Resources and support for families dealing with cancer and serious illness

gentlemoose62 said:I'm really curious about what this experimental immunotherapy being done in Germany actually entails, and whether it can be applied to all types of cancer or if it's strictly for melanoma.
Thanks

I don't know the exact list of every cancer type currently being targeted in this experimental phase, but it certainly isn't limited to just melanoma. My impression is that they focus heavily on melanoma because those patients often find themselves with very few other options left on the table. Generally speaking, the process involves dendritic cell programming—which is essentially a way of training certain white blood cells. They start by drawing blood and isolating the leukocytes, then they take those cells into a lab and inject them with tumor proteins. You get the most impressive results when you use specific tumor material harvested from the patient themselves, though if that's not available—like in our situation here where everything was already removed during surgery—they end up using material from a donor instead. Once these "trained" dendritic cells are injected back into the body, they pass along critical information to the cells responsible for hunting down tumors, effectively activating the immune system to go out and do its job. It feels simple, natural, and much less aggressive than traditional methods. Based on some articles I've been reading, there's an expectation that they will refine this method over the next couple of years until it becomes a standard protocol for treating various malignant diseases.

Laura Kelly91 said:Hey, well, that’s just fantastic news—really glad to hear it! It happened much faster than expected, which is honestly such a relief.
Now, if I could just offer a little word for Melissa Kim45 and everyone else out there dealing with similar struggles. I know firsthand just how incredibly draining it is to try and manage aging parents while simultaneously trying to keep your own head above water when everyone is constantly pushed to their breaking point... It’s an exhausting tightrope walk for them, and frankly, it's just as hard on us. For instance, I have the hardest time even convincing my dad to take a single pill; he tends to stay silent when he's hurting, so I’m always left playing detective, trying to guess how much pain he’s actually in or whether he can tough it out. He almost never admits to being in pain, but when he finally does, you know it’s serious. He was never the type to ever take medication, so now, when we bring him his propolis capsules, he starts getting agitated, and once he sees the whole bottle, he just completely loses it.🙂 Though, I suppose it isn't always like that.
Anyway, we really have to look after ourselves, because if we fall apart, we aren't any good to anyone, including ourselves. I’ve actually been thinking about finding a decent psychologist lately, because I feel like I'm right on the edge... Sometimes I don't even know what to do with myself, and it’s starting to take a toll on my relationship... not to mention everything else going on.
I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance that this is all somewhat normal, you know, when you find yourself caught up in a situation like mine. I worry about how I'll hold up if Dad's condition takes a turn for the worse and we hit that absolute worst-case scenario, especially after losing Mom... But still, we’ve started the B17 therapy, and I’m holding onto hope—not expecting a miracle, obviously, but just hoping maybe the progression slows down enough for his body to get a bit of strength back so he can handle things more independently...
Best!

The stress just drains you right out of your bones; before all of this started unfolding and before I began reading through your stories here, I couldn't have even imagined how much both the illness and the treatment itself tear a person down, both physically and mentally. It’s a grueling ordeal for the patients and for those of us standing by them.

My grandmother (my mom's mother) passed away from cancer, and even though I was already halfway through college when it all went down, I often wonder why I don't have those kinds of memories etched in my mind the way I do with everything I'm going through with Mom right now.
People say my grandmother had a much stronger spirit than she did and that she was just a different kind of person altogether, though it might also be that I've subconsciously filtered my memories.
Or perhaps I was just too wrapped up in my own world at the time.🤷

Elizabeth Gonzalez55, I'm pulling for you. You all are fighting such a heavy battle. 🙂
Never, ever, ever—not even once—should you lose hope. 🙂

I'm going to fix the Princess a light dinner so she can watch Big Brother😁 in peace, while I head out for a bit to clear my head with a walk.

Take care, everyone! 👋

BRAVO, BRAVO !!!!!!
Seriously, huge congrats—and hey, if you need anything at all, just say the word. I’m happy to jump in and help out however I can.😉

Angela Wright said:The association for those battling cancer, along with their families and loved ones, "FOR A NEW DAY," is officially operational as of today!🙂

Honestly, I am so overwhelmed with joy that I could weep...

What is there even to say? I am practically screaming with excitement... Is this all because of you, and for the sake of all of us?

How does one go about joining the association? And please, feel free to send any legal inquiries my way as well...

I am just profoundly happy... kisses

Angela Wright said:Honestly, I am so happy I could cry!

B R A V O!!!!
Have you ever considered channeling all that incredible energy and enthusiasm of yours into a permanent fight for life and justice?
Because, frankly, you’re a natural at it.

Elizabeth Gonzalez55 said:As for whether everything mentioned above actually worked, we won't know for sure until the follow-up PET/CT scan at the beginning of February. He's feeling pretty confident that the results will be positive. :-)

What else is there to say? It comes down to sheer strength, willpower, energy, and love.
Hang in there.

Hey everyone, glad to be here!
Do yourself a favor and read this article before you go running off to any doctor for a checkup or treatment:
http://www.svjetlost-online.com/content/view/13/31/
From what I’ve seen—and yeah, I’ve even grilled a few doctors about it—most standard cancer treatments end up doing more harm than good. Honestly? It's all just a massive money grab at the end of the day.

Angela Wright said:The "FOR A NEW DAY" association for cancer patients, their families, and friends is officially up and running as of today!🙂

Guys, I’m honestly tearing up right now, I'm so happy!

Huge congratulations!!😍👍
You guys just made my entire day—this is massive news!!

I’d love to join the association and help out however I can... even if it’s just the little things.🙂

Since I’m currently drowning in a sea of membership requests, here’s a quick update:
Today we should finally secure our official government domain www.clearvision.gov. As a registered nonprofit, we have the right to it, so we’ll eventually migrate everything over from www.carcinoms.com. We haven't officially locked down the registration process yet because, frankly, the sheer speed at which people are signing up caught us off guard. We’ve floated a few ideas, but one is to host an online registration portal where members can pay dues directly via our organization's bank account—which will likely be $17. Once a registration is confirmed, we’ll mail out physical ID cards to your home addresses.
I heard some chatter yesterday suggesting we look into whether we qualify for any federal or municipal grants. It’s unclear yet, but if we can secure funding, we could launch organized community initiatives (if anyone has more intel on this, please shoot me a DM).
Our first major move will be writing, printing, and distributing informative brochures to hospitals and clinics nationwide. We want specific booklets for each type of cancer covering the basics: what the disease is, treatment options, hospital resources, where to find psychological support, coping strategies, how to break the news to family and kids, nutrition, alternative approaches, and more. We also plan to print a special guide specifically for family members and friends. They often get thrown into these situations blindly and struggle with how to actually support the patient. Emotional support from loved ones is just as vital to the fight as medical intervention—maybe even more so.
I’m touching base with slyseal28 today to coordinate that inquiry about switching oncologists at Mayo Clinic, so let’s see if we can finally get that sorted.
In all seriousness, I truly hope you all step up and join this fight. We all know how broken the system is, and I refuse to let this turn into a situation where we’re just tilting at windmills. I want to tear down a few "nuclear power plants" along the way,😉 and there is no way a handful of us can do that alone (maybe slyseal28 can pull off a miracle by herself😍), so we need you. We need our doctors, lawyers, accountants, designers, psychologists, educators, and everyone else whose expertise wasn't mentioned. If you are part of this struggle, we need you. Something significant has to come from this—it has to—for those who are fighting right now, for those who lost their battles, and for those who haven't even been diagnosed yet.
Sending love to you all. Let’s go get a NEW DAY!🙂

brightgardener8, Melissa Kim45, Nancy Hernandez43... everyone... just drink some sparkling water when you feel like a volcano is about to erupt inside you—it won't actually purge anything, but it might steady your nerves. Take a deep breath, scream into a pillow, vent to those of us who truly understand what you're enduring, laugh, or cry when no one is watching... Find an outlet and just let it go.

If they crave sweets, let them have them. If they overdo it, explain things to them gently—the way you would to a small child.
If they want Bird Milk, give it to them. If the craving is almost sane—if it’s actually doable—then do it for the sake of your own conscience.
If you feel the urge to snap at them... please, don't.
Trust me...
They drive you crazy, but it isn't really them—it's the illness within them.

And forgive their words and disrespect promptly... just do it quietly, in your heart. Tell them you love them every single day, even when you feel like you're falling apart at the seams. They need that more than food or water.
🙂

And in those moments when you feel like nobody in the entire world understands you... take my word for it, there will always be someone who does.
If nowhere else, then right here.😘

Angela Wright said:Since I’m currently drowning in a sea of membership requests, here are a few updates:
Today we should finally secure our new official government domain www.clarityofvision.gov. As a registered non-profit, we have the right to it, so we'll eventually migrate over from www.carcinoms.com. We haven't officially finalized the enrollment process yet—to be honest, the sheer speed at which people are signing up caught us completely off guard. We’ve tossed around a few ideas, but one plan is to host an online registration portal on the site where you can pay dues via the association's bank account, which will likely be $17. Once registration is confirmed, we’ll mail out physical ID cards to your home address.
Yesterday, some folks suggested we look into whether we qualify for any federal or local government grants. It’s still unclear, but if we can secure some funding, we could really kickstart our initiatives (if anyone knows anything concrete about this, please send me a DM).
Our first major project will be drafting, printing, and distributing informative brochures to hospitals and clinics. We want specialized booklets for each type of cancer covering the basics: the nature of the disease, treatment options, hospital locations, where to find psychological support, and advice on how to mentally face the diagnosis. We also want to cover nutrition, alternative approaches, and so on. We’ll specifically print a separate guide for family members and friends who suddenly find themselves thrust into this situation. They often struggle with how to react or behave toward the patient, even though the love and support of those around them is just as vital—if not more so—than medical intervention.
Later today, I’m going to touch base with slyseal28 to coordinate that inquiry regarding changing oncologists at the Mayo Clinic, so hopefully, we can finally get some movement there.
In all seriousness, I truly hope as many of you as possible join us in this fight. We all know how broken the system is, and I don't want us to end up feeling like we're just tilting at windmills. I want us to take down a few "nuclear power plants" too, 😉 and we won't be able to do that alone (maybe slyseal28 can pull off a solo mission, 😍). That’s why we need you: doctors, lawyers, accountants, designers, psychologists, educators—everyone else whose profession I haven't listed. If you are part of this struggle, we need you. Something meaningful has to come from this—it has to—for those currently fighting, for those who lost their battles, and for those who will soon face this reality.
Sending love to everyone. Let's go, for a NEW DAY!🙂

You are absolutely wonderful! 😍

Angela Wright said:Yesterday, some folks mentioned we should look into whether we’re eligible for any government or local municipal grants. We need some capital to actually get things moving (if anyone has more intel on this, please shoot me a DM).

You absolutely have a right to financial support, and we aren't talking about pocket change either. Honestly, if we can just integrate into the official system, there shouldn't even be a need for membership dues, no matter how small they are. Ever since the war ended, hundreds of useless associations have popped up for every trivial reason imaginable. Something as noble as what we're doing ought to find some traction. Back in the day, any nobody without a job but a shred of sense would start an association, so high-quality work deserves serious donations. My line of work keeps me connected to several solid nonprofits, so I'll dig into exactly how their funding structures work and message you privately.

I know for a fact that funds come from City Hall, county resources, and international grants (specifically from the Norwegian government). I'm going to find out exactly how the mechanics of all this work firsthand, then I'll let you know.

Good luck to everyone.

http://www.google.com/search?q=archived+competitions

Unfortunately, they’re all from last year, but it still gives you a decent idea of what kind of stuff pops up.

Douglas Reed7 said:Unfortunately, these are all from last year, but they still give you a decent idea of where to look for openings.

God bless you! Thanks!👍

It might be worth keeping an eye on the White House website for nonprofits lately, as they have some really interesting updates posted there.

There are actually a few intriguing open calls happening right now:

Elizabeth Gonzalez55 said:I'm not entirely sure which exact types of cancer they're targeting in this experimental phase, but it isn't just melanoma. I think they focus on melanoma most because those patients often don't have any other options left. Basically, it’s dendritic cell programming therapy—they draw blood to isolate certain white blood cells, then inject tumor proteins into them in a lab. You get the best results using material from the patient's own tumor, but if that's not available—like in his case since everything was already surgically removed—they use donor material instead. These "trained" cells are injected back into the body to signal the immune cells responsible for destroying tumors, basically telling them to do their job. It’s simple, natural, and non-aggressive. Some articles I've read suggest they might perfect this method in about two years, making it a standard protocol for treating various malignancies.

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain all that to me!
I'm actually battling ovarian cancer myself, so whenever I hear about something new, I get so excited... Please, could you tell me if your oncologist recommended this? And is this experimental treatment done right in the hospital? From what I gather, in your situation, it sounds almost like a preventative measure to stop a recurrence since his tumor was fully removed?

It would be absolutely amazing if this becomes the standard protocol for all cancers within two years!
I am so happy you guys were able to start this protocol already.👍 GOOD LUCK!

Angela Wright said:Since I am currently drowning in an endless sea of membership applications, I thought I would provide a few preliminary details...
We should be receiving the new government domain sometime today... www.zanovidan.hr Since we are operating as an association, we are entitled to it, so I suppose we will simply transition over to it... I suppose one might find something of interest at www.carcinoms.com... if one has the particular temperament for it.We haven't officially finalized the membership protocols just yet, primarily because the sheer velocity of registrations caught us somewhat off guard... We have been weighing several different concepts, one of which involves implementing an online registration portal on our website where dues can be paid directly via the association's bank account, which will most likely be... $17Once the registration process is officially confirmed, we will arrange to have the ID card mailed directly to your home address...
I heard from a few people yesterday that we should probably look into whether we might be entitled to some sort of government or municipal financial assistance... just so we could actually get a group together and start making things happen...If anyone happens to possess any deeper insight regarding this matter, I would be most grateful if you could reach out via private message...).
The initial step should involve the drafting, printing, and distribution of specialized informative brochures within hospitals and clinics... each specific type of cancer would require its own dedicated pamphlet. These would need to cover the fundamentals of the disease itself, various treatment modalities, hospital options, and where to seek psychological counseling. They could also provide guidance on mental fortitude, how to approach the diagnosis, how to break the news to one's family and children, nutritional advice, and even perspectives on alternative therapies... Furthermore, a separate brochure should be produced specifically for family members and friends who find themselves thrust into this sudden reality. Too often, they are at a loss for how to act or react toward a patient who desperately requires the support and affection of their inner circle—a factor that remains just as vital to the struggle as medical intervention, if not perhaps more significant...
I am planning to touch base with slyseal28 later today to coordinate our next steps regarding that inquiry about switching oncologists over at the Rib facility... perhaps we can finally put this matter to rest once and for all...
To be perfectly honest, I am actually hoping that more of you will step forward and join this fight against us... because we all know exactly how broken this system is, and I certainly wouldn't want it to turn out that we are just standing here, perpetually tilting at windmills while everyone else watches... I have every intention of seeing a few "nuclear power plants" come crashing down along with them...😉 ...and even then, we won't be able to pull off a pair like that—perhaps slyseal28 alone might manage something of the sort...😍 And that is precisely why we need you—our doctors, attorneys, economists, designers, psychologists, educators, and everyone else whose profession I haven’t even managed to list... all of you who stand as part of this struggle, we truly need you. Something is bound to emerge from this chaos, it simply must, if only for the sake of those currently suffering and fighting, for those who have already lost their battles, and for those who have yet to fall ill...
Sending my love to all of you... let us move forward together toward a new day...🙂

Of course, I am fully on board... You can certainly count me in for this crusade against those "windmills"... Once you finally figure out a membership fee structure, I expect the site to actually start functioning properly...

And I truly hope the government steps up with some decent funding, because this is something that serves everyone's best interests...

Hang in there...

gentlemoose62 said:Did your oncologist actually refer you to this, and is this experimental therapy being done at a hospital? From what I can gather, in your situation, it sounds more like a preventive measure to stop a recurrence, since everything was already surgically removed?

I am honestly so relieved that you’ve managed to get onto that protocol already.👍 BEST OF LUCK!

An oncologist? Well, yes, but one based in Germany. I actually just typed "best doctor in the world for melanoma" into Google, found a specific name, and basically sent a bluff email containing all our medical records. To my surprise, he replied the very same day and suggested we jump on a call. This professor is an incredibly talented oncologist-immunologist who has specialized in melanoma for about 15 years and has published around a hundred papers on the subject, so from the very beginning, we felt we could trust him completely. During our conversation, he walked us through all the options in great detail, explaining that the disease would almost certainly return and that we could attempt to prevent a recurrence using high-dose interferon, which works in about 10% of cases. Interestingly, that is exactly what the doctors here in the States told us as well. He then clarified that along with the interferon, he could offer dendritic cell vaccine therapy, which we could either combine with the interferon or try on its own. We ultimately decided to go with the vaccine route because the side effects from interferon are just too rough.

In the meantime, we actually switched oncologists and moved from our local clinic over to a major hospital system, where we discovered that we wouldn't even be able to get that interferon nonsense covered by Medicare—it's honestly a disgrace. When we timidly mentioned that we were planning to head to Germany for experimental treatment, the reaction caught us off guard: the professor there was already familiar with the protocol and told us he fully supported our decision, even recommending that we go. He had tried to get his own patients enrolled before, but he kept getting turned down. Honestly, the person who has helped us most through this entire ordeal is Dr. Alexander Soltysik. When we first met him, he immediately suggested the dendritic cells and provided us with contacts in Germany, including the professor we had reached out to independently. While this kind of therapy is available at private clinics too, we decided to stick with a state-run hospital.

Sorry for the long post, but I thought maybe this might help someone else out there...

Gentlemoose62—thank you so much for the support. I was just doing some digging on Google and found a few articles regarding dendritic cell studies for ovarian cancer, and it looks like the success rate is similar to melanoma: about 20% of patients in the late stages saw either full recovery or stabilization of the disease.

Elizabeth Gonzalez55 said:An oncologist? Yeah, but based in Germany. I actually just typed "best doctor in the world for melanoma" into Google, found a name, and basically bluffed my way through an email by attaching all our test results. He replied the very same day and suggested a phone call. The guy is a top-tier oncologist-immunologist who’s been specializing in melanoma for 15 years and has published about a hundred papers on the subject, so from the jump, we trusted him completely. During that call, he walked us through every option, being blunt about the fact that the disease will almost certainly return. He mentioned we could try to prevent a recurrence using high-dose interferons, which works in maybe 10% of cases. Interestingly, that’s exactly what the doctors here in the States told us, too. Then he explained that alongside the interferon, he could offer dendritic cell therapy—we could either combine them or just try the vaccine alone. We decided against the combo because the side effects from interferon are brutal.

In the meantime, we switched oncologists and moved from our local clinic over to the Mayo Clinic, where we found out that we can't even get that interferon crap covered by Medicare—it's a joke. When we nervously mentioned that we were planning to head to Germany for experimental treatment, the reaction was eye-opening: the professor there was already familiar with the protocol, gave us his full support, and actually encouraged us to go. He had tried getting his own patients into the program before but kept getting shut down. Honestly, the person who helped us navigate this whole mess the most was Dr. Alexander Soltysik. When we first met him, he immediately suggested the dendritic approach and handed us contacts in Germany, including the very professor we had reached out to independently. While you can get this therapy at private clinics, we ultimately decided to stick with a state-run hospital.

Sorry for the off-topic post, but maybe this helps someone else out there...

gentlemoose62—thanks so much for the support. I was doing some digging just now and found a few articles regarding dendritic cell studies for ovarian cancer; the success rate looks similar to melanoma, with about 20% of late-stage carcinoma patients seeing either complete remission or disease stabilization.

Man, this is incredibly interesting. If you can, please post this over on Carcinomas.com—you can just copy and paste it—so we can keep all this info centralized in one place.

Hey there!
I just wanted to jump in and say that after fighting this "monster" for years, I’ve personally seen the best results using homeopathic products—honestly, Dr. Soltysek was a huge help to me. Plus, I actually just got back from Germany where I was undergoing immunotherapy, and man, it worked wonders. My immune system is completely stabilized now, and I've even got an operation scheduled for January 3rd to finally wipe this thing out for good.
Best, Dan