Resources and support for families dealing with cancer and serious illness

Hi everyone. To those of you still fighting this battle, I’m rooting for you and wishing you all the strength in the world. For my mom, unfortunately, there isn't much hope left; we're just counting down the days now... 😢
She hasn't been able to keep any food or water down, so she was getting IV fluids at home, but even that's becoming impossible because her veins are failing. Honestly, clinging to imaginary hopes isn't helping me anymore either. 👎
So, as far as I'm concerned, my journey on this thread is coming to an end. There's nothing more I can do here. Once again, I wish you all the very best, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your kind words and support. 😉

Best,

Anonymous said:Hey everyone. To those of you still fighting, I truly wish you nothing but success. As for my mom, unfortunately, there’s no hope left—it’s just a matter of time now... 😢
She couldn't keep any food or water down, so we tried home IV therapy, but even that isn't an option anymore because her veins have completely given out. Honestly, clinging to some imaginary miracle isn't doing me any good either. 👎
So, as far as I'm concerned, my part in this discussion is over. There's nothing more I can do. Once again, I wish you all the best, and thank you so much for all the kind words and support. 😉

Best,

I'm sorry, but please, let your hope be the very last thing to die. 😢

It’s always heartbreaking to read about someone losing their loved one; my mind immediately goes to my own mom, but I wanted to share some really wonderful news—it hasn't spread. I know she has chemo and radiation on the horizon now, but honestly, I feel so much lighter knowing this. I’m fully confident that we’re going to power through those treatments together and come out on the other side just fine.
Sending my best to everyone here. I'm keeping all of you, and especially my mom, in my prayers, hoping you'll all be with us for a very long time.

Linda Hill29 said:I am feeling quite happy today. My dad ate reasonably well today, and I can actually see his strength returning; he’s back to his usual moods and facial expressions. He’s talking and commenting more often (he’s always loved a good conversation and socializing), so he is starting to look like his old self again. I feel a bit more secure myself now that I’ve gathered some information and picked up a few things that might help, following the advice you all gave me.

Dad is heading to the hospital this Tuesday to have his stoma removed—that feeding tube inserted directly into the intestine (he hasn't been using it, but they left it there just in case). Does anyone have experience with this? Is it essentially a minor surgical procedure, and does it require general anesthesia?

feralwolf24, thank you for the warning. If something like that happens, I’ll be ready; otherwise, it certainly would have terrified me. You all truly deserve credit—you’ve navigated all of this, stayed brave, and succeeded.

Linda Campbell, I might try Nutricomp, but I’m unsure whether to get the standard version or the diabetic formula. Which one did you use? Dad isn't handling Prosure very well.

It has become a habit for me; constantly monitoring everything. It is such a wonderful feeling to finally have people I can turn to for questions or even just to share my worries. I have never met any of you in person, yet you provide such support. People can truly be wonderful sometimes.

My advice to you is to give him pureed food that you have prepared yourselves, but prioritize what he actually enjoys eating—veal, chicken, turkey, fish—just as we discussed. Nutricomp is excellent, but in my personal opinion (which may differ from yours), keep it as a last resort for when he loses his appetite entirely, which usually happens once chemotherapy begins. Nutricomp comes in various flavors—vanilla, chocolate, hazelnut, and neutral. We used the standard neutral one. Again, I must emphasize: consult your surgeon regarding Megostat, as it really helps stimulate the appetite. I hope you saw that post I sent you the other evening about dandelion seed tea; that also helps open the appetite. Right now, your priority is getting him back to a healthy weight so he can better withstand the chemo. Once the nausea and loss of appetite kick in after treatment, then perhaps Nutricomp will be useful so he doesn't grow to dislike it. I should mention that everyone reacts to chemotherapy differently. With my mother, her hair fell out immediately and she had a horrific time with the first round; she was vomiting terribly for the first two days, was incredibly weak, and felt awful. That lasted exactly 14 days, after which she started regaining her strength—we went hiking frequently in the woods at higher altitudes specifically because of the chemo. She handled the second round fantastically—best of all, she had almost no side effects. The third round went well too, though not quite as smoothly as the second. It all depends on the individual's constitution. That is all from me for now; if you need anything, just shout, I am right here. Best regards.

Megan Perez67 said:It’s heartbreaking reading about someone losing a loved one... it immediately makes me think of my own mom. But, I actually have some good news to share—it HASN'T spread. I know chemo and radiation are coming up next, but I feel so much lighter knowing this. I'm fully convinced we can power through this together and everything will turn out fine.
Sending love to everyone, and I'm praying for all of you and for my mom to be with us for a long, long time.

The fact that it hasn't spread is such incredible news! Her prognosis just got so much better now.
Chemo and radiation will just mop up anything tiny that might be left behind.
That's what they told me too—chemo can take out anything smaller than 0.5 cm. I really think you have every reason to feel relieved and confident that you'll tackle this together and come out okay.
Keep fighting hard together like that!👍

Megan Perez67 said:It is truly heartbreaking to read about someone losing their most cherished loved one; my own mother immediately comes to mind... however, I did receive some positive news today: it hasn't spread. I am aware that chemotherapy and radiation lie ahead, but there is a certain sense of relief now, and I am almost certain that we will navigate through this together and everything will turn out fine.
Sending my best to everyone, and I am keeping all of you, as well as my mother, in my prayers, hoping you all remain with us for a very long time.

That is precisely how one must approach these things: with courage, optimism, and unity, you will endure whatever comes... please, continue to be each other's strength, and the burden will feel lighter. As gentlemoose62 mentioned earlier: everything is going to be alright...

kisses

Linda Campbell said:If I may offer some advice, try feeding him homemade, soft foods; essentially, just give him whatever he actually enjoys eating—be it veal, chicken, turkey, or fish—similar to what we previously suggested. While Nutricomp is excellent, my personal opinion (which you are under no obligation to follow) is that you should save it as a final resort for when his appetite fails, which typically happens once chemotherapy begins. Nutricomp comes in several flavors—vanilla, chocolate, hazelnut, and neutral—and we opted for the standard neutral version. I must reiterate, however, that you should consult your surgeon regarding Megostat, as it truly does stimulate the appetite. I also hope you caught that post I sent you the other evening about Dandelion seed tea; that can also help open up an appetite. Right now, the priority is helping him regain enough weight to better endure the chemo sessions. Once the nausea kicks in and he starts losing weight following treatment, then perhaps Nutricomp will be useful so he doesn't grow tired of the taste. It is worth noting that everyone reacts to chemotherapy differently. My mother experienced immediate hair loss and struggled terribly with the first round; she was vomiting violently for the first two days, feeling incredibly weak and unwell... that lasted exactly 14 days, after which she began to rally. We spent a lot of time hiking in the woods at higher altitudes specifically because of the chemo. Her second round went fantastically—perhaps her best—with almost no side effects at all. The third was also good, though not quite as smooth as the second. It all depends entirely on the individual organism. That is all from me for now; if you need anything, just call out, I am right here... regards.

It all comes down to the individual's constitution, as you so rightly noted. Before heading into her first session, my mother was strong and determined, even if a certain amount of fear was lingering beneath the surface. Her primary anxieties centered on hair loss, and she genuinely feared she wouldn't even make it through the first round. On the day she received it, she was there alongside a lady from a nearby city who felt ill immediately and began vomiting. My father panicked instantly, fearing that if my mother felt sick, she wouldn't be able to stay home (and 186 miles that is no small matter), so he rushed to the pharmacy to grab various preparations to settle any potential nausea. However, seeing that she actually felt fine and wasn't nauseous, my mother grew even stronger. Fortunately, she didn't struggle with vomiting, nor did she have issues with her appetite.

She did undergo six rounds of chemo, each lasting about six hours, and by the second round, she had no trouble eating while receiving the treatment. Unfortunately, I simply do not know which specific medications were administered, so please forgive my ignorance.

Stay strong!

gentlemoose62 said:And now, I want to share my joy with all of you. I just had my follow-up appointment for my ovarian cancer, and everything is GREAT! My doctor actually told me we can move to once-a-year checkups! Can you believe it? Once a year! If someone had told me that seven years ago, or even after my last relapse four and a half years ago, I would have thought they were just being patronizingly kind.
But here it is, the truth: I'm not dreaming, a CURE is possible, even after a recurrence.
My doctor said, "you can consider yourself cured," and that was the first time anyone has ever dared to say something like that to me.
I truly want to use my experience to encourage every fighter out there—to let you know that no matter what happens next, you must never, ever give up!
And finally, I want to dedicate these last words to our greatest warrior, DINI, who is currently recovering from surgery😁. We are all sending our thoughts and prayers your way—please reach out when you have some good news!

Dear, I really expect you to post your story on the "How did you recover" forum. This is such beautiful, absolutely wonderful news!!!

Melissa Kim45 said:Results look good. Next checkup is in a month. 🙏

Melissa Kim45, I'm really glad to hear the results came back okay.
Honestly, you guys were even being talked about over lunch here this past Saturday. 😁
Tell your mom I said hi—she's becoming a local celebrity. Don't take that the wrong way, but we could really use the laugh right now.

We’ve got our own set of "moments" too... I can't even begin to explain it properly, so I won't even try. It's not exactly hilarious, but...
I let my mom hang out the laundry on Sunday (she’s always trying to feel useful and stay busy), and I left her to it. Man, what a sight that was... A photo would have been much more descriptive. It was like watching a scene straight out of a sitcom. 🙄 And heaven forbid you actually tell her she can't do something...

gentlemoose62 said:So, I just have to share some amazing news with all of you. I went in for my ovarian cancer follow-up, and everything is PERFECT! My doctor actually told me we can move to once-a-year checkups! Can you believe that? Once a year! If anyone had told me that seven years ago, or even after my last relapse four and a half years back, I would’ve thought they were just being nice to spare my feelings.
But seriously, it’s real, I’m not dreaming—CURE is possible, even after a relapse.
My doctor literally said, "You can consider yourself cured," and that's the first time I've ever heard someone be that bold about it.
I really want to use my story to encourage everyone else out there fighting this. No matter what happens next, you can never, ever give up!
And finally, I want to dedicate these last words to our biggest warrior, Dina, who is currently recovering from surgery.😁Dina, all our thoughts and prayers are with you—please let us know when you have some good news!

Way to go!!!

Sending love to Dina too—hope she checks in with us soon.

Hey everyone!

So, I spent the day with my mom today—she’s been fighting breast cancer—and we just finished up her follow-up appointment, and honestly, everything looks great so far! This was actually our very first check-in since she wrapped up her treatment just a few days ago. Her tumor markers are all within the normal range, and none of the other scans showed any signs of metastasis, which is such a relief. She has to head back in two months for more testing, but for now, we are just celebrating this win and keeping our chins up... We definitely know that from here on out, her life is going to be a constant cycle of doctor visits and scans, though. Just to give you some context, she was at Stage III with lymph node involvement, so it feels like the therapy really did its job. I am just praying so hard that there won't be a recurrence...🙂 I still have this lingering, heavy feeling in my chest, though, where I can't help but worry that something might be lurking in the shadows; it’s scary, and I know we're entering this phase of month-to-month waiting, just hoping against hope that every single result comes back clear. Sending kisses to you all, we aren't giving up!😉

Carol Sanchez2 said:Hey everyone!

I was out with my mom today—she’s fighting breast cancer—for her follow-up appointment, and so far, everything looks good. This was the first check-up since she wrapped up her treatment just a few days ago. Her tumor markers are within the normal range, and the scans didn't show any signs of metastasis. She has to head back in two months for more testing. We’re feeling relieved and just taking it one step at a time... though we know from here on out, her life is going to be a constant cycle of doctor visits and scans. It was Stage III with lymph node involvement, but it looks like the therapy really did the trick. I’m just praying there isn't a relapse....🙂 Honestly, I still feel this heavy, dull sense of dread. It's like I'm constantly looking over my shoulder, waiting for something to crawl out of the shadows. The anxiety of waiting month after month is real, even when I'm trying to hope that things will stay okay. Sending love to you all—don't give up!😉

Don't let fear take hold! Cancer is like a demon that feeds on anxiety. You have to stay firm and remind yourself that you are the one in control of the illness, not the other way around. Don't let it hijack your existence. Live your life! Your mom and all of you have every reason in the world to live normally and fully!😉 🙂

Greetings to everyone.
I have recently joined this community specifically because I find myself in desperate need of your collective wisdom.

This past summer, my mother-in-law underwent a Whipple procedure to treat pancreatic cancer—meaning they removed part of her pancreas, along with sections of her stomach, duodenum, and bile duct.
As far as I am aware, she has struggled with significant gastric issues, such as gastritis and ulcers, for about fifteen years, so the surgery itself didn't actually resolve those underlying stomach problems. She currently weighs only 95 pounds. She has completed three rounds of chemotherapy, which she seems to tolerate relatively well. My dilemma, however, is that I am at a complete loss regarding what to cook for her and what she can actually eat. She was prescribed Prosure, but her body simply won't tolerate it. I find it impossible to adhere to any standard prescribed diet—like those typically recommended for pancreatic conditions—because she has cut out almost all meat, eating only the occasional bit of turkey, chicken, or white fish. She is also attempting to eliminate all fats entirely (she will even scrape the thin layer of chocolate off diabetic wafers). Eggs are out, and we have eliminated all milk and dairy because they cause her excruciating pain. Legumes and gas-inducing vegetables are off the table, and macrobiotics isn't an option since the heavy reliance on grains and beans causes such intense bloating that she doubles over in pain, likely due to poor intestinal motility.
I feel quite overwhelmed. I truly don't know what food to provide that might help her start gaining weight.
Since she is barely taking in any nutrients, she is becoming increasingly frail; over the last two days, her blood pressure has been very low and her pulse has dropped to 49.
Currently, she is taking aloe vera, receiving vitamin injections, using Immunomax, and taking pediatric anti-bloating drops.
If anyone could offer any advice, suggestions, or perhaps point me toward a previous discussion on this topic, I would be deeply grateful.
Thank you in advance.

Sophia Price5 said:Hi everyone!
I joined this forum recently because I am desperate for some help.

This past summer, my mother-in-law underwent a Whipple procedure for pancreatic cancer (so they removed part of her pancreas along with portions of her stomach, duodenum, bile duct, etc.).
She’s been battling stomach issues—like gastritis and ulcers—for about 15 years now, so the surgery didn't actually fix those underlying problems. She currently weighs only 95 pounds. She has completed three rounds of chemo, which she seems to handle relatively well. My absolute biggest struggle right now is simply knowing what to cook for her and what she can actually eat. She was prescribed Prosure, but she just can't tolerate it. I can't even follow a standard prescribed diet (like a specific pancreatic cancer diet) because she has completely cut out meat—she'll only touch turkey, chicken, or the occasional white fish. She’s also trying to strip away all fats (she’ll literally scrape the thin layer of chocolate off diabetic wafers). Eggs are out. We had to ditch milk and dairy entirely because they cause her excruciating pain. She can't have legumes or any vegetables that cause bloating, and macrobiotics is totally off the table because it's too heavy on grains and beans, which make her bloat so badly she doubles over in pain (her gut motility is just shot).
I am at my wits' end. I have no idea what to feed her to help her gain any weight at all.
Since she isn't taking in almost any nutrients, she’s getting weaker by the day. For the last two days, her blood pressure has been bottoming out and her pulse is down to 49.
Right now, she’s taking aloe vera, getting vitamin injections, using Immunomax, and taking pediatric anti-bloating drops.
If anyone has any advice, ideas, or if you've discussed this here before, please send me a link.
Thanks in advance.

These might help: this page and this one. I hope your English is good enough to get through them. If you have trouble understanding anything, let me know and I'll help you out.

Thank you for your response. I have copied the pages and intend to translate them, then I suppose we shall see how that works out.

Sophia Price5 said:Thanks for getting back to me. I've copied the pages and I'm going to translate them to see if we can make sense of how this actually works.

I think you're going to have to find a middle ground here—a sweet spot between these two extremes. From what I can gather, they're recommending a high-fiber diet, but you're saying she can't handle any kind of macrobiotic approach at all. You'll have to find a way to balance it. Maybe try making everything into purees or soft mashes; it'll take some of the strain off her stomach.

Angela Wright said:There is no reason to be afraid. Cancer is nothing more than a demon that feeds on fear itself...

I find myself in complete agreement with this sentiment... kisses

I’ve been lurking here for a while now, reading through everyone's posts, and I finally worked up the nerve to chime in...
My family is also fighting a battle against a tumor—specifically, my father's brain tumor recurrence. He had his first surgery back in 1999, but during an MRI checkup in December 2006, we found out the tumor had returned. Because of the treatments he underwent in '99, chemo and radiation were completely off the table, and surgery wasn't an option anymore either. So, we turned to alternative methods. Regardless of what anyone thinks about it, I can tell you from experience that it actually helped my dad. In fact, his November 2007 MRI showed that compared to the previous scan from a year prior, the tumor hadn't spread or grown at all. I don't even need to explain how much that meant to us...
That said, my dad has bad days where things get rough, and he is never, ever alone. Someone is always by his side, and sometimes—though not always—we have to step in to help him with meals or other basic needs.
Thanks, Angela Wright, for starting this thread. The truth is, if you haven't lived through something like this, you won't understand, no matter how much you want to.

Linda Peterson37 said:I’ve been lurking here for a while, reading through everyone’s posts, and I finally worked up the nerve to actually say something...
My family is currently fighting our own battle against a brain tumor—specifically, a recurrence in my dad. He had his first surgery back in 1999, but during an MRI checkup in December 2006, we found out the tumor was back. Because of the treatments he went through in '99, standard chemo or radiation were completely off the table, and surgery wasn't an option anymore either. So, we turned to alternative methods. Regardless of what anyone thinks about that approach, I can tell you from firsthand experience that it helped my dad. In fact, his November 2007 MRI showed that compared to the previous scan from a year prior, the tumor hadn't spread or grown at all. I don't even need to tell you how much that meant to us...
That said, there are days when Dad feels much worse than others. He’s never alone for even a single minute; someone is always by his side, and sometimes—though not every day—we have to step in and help him with meals or other basic needs.
Thanks, Angela Wright, for starting this thread. The truth is, if you haven't lived through something like this, you simply can't understand it, no matter how much you want to.

Welcome!🙂
Could you please tell us a bit more about the specific type of brain tumor he's dealing with and exactly what kind of alternative treatments he’s been using?

It’s an astrocytoma, a type of tumor that has a massive tendency to recur.
After the initial shock hit back in December 2006 when we found out the tumor was back, it gave me this sudden surge of strength to try and find anything that might help my dad. After spending countless hours scouring the internet, talking to cancer survivors, and digging through various books, Dad started out on the macrobiotic diet.
Michia Kushia's book on treating cancer and leukemia through nutrition was a huge help to us. Unfortunately, Dad gave up on macrobiotics after six months because he complained about the food constantly. We couldn't monitor every single thing he ate since we weren't by his side 24/7, so he ended up eating things he shouldn't have. Besides the diet, he started using a Rife's generator—a device that produces specific electrical waves for different ailments to stop them from progressing—along with a variety of immune-boosting supplements.
I recently heard that holly extracts are highly effective, so I'm wondering if anyone here has experience with those? I also heard shark cartilage capsules might help, so if anyone knows anything...