Support resources for families dealing with cancer and other serious illnesses

Dandelion, I will certainly get in touch with you. Thank you very much.

Hey everyone, I’m new here but I really need some help because I am seriously losing my mind... My mom is 50 and just got hit with a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. They told us she isn't a candidate for surgery, which is just devastating. We’re going to do everything humanly possible to support her, but honestly, I have no idea where to even start. If anyone knows any solid doctors, herbal remedies, or good pain management options... and especially a solid diet to help boost her immune system after chemo kicks in... please let me know. Thanks in advance

I’m new here and could really use some advice. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and has just finished chemotherapy. They removed the tumor (which was HER2-positive), so there is currently no sign of it, and she is now on Arimidex... however, the issue is that they are aggressively pushing her to undergo treatment with Herceptin (asking her to sign a waiver of responsibility). Apparently, they need 8,000 women in America to participate in a study using this drug over a five-year period. It makes me wonder—how haven't they found enough participants yet, and why are they pressuring her so intensely right now? Naturally, I wish there were a miracle cure that could wipe this out forever, but this comes with terrible side effects... even mortality. She is completely exhausted, and we are at a loss for what to do next. If anyone has any insights or personal experiences, it would be greatly appreciated...

Kate Lee23 said:I'm new here and could really use some advice... My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and just finished chemo. They removed the tumor (which was HER2-positive) and it's currently undetectable, so she's on Arimidex now... but the real issue is they are aggressively pushing her toward Herceptin treatment (she'd have to sign a waiver first). Apparently, they need 8,000 women in America to participate in this study using the drug over a five-year period... so I'm wondering... how haven't they found enough people yet, and why are they pressuring her so hard right now? Of course, I wish there was some miracle cure that would wipe it out forever, but the side effects are brutal... not to mention the mortality risks. She's absolutely exhausted... we're lost on what to do next. If anyone has any insight or experience, it would be a huge help...

Your mom has been handed an opportunity that so many women fighting this specific type of cancer can only dream of. She should take it! Herceptin is a smart, highly effective drug, though obviously expensive, and it has shown incredible results so far. Not every woman fits the perfect profile for a clinical success study. Your mother happens to fit the criteria perfectly.
Every medical intervention and every round of chemo carries significant risks and the possibility of a fatal outcome; however, doing nothing is often much more fatal. With professional medical teams, those risks are managed and monitored, whereas cancer is notoriously difficult to control without targeted medication.
Honestly, if an option like this were presented to my own mother for her illness, we would embrace it with open arms and total enthusiasm.

First off, honey, I’ve gotta tell you right now: pull yourself together and get your head in the game. If you spiral, you aren't going to be much help to her. I know you're in shock—cancer always seems like it's happening to someone else until it hits your own front door—but this is where you need to stand by her side and stay rational and positive from day one.

She didn't exactly get handed the easiest diagnosis, but that doesn't mean the deck is stacked against her. Plenty of others (including some people right here on this forum) have faced tough stuff and managed to pull through, or are still fighting their way through, simply because they kept a cool head and maintained a positive outlook.

To get you started, check out our association's website; it provides a bit more clarity on exactly what you're up against. There's also a forum over there, so go ahead and sign up.

You aren't alone in this; there are so many of us.
Hang in there and stay positive.

Thanks a ton for the advice, I'm gonna check it out right away!

Thank you so much for the response, best regards!

casualpanther1 said:Dear Anthony Rodriguez9,
Please forgive my late reply—I had a few things come up that kept me from getting back to you sooner. My wife and I have been using supplements from Mike’s company... she was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, specifically glioblastoma, on September 3, 2006, and underwent surgery just four days after that diagnosis. As soon as she was discharged from the hospital following her procedure, I reached out to Mike based on a recommendation from a close friend. I sent over her discharge papers along with the diagnosis, and we started her therapy with Agarikon and Lentif immediately. This all began before she even started radiation or chemotherapy. She is actually still taking them today—it's been 27 months since the diagnosis.
Following the initial recommendations, for the first 80 days, she took 0.75l of Lentif and 0.3l of Agarikon daily. After that, we moved to cycles:
- 30 days: 0.3l of Agarikon daily
- 10 days: 0.75l of Lentif and 0.3l of Agarikon daily
After the first year passed, she switched to a double dose of Agarikon in cycles every three months for 10 days at a time.
Reflecting on everything we've navigated over these past 27 months, I can tell you that in my wife's case, these mushroom-based preparations are something that can be taken alongside both radiation and chemo. Their role seems to be boosting the body's immune response while also potentially helping to slow down tumor growth. I've actually looked into some English-language research regarding the effects of PSK, beta 1.3, and 16 glucans found in mushrooms, and those specific properties are mentioned quite frequently. They've been used for years in places like China and Japan.
Of course, since mushroom supplements haven't gone through the same rigorous medical trials and clinical oversight, they can't be classified as official medicine.
Now, the cost of these mushroom products is certainly not small—not by any means—but the people at Mike's company have always been incredibly accommodating, willing to adjust the dosages to fit whatever financial situation someone is facing, ensuring they still get an effective amount. To be honest, these supplements took a significant bite out of our savings, especially during that first year. But looking at my wife today—seeing how completely herself and "normal" she is—I don't regret a single cent of it. She takes a whole host of other supplements too, so I can't say with absolute certainty that the mushrooms were the sole reason for her wonderful condition, but I truly believe they played a massive part in it.
From our experience, taking mushroom extracts and other supplements doesn't interfere with the standard medical protocol at all. If anything, it complements it perfectly.
Because of all that, I'd say please feel free to reach out to Mike without any hesitation. Based on the medical findings you provide, they will recommend the specific types and amounts of preparations needed.
As long as it's financially feasible for you, I'd suggest following their recommendations, sticking to the advice they give, and having faith that it will help... just as we believe it helps us.
Best wishes, and stay strong.

Zezu, I am so sorry to hear that... my deepest condolences.
Dear Grace Fowler, your brightness and positivity are such an inspiration to me. Sending you a huge
hug.

Zezu, please accept my sincerest condolences.

Here’s my personal playbook and everything I know (though I fully expect everyone who disagrees to tear me to pieces):

If there is one thing capable of pulling a person through, it’s having a powerhouse immune system with those hidden, deep-seated capacities to fight off even the most brutal diseases; but look, you can't just hope for a strong immune system—you have to actually build the foundation for it first:

- First and foremost, you need an ironclad will to live, a genuine grit to fight, and a desperate hunger to get better; without that internal drive, you don't have a prayer, not even a fraction of a percent

- You’ve got to overhaul your entire lifestyle—basically turning a completely new page and taking a proactive, aggressive approach to your health

- A radical shift in how you eat is non-negotiable (think of the Breuss therapy approach—cutting out acidic foods entirely and focusing on an alkaline diet to supercharge the immune system)

- Boosting that immune response further (now, the absolute gold standard—which is also the hardest to pull off—is getting immunostimulators and immunomodulators intravenously, specifically things derived from shiitake or maitake mushrooms; if that’s not an option, the next best bet is highly effective oral supplements like AHCC, Coriolus versicolor, maitake, or maybe some of those Mike mushroom extracts)

- Getting rid of anything poisoning your environment—specifically geopathic stress where you sleep or spend most of your time (I'm talking moving your bed, testing for radiation, using biogenic plates or magnetic mats); this is huge during recovery because the way nasty diseases develop and progress is often tied to where you sleep and exposure to bad environmental frequencies, like Hartmann nodes)

- Avoiding X-ray radiation whenever possible as a "treatment" for illness (sure, it might take down the disease a little, but it ends up wrecking your immune system too, which is a losing game)

- When it comes to chemotherapy, you really need to dig deeper into the specifics; there are certain modern targeted cytostatics that can be incredibly useful and might even lead to a cure, but then there are others that won't touch the disease effectively and will just leave your immune system in ruins; being properly informed is everything here

- Steer clear of bioenergetic treatments; word gets around in those circles that serious practitioners generally avoid treating malignant diseases because they're afraid of "absorbing" the illness themselves, so when people push it, it usually smells like quackery to me; as for Reiki, I haven't seen any solid info or evidence that it actually does anything, and given how commercialized it's become, I'm naturally skeptical

- Medicinal herbs and plant-based supplements can't hurt you and could potentially help a lot; there are plenty of professionals right here in the States who take this kind of herbal medicine very seriously.

I'm right there with you on this, and thanks for the solid advice. We’re gonna try everything we can to keep her with us as long as possible... she's a fighter, and honestly, her will to live is what matters most. Especially now, with her son getting married in six months... she's determined to be there for that wedding.

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urbanharbor22 said:I’m right there with you, and honestly, thanks for the great advice. We’re going to try absolutely everything to keep her with us for as long as possible. She’s a fighter, and more importantly, she has this incredible will to live—especially since her son is getting married in six months, and she is determined to be there for that wedding!

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You should head over to the main thread; you'll get much more relevant answers and advice from people dealing with the exact same situation here.

Hey everyone, huge thanks to the person who pointed me toward this site—you know who you are! I’ve spent the last two days drowning in info, crying my eyes out, but also seeing that there's always hope... My mom found out this weekend she has pancreatic cancer and surgery isn't an option anymore. She's lost weight and her back is killing her. The doctors here in our local hospital told us she's past the point of operation. My brother and I are holding it together for now, but Dad is struggling hard... we're basically coaching him to try not to cry or let his voice shake. On Saturday, she’s seeing the oncologist to find out what the deal is with therapy and all that. Mom has to start taking insulin now, which is the easy part. The real issue is her back pain and the pills she's taking for it. But the one thing she absolutely can't do—and I'm really asking for advice here—is go to the bathroom. She's dealing with really weak bowel movements... she just can't poop, sorry. Does anyone know anything that helps? And obviously, other tips too... like, for boosting her immunity, is Aloe vera better or maybe some kind of mushroom? Maybe some specific diet or foods she should stick to?

urbanharbor22 said:Hey everyone. Huge thanks to the person who pointed me toward this site—you know who you are! I’ve spent the last two days drowning in info, crying my eyes out, but also seeing that there's always hope. My mom found out this weekend she has pancreatic cancer and surgery isn't an option anymore. She’s lost weight and her back is killing her. The doctors at our local hospital here in the States told us she can't undergo any more operations. My brother and I are hanging in there, but it's really tough on my dad. We're trying to teach him how to stay strong and not let his voice shake when he talks. He's seeing the oncologist this Saturday to figure out the next steps with therapy and everything. Mom has to take insulin now, which is the easy part. Her back hurts and she's on painkillers. The one thing she's struggling with—and I'm begging for advice—is that she absolutely cannot go to the bathroom. She's dealing with severe constipation and just can't poop, sorry. Does anyone know what helps? And obviously, any other tips? For boosting her immune system, should she stick to Aloe vera or maybe some drops? Any dietary advice on what she should be eating?

The initial shock is over. Now the real fight begins. Don't sit around waiting—get moving immediately!

First off, for the constipation, try some herbal tea. Grab some from a health food store; if that doesn't do the trick, they have Dulcolax tablets. Also, try kiwi or dried prunes... you can never have too much of those.

As for the immune system, there's a ton of stuff out there. Personally, I decided to go with Noni and Antineoplazmin drops... plus some medicinal herbal honey from Anthony over in Strug.
Aloe is great too, but I can't mix everything together for her.
Check the forum for info on those Immunomax capsules. They seem really solid.

And remember—stay positive, stay upbeat... No matter how hard it gets, you have to do it for Mom. Mental state is huge. Cry when she's not looking.
GOOD LUCK!

Thanks for the advice, though Dulcolax didn't do much for her. Thank God she finally had a bowel movement, though now we’ve gotta be super careful about what she eats because of the sugar since she’s on insulin... plus she’s dealing with gallstones too. Basically, nothing sweet at all. I’d usually suggest plums, but even honey is way too much sugar now. Honestly, this whole diet thing—what's allowed and what isn't—is what’s really killing me! I'm working in downtown Chicago right now so I'm just over here crying about it... my brother is in the same boat, but it's Dad who's by her side every single day, and he's having a hard time wrapping his head around all this. But like you said, we're fighting this until the very end. I won't stop until there's some kind of medicine out, whether it's for her or for anyone else facing this damn monster in the future! Thanks

urbanharbor22 said:Thanks for the tips. Dulcolax didn't even touch the problem, but thank God she finally had a bowel movement. Now we’ve gotta be super careful about what she eats because of her blood sugar—she's on insulin now—plus she's dealing with gallstones too. Basically, nothing sweet at all. I wouldn't even give her prunes; honey is way too sugary. Honestly, the whole diet thing is what's stressing me out most! I'm working in NYC right now, so it's tough, and my brother is in the same boat, but it's our dad who's there with her every single day. He's having a hard time wrapping his head around all this. But like you said, we're fighting this until the bitter end. I'm not stopping until we find some kind of cure, whether it's a standard drug or something else, for her and for everyone else who has to face this damn disease! Thanks.

Well, that's good. As long as she's pooping. 😉
Make sure you look into alternative options, too. I truly believe in them. If you want more details, just shoot me a PM.

slyrider11 said:My mom passed away five days ago... the doctors were right to make that call.
It’s a small comfort, I suppose, knowing she didn't have to suffer through intense pain.
I want to thank everyone here for the kind words and support. Unfortunately, her cancer had just progressed too far, so there wasn't even a chance for her to put up a fight, even though she was such a fighter her whole life.
So, to everyone currently in the ring fighting this thing, I’m sending you all the luck and strength in the world... please beat this monster, both for yourselves and for those who didn't get the chance to fight.

Please accept my deepest condolences.

Just wanted to let you guys know my father-in-law is doing okay. He’s actually holding off on radiation for now—not starting again until mid-January. The doctors haven't given us much of a roadmap yet, but he's scheduled for some more tests after New Year's to see where things stand. He's just hanging out at home, eating well, and actually has an appetite, which is a good sign overall. The only issue is this cough, but I guess that's pretty expected given his diagnosis. Sending love to everyone, especially Grace Fowler. Hang in there.

The biopsy results from my dad’s procedure two weeks ago finally arrived.
Apparently, they managed to remove a metastatic growth, but we find ourselves right back at square one since the primary tumor remains unidentified.
He isn't even scheduled to return to the hospital for further treatment for another month.
The doctor suggested he should focus on recovering from surgery first before they resume the hunt.
Is there any actual chance a PET/CT scan could help pinpoint where this started?

@Grace Fowler/">@@Grace Fowler
Enjoy those cookies and all your other treats.🙂

Olivia Miller said:Back about nine years ago, I was drinking some homemade Aloe vera—not the store-bought stuff—and honestly, it really helped me. I know, I know, it sounds a bit crazy to have such a positive take on it, but it worked. My diagnosis was stage III B ovarian cancer with omental metastasis, and hey, look at me, I'm still here... 😉you should definitely give it a shot if you can.

That's awesome. 😉Just a quick heads-up for anyone thinking about taking it orally... unfortunately, if you want any actual results, you have to use fresh Aloe vera. Those mannan and other beneficial polysaccharide chains that boost your immunity? They break down incredibly fast—we're talking minutes—once you open up the leaves. You basically need to slice the leaf open, squeeze out the gel, and drink it (or apply it) immediately. Plus, the leaf itself has some nasty bits in it that aren't great for eating—laxative effects, mostly—which is why when big companies make 'whole leaf' products, they have to process them specifically to strip out or neutralize those unwanted compounds.