lungs, and suspected secondary involvement in a vertebra. He was hospitalized again just days before this latest CT. Because he is currently on heavy anxiolytics and sedatives, he hasn't processed this news as tragically—partially because we have tried to soften the reality presented to him.
I apologize for drifting off-topic by discussing the course of the illness, but I felt it necessary as context for my main point regarding support for those fighting malignancy. Despite his current critical state, I believe combining alternative methods with standard chemotherapy has yielded significant results. Following his surgery, he took a bottle of Beta Glucan. As I recall, the first CT after that was clear. I find myself wondering if we made a mistake by stopping. Once the metastases appeared, he began taking Immunomax AHCC (shiitake and maitake mushroom extracts), a "Biocil" preparation from Mexico, and honey from Ante Krešić. He also drank various medicinal teas. These seemed to help, leading to that earlier CT showing regression. However, the next scan was poor. Since then, I have added native propolis and Vitamin C to his regimen. He has also been taking Flavin 7. He has become mindful of his diet, eating less fat and more fish and poultry. It seems these efforts have had limited impact on the cancer itself. Interestingly, however, his blood work has always been excellent—even during chemo checkups and when monitoring urea and creatinine levels, which must stay within range to continue treatment. I suspect the Immunomax capsules are responsible for that. I am doing everything in my power for him, yet I struggle with the feeling that I could be doing even more.
As for the doctors... none of them seem optimistic. Some imply he shouldn't even be here. Communicating with them feels like trying to squeeze water from a stone, except for one physician who was honest with me about what to expect should things take a turn for the worse. Whether that turn has already happened, only God knows. I just know this latest report is grim. They have discontinued his chemotherapy, and he is now only taking oral Tamoxifen. I should mention he has recently started drinking juices made from beet, carrot, and potato.
Given how dire things are, we intend to visit a dedicated nurse in the Midwest who has extensive experience with all types of patients. The preparations she provides are certainly helpful. I believe it is time to lean heavily into natural remedies, especially since chemotherapy is no longer taxing his system. He hasn't used other supplements like Noni juice or Aloe Vera.
Here is my own experience, how things progressed, and where things stand now. Since only a small number of melanomas respond to chemo—most being either resistant from the start or developing resistance later—I would appreciate it if someone could share more about alternative options. I am considering ordering the drops from Mr. Rukavina.
Greetings to everyone, and please forgive me if this was too long....

slyjackal38 said:...My uncle was diagnosed with malignant melanoma on a mole last August. ...
...The next CT scan showed metastases in the liver, adrenal glands, and spleen. It hit him so hard he went into shock and ended up being hospitalized in psych...

...The following CT shows disease progression again, and he’s been hospitalized a second time because of suicidal thoughts. ...

...After surgery, he went through a bottle of Beta Glucan. If I remember correctly that first CT after that looked okay. ...Once the metastases started appearing again, he began taking Immunomax AHCC (shiitake and maitake mushrooms), specifically the "Biocil" preparation... This actually worked, and then came that earlier mentioned CT showing regression. But then, the next one was bad again...
And now the doctors....well, none of them are feeling optimistic, and some are even implying he shouldn't have made it this far. Not to mention how you practically have to squeeze the words out of them...

Even though I pop into this thread pretty regularly, I didn't really think I'd chime in. You see, I had cancer surgery about twenty years ago and I'm doing just fine now. But this specific post really prompted me to speak up. Back then, an acquaintance of mine was also dealing with a diagnosis of metastatic melanoma (in the lymph nodes). Around the same time, I met a man who had melanoma metastases in his liver. Both of them decided to try macrobiotics. They weren't just winging it, either—they were working with a professional macrobiotic consultant from the Netherlands who used to travel to Chicago quite often at the time. So, I followed his advice and guidance too and started a macrobiotic diet. And it really worked for me.

Now, I'm not writing all this just to talk about macrobiotics. Honestly, I don't think a macrobiotic diet is the only path to healing if that's an option. It's actually something else. During our first meeting, this consultant told me something incredibly important. He said—your test results won't improve immediately once you switch to macrobiotics. In fact, one might be good, the next one bad, then the next one good... they'll just keep oscillating until your body finally clears out that very last cancer cell. So, don't let those bad results shake your confidence. Just stay committed to the intention of healing and believe that you can do it.

For the people mentioned above, and for me too, it was all so strange and so incredibly hard to wrap our heads around, yet somehow, it was comforting. Even though I was going through my own rough patches back then, I always kept those words about the healing process and its bumpy road in mind.

...And as far as the results go, it really was exactly like the consultant said. I was getting tests done every single month. And the results... one would be good, only for the next one to look suspicious... then the next one right on the edge... then bad again... then good again... it just kept going like that until finally, all the results were consistently good. As for those two people with 'metastatic melanoma,' they are both healthy and active today.

I don't know if this helps much, but I felt a real need to share this with you all. I'm wishing healing to everyone here, and to all your loved ones too.

casualrider21 said:Here is how my story unfolds...

My Dad is 56. A man who, until yesterday, could carry mountains on his shoulders, ate enough for six people, and possessed the mental grit to lift entire organizations from the ground—he’s an incredibly seasoned medical professional, after all.
To make a long story short... about a month and a half ago, he felt intense chest pain for the very first time. That was followed by imaging, tests upon tests...

DG: Microcellular lung cancer with metastases in the liver, bones, and spinal cord. According to the doctor, it's about 1.5 years old. It is devastating.

My entire world collapsed. But that was exactly when I finally stepped up. And I am not backing down.

I have brought in every alternative possible: honey from Ante Krešić in Sturgis, drops from Marko Rukavina, Antineoplasmin immune drops, Noni juice... and, naturally, we started chemotherapy.

I don't care much for talking extensively with doctors; they tend to cling strictly to diagnoses and statistics, showing little faith in alternative methods.

I have been lurking on this forum for a long time, but today a crisis hit me and I began to write. I realize now just how much this community means to me.

And I cannot even begin to tell you how much faith and hope I carry within me. It is indescribable.

Well done; that is exactly how it should be🙂.
Fight this battle with plenty of faith and hope.

It is wonderful if your Dad also possesses that will to fight and that sense of hope.

In my dad's case, after spending two months in the hospital, they still haven't determined a treatment plan because they aren't actually sure which type of carcinoma it is, nor are they certain where the primary tumor originated. They only know it is malignant. We are constantly waiting on more test results.
Is your dad experiencing much pain?
Mine remains optimistic and willing to try alternative remedies as long as the painkillers are working, but once those wear off, it seems as though he’s just had enough of everything. It is difficult to watch, and in his current state, it is quite hard to persuade him to do anything at all.

I wish you immense strength and hope you continue with that positive mindset.

It isn't always easy, but I truly and sincerely believe that this attitude makes a profound difference.

Grace Stewart6 said:Way to go, that's exactly how you should handle it🙂.
Fight this thing with everything you've got—faith and hope included.

It’s huge if your Dad still has that spark and the will to fight.

My Dad’s been stuck in the hospital for two months now, and they still haven't nailed down a specific treatment plan because they aren't even sure what type of carcinoma we're dealing with or where the primary tumor actually is. All they know for certain is that it's malignant. We're constantly just sitting around waiting on test results.
Is your Dad in much pain?
Mine stays pretty optimistic and is totally down to try alternative stuff while the painkillers are doing their job, but once those wear off, it feels like he's just done with all of it. It's brutal to watch, and when he's in that state, it's damn near impossible to talk him into anything.

Sending you so much strength. Keep holding onto that positive mindset.

It isn't always easy, but I truly believe that attitude makes a massive difference.

Look, it's absolutely critical that they pinpoint the exact site so the chemo can target it directly. If they can't find the primary tumor, they usually have to go with systemic chemo, which basically hits the whole body at once.

Dad hasn't had pain too often, but when it hits, it hits hard. He's getting regular pills and injections that seem to be keeping the pain at bay... Anyway, he's already been in the hospital for a month getting IVs and treatments. He didn't eat for about 20 days straight, so he got super weak, dehydrated, and couldn't even stand up. Now, we're helping him get up just to take a few steps around the room. He's finally started eating again.

And listen, with a disease like this, you just take it one day at a time. His condition fluctuates constantly—one day he's up, the next he's hitting rock bottom... it's just a cycle. If he loses steam today, it doesn't mean he won't bounce back tomorrow or the day after. So, don't you dare give up! Just take it slow.

But I'm definitely not giving up on the alternative stuff alongside the standard medicine.
You didn't mention where his suspicious areas are (metastases?) or if he's lost his appetite. Is he at home or still in the hospital? Where exactly is he hurting??

Keep talking to me. I'll help you however I can—this whole depressing situation has forced me to learn enough in a month to practically act like a doctor.
Hang in there! I'm right here!

slyjackal38 said:I'm thinking about ordering those drops from Mr. Rukavina.

Anyone here actually dealt with those KANCIST drops before? Any real stories?

Hey!