Resources and support for families dealing with cancer and serious illness

dustyranger11 said:Hey there. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that my dad was scheduled for surgery. Well, they ended up pulling the plug on the operation. They’re claiming his heart is too weak—he’s only 55, though he does have four stents. Honestly, the cardiologists say his heart is fine, but the anesthesiologist won't sign off on it. He actually went to see a private specialist today, and that doctor told him he could undergo both anesthesia and surgery without any issues at all. So, starting Monday, he’s moving on to radiation. Some people are telling me I shouldn't let him go through with the radiation, or that I should push to get him transferred to a different hospital because they refuse to operate on the rib, even though they technically could. It feels like cowardice. I'm wondering, if he goes through with the radiation (which lasts about two weeks), and the cancer hasn't receded, can he still go straight into surgery? Or will the radiation have caused too much damage?

brisktinker7 said:And thirdly, which is actually what matters most to me, is where to go for treatment, advice, or anything else, because while medical care here might be okay, the actual treatment protocols feel a bit shaky....
We want a second, third, eighth, even a fifteenth opinion just to make sure we've exhausted every single possibility....I should mention that my dad (who this is about) is in a pretty good headspace, he's determined to beat this, he has a lot of support around him, and nobody has spiraled into depression (not even sadness in front of him)......
..I'm rambling again....I really wanted to ask where all those politicians and wealthy, ordinary people go for treatment abroad?....We don't have the money, but I’ll turn everything upside down to find them...right now, though, it's harder just finding the addresses of institutions that even deal with this stuff..
..please help.....

Amanda Nelson54 said:Hey everyone!

Just wanted to share some good news—the results from the second biopsy are CLEAR! There's no new tumor! It turned out to be just an inflammatory process in the sinus. They'll repeat the biopsy in a month just to be 100% sure, but for now, everything is okay.
I can't even tell you how happy I am...

Otherwise, Dad isn't doing great; he's had the flu for 10 days now. His fever has dropped to 99, but he's weak as a wet noodle, barely able to stand on his feet. But, I hope he'll bounce back soon, especially now that he knows the results are good. If anyone has any good suggestions on how to get him back to normal faster, please let me know...

Greetings to all!

Melissa Kim45 said:Meanwhile, Mom managed to kill the goldfish.😁
Basically, she had this mutant goldfish that’s been alive for God knows how many years, and she kept the water filled almost to the brim in the tank. I can't be expected to watch every single thing.
Even though there was a mesh cover on it—slightly frayed at the edges—the fish apparently just slipped out and landed on the floor. She didn't even realize it was gone. She kept insisting it was still in there and asking me why "I couldn't see it," right up until I picked it up off the ground.
She’s started building up her own little stash of forbidden pills again. She goes for walks with the housekeeper (the one who comes by three hours a day), sends her off to CVS for something, while she ducks into the pharmacy next door. Naturally, the woman went overboard, and now Mom has hoarded a bunch of tranquilizers and painkillers. When she started snoring heavily in front of the TV, and then it happened again the next day, I realized something was wrong and did a full sweep. Today, my gut tells me she's doing it again, but I can't prove a damn thing. 😁
I can't even explain to her that I froze up because I thought her blood pressure was spiking again, which would mean her cancer might be flaring back up. She doesn't grasp it, and I don't even try to tell her anymore; she just can't comprehend how certain moments hit us. Well, she *does* know that Ljubičić won, though. 😁
She absolutely loves tennis—sports in general. Eurosport is one of her favorite channels.😕

She’s in college and texts her cousin living abroad every single day. Since I’ve been oversleeping at her place more often lately, I told her that if her professors email her tomorrow (since they always send those emails at the crack of dawn), she should imagine the emails are flying through the air. She agreed to turn the volume down, but now she’s terrified she won't hear the notifications if it's muted. 😛

Angela Wright said:Look, girl, I know you don't mean anything by it and you might actually get annoyed with me, but honestly, your posts and all those stories about your mom always have me laughing until I cry. You two are just such a handful😍
I really hope your nerves hold up, because I seriously admire how you deal with all of this.🙏

Laura Moore75 said:Hi everyone,

I’m unfortunately new here. I'm joining because my father was just diagnosed with lung cancer. We're currently waiting on the bronchoscopy results to figure out the specific type.
Could you please recommend a specialist in New York City for a second opinion? I'd also appreciate any insights on immune boosters or if anyone has experience with drugs currently in clinical trials. Thank you in advance.

Melissa Kim45 said:Greetings to everyone, both the regulars and the newcomers. 🙂

Even abroad, people face misdiagnoses, incorrect treatments, or insufficient care... It isn't as if people overseas are all miracle workers, just as it's unfair to assume Americans are too incompetent to know anything. Traveling was never an option for us—not just because of the likely cost, but because Mom’s condition was, and still is, far too fragile for any kind of trip. I’ve spent my time scouring the internet, following various groups, reading, and talking to people (though mostly listening, actually, and very little speaking myself). The necessary information eventually found its way to me; I simply let the right answers select themselves.

In short, I am keeping my fingers crossed for you. 🙂
I realize that isn't tangible help, but—keep searching, keep looking, and things will work out. This is merely my support.

Well done. 👍

It is heartening to read such good news, and I am happy for all of you who bring hope to this space. Even the act of hoping we can endure the struggle is, in itself, a form of hope.

Dad will get stronger, though please do not be disappointed if that doesn't happen overnight. Just persist, stay steady, and it will be alright. 🙂
I can also recommend native propolis; my mother takes that along with royal jelly from the same producer. Proper nutrition is just as vital. For supplements, she takes B-complex and magnesium. Everything else is taken by the spoonful or with a fork, or sipped from a cup. Medications are a different matter entirely, but I believe we have reduced them to the bare minimum, which is what she is on now. For the time being.

Meanwhile, within my own family (and I don't have much of one), there are two other cases of cancer.🙄

Mom managed to kill the fish in the meantime.😁
You see, she had some sort of mutant goldfish that has lived for goodness knows how many years, and she kept filling the aquarium almost to the brim. One cannot monitor every single detail.
Despite being covered by a mesh lid, though somewhat frayed at the edges, the fish apparently just slipped out and landed on the floor. She didn't even notice it was gone. She kept insisting it was still inside and asking why "I couldn't see it," until I finally picked it up off the floor.
She has once again built up a stockpile of forbidden pills. She goes for walks with the housekeeper (the one who comes three hours a day), sends her to CVS for something, and then the woman heads to the pharmacy (they are right next to each other). Naturally, the woman gave in, and Mom ended up buying a stash of sedatives and painkillers. When she started snoring heavily in front of the TV, and then when it happened again the next day, I realized something was wrong and did a thorough search. Today, she’s acting suspicious again, but I can't prove a thing. 😁
Nor can I explain to her that I froze in fear because I first thought her sodium levels were dropping again, which would mean the cancer had flared up. She doesn't grasp that, nor do I attempt to tell her; she can no longer truly understand how certain moments impact us. Well, she does know that Ljubičić won, though. 😁
She absolutely loves tennis—sports in general. Eurosport is one of her favorite channels.😕

She’s still in college and spends her days messaging her cousin living abroad... every single day. Since I’ve been oversleeping at her place more often lately, I told her that if her professors decide to wake her up tomorrow—because they love sending those emails in the crack of dawn—she should just imagine the notifications are flying right past her... She agreed to silence her phone, but now she's terrified she might actually miss an important update because she muted everything.😛

Nathan Bailey said:I don't usually jump into these debates—I'm more the type to observe from the sidelines—but I just can't stay silent when it comes to the topic of healing, so I'm addressing Sandra Martin60 directly.
Don't you think you've essentially tossed a scrap of meat to a pack of dogs starving for a cure? If you actually brought your treatment methods out into the open, success would be a mathematical certainty! So, tell me—why on earth haven't you done it yet?
According to your view, we’re all just blind, and that's why we're losing this fight. I’m not using the phrase "we are dying" because I'm some sort of martyr—I'm young, I have a small child, and my husband is battling an inoperable glioblastoma. Of course I'm "blind"—all I see is my oncologist.

Sandra Martin60 said:Look, Leny, I’ll get into the full ingredient list and the exact treatment protocol for cancer later this afternoon. I'm stuck at work right now and keep getting pulled away from my desk.
I just want to make it clear that I was once right where everyone else in this group is—fighting the same battle—and I managed to go from being seriously ill to being completely healthy in just three months.

Jerry Smith11 said:Our little Mo (13 years old) has been at the Mayo Clinic oncology ward for seven days now. It’s a soft tissue sarcoma near her left hip. We are just waiting on the biopsy results, which should come in over the next few days...

Please... we need help. Once those results arrive, what is our move? Do we simply put our faith in the doctors and pray to God, or...? I feel like we absolutely need a second opinion—but who do we even turn to? If anyone has any information or guidance, please.

Right now, the wonderful people at the Krijesnica Association are helping us get by. I came across slyseal28 and her story, which was eye-opening. The website Zanovidan.hr has also been a huge resource for info, though unfortunately, I can't access their forum at the moment...

This is all so new, so raw; it feels impossible to process. As parents, we are in complete shock. But we are trying to keep our heads up and realize that we have to start fighting. We just know we can't do this alone.

We are endlessly grateful for any word of advice or support you can offer.
Thank you, kind souls.
Little Mo's parents
email: zaMaluMo@gmail.com

Jerry Smith11 said:Our little Mo, who’s only thirteen, has been at the Mayo Clinic oncology ward for seven days now. It's a soft tissue sarcoma near her left hip. We're just sitting here, waiting on the biopsy results to come back in the next few days...

Please... I need some help here. Once those test results actually come back, what’s the move? Do we just hand everything over to the doctors and leave it in God's hands, or is there more to it? It feels like we really ought to be seeking out a second opinion—but who do we even turn to? If anyone has any insight or can point us in the right direction, please, let us know.

We’ve been getting a ton of help from the wonderful folks over at the Krijesnica Association lately. I actually stumbled upon slyseal28 and her situation, which is a pretty fascinating case study. Honestly, zanovidan.hr has been my go-to for digging up info on their site, though it’s a real bummer that I can't access their forum at the moment.

This is all brand new, still raw, and honestly, it’s hitting us incredibly hard. As parents, we’re sitting here in total shock. But look, we're pulling ourselves together because we realize there's no choice but to start fighting back. We just know we can't win this battle if we try to go it alone.

We can't thank you enough for everything you've said and all the help you've given us.
Thanks to you all, good people.
Little Mo's parents.
email: Jerry Smith11@gmail.com

Jerry Smith11 said:Once those test results actually come back, what’s the move? Are we just supposed to hand everything over to the doctors and leave it in God's hands, or is there more to it than that?

brisktinker7 said:Hi everyone,

Unfortunately, I’m in the same boat...
I've spent days glued to my computer searching for information on gallbladder tumors, and of course, it's all pretty grim. But whether by design or coincidence, I noticed that sidebars on these sites always leave space to remind you that, at the end of the day, statistics are just statistics...
Sorry for the tangent, my brain hasn't been functioning at its best these last two weeks..

I wanted to ask if anyone else has encountered specific treatment paths. I saw online that combining Tarcev with Gemcitabine can yield better results, but I assume that isn't how things are handled here....is Gemcitabine the only option for gallbladder issues used in our local hospitals?

My second question is: has anyone had success using those Myko San mushrooms?

And third—which is actually the most important part—where should we go for treatment? I'm looking for advice or anything helpful because while the medical care here is decent, the actual treatment options feel a bit limited....
We want to get a second, third, eighth, or even fifteenth opinion, just to be absolutely certain we've explored every single avenue. I should mention that my dad (who this is about) is in a really strong headspace; he's determined to beat this, he has a great support system around him, and no one has let themselves slip into depression (we aren't even showing sadness in front of him)......
..I'm rambling again....I was wondering where all the politicians and wealthy individuals go when they seek treatment abroad? We don't have unlimited funds, but I am willing to turn everything upside down to find the right path...right now, I'm just struggling to find the names of institutions that specialize in this kind of thing..
..Please help me.....

brisktinker7 said:Greetings once again to everyone,

I am honestly quite lost regarding what we should even be looking into, so I thought I would perhaps gather a little bit of information on various topics just to figure out where to begin...

I realize that doctors from abroad are not magic healers, but we had this experience where my father began chemotherapy, and his oncologist hadn't even bothered to meet him... I suppose she was part of the team coordinating the treatment, but the woman never actually came to introduce herself to the man she was supposed to be treating, and his gastroenterologist—who is a wonderful person—has nothing more to do with the matter now... We drove all the way to New York just to get confirmation of the therapy, and you can imagine the confusion when there was absolutely no record of which specific regimen they had prescribed, nor had they met their own oncologist; people in NYC were simply left bewildered...

Then, my parents insisted that the doctor actually see him, and fine, that eventually happened, only for the chemotherapy to be called into question during his third visit due to low platelet counts... Naturally, the nurse cannot make the decision on whether to proceed with the chemo or not... and there was no sign of the oncologist—and it wasn't as if she was on vacation or anything... no one could track her down, and in the end, his gastroenterologist had to decide to cancel the chemo for three days...

To me, this feels incredibly unprofessional, because I make sure to return calls to my clients, yet my actions don't involve human lives... I assume one should actually perform their job properly...???
On the other hand, I suspect my father would be devastated if he were sent overseas for treatment... perhaps it might be better if he stayed closer to the coast... though I truly do not know anymore...

Regarding the drug Tarceva, even at the American university of pharmacy, they didn't seem to have much to say about it; there was a study, and it is used here for lung cancer, but not for gastric cancer, even though I believe it is primarily used for that abroad...

Sigh... my thoughts are racing and I feel as though I haven't quite finished expressing everything I intended to say... and what are your thoughts on those medicinal mushrooms? Does anyone have experience with them... things like MycoSan...

Angela Wright;7125683 said:Because people facing serious illness—including their families and loved ones—are going through such an incredibly tough time, and because our society just doesn't provide enough psychological support or real help, I decided to start this forum. I've been right there in the thick of it myself, so I want us to be able to lean on each other and share advice and support.

COULD A COMMON TYPE OF FUNGI BE THE CAUSE OF CANCER?
By Tullio Simoncini

The hypothesis here is that cancer is actually caused by an infection from a very common fungus called Candida albicans. The good news? It can be treated with strong antimycotics that aren't subject to being patented.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy almost exclusively cause negative side effects. They aren't effective, and they are incredibly toxic to your tissues, which actually ends up helping the fungi grow even more aggressively.

Candida is extremely sensitive to sodium bicarbonate (that's baking soda). This makes sense because Candida loves to multiply in acidic environments, so you have to reduce the acidity in the body.
http://www.curenaturalicancro.com/

The best way to try and eliminate a tumor is to get it in direct contact with sodium bicarbonate as much as possible. We're talking oral use for the digestive tract, enemas for the rectum, vaginal/uterine rinses, IV injections for the lungs and brain, and inhalation for the upper respiratory tract.
The full cycle involves 6 days of treatment followed by 6 days off, and you repeat that whole process 4 times. The main side effects you'll deal with are thirst and feeling weak. For skin cancer, you apply 7% iodine tincture to the area once a day for 20-30 days to build up multiple layers of scabs. You can even use this procedure for psoriasis.

Just ask yourselves: how many cases do you actually know of where conventional medicine actually cured cancer?! My personal take is that we should consider every method that is safe—and let's face it, chemo is definitely not safe.