Resources and support for families dealing with cancer and serious illness

New member having PM.
Best regards,

restlesscanyon16 said:...The recurrence is inoperable, so they suggested whole-brain radiation plus Temozolomide. But honestly? The doctors aren't optimistic at all. In fact, since Medicare won't cover Temozolomide for this specific grade of tumor, the doctor straight-up told us we're just throwing money down the drain—and we're talking about a massive amount of cash here—because he doesn't think the treatment will even work anyway. 😲😲

We’ve dealt with glioblastoma (grade 4) in our family, and during a chat with my mom's oncologist, she mentioned that Temozolomide actually works better on astrocytomas than on the type of glioblastoma covered by Medicare.
That’s just what I've gathered from what we went through.

I’ve said this more times than I can count, and I’ll say it again: when doctors start talking about a lack of hope or something along those lines, that is exactly when you need to dig in and fight the hardest. You have to look past their statistics and grim prognoses because those are just broad estimates based on massive data sets. Your family member isn't just some number on a spreadsheet; they are a human being, a unique individual with their own specific journey through life.

On another note, I don't know much about this specific diagnosis, but I do know a story that's very similar regarding a brain tumor. A man was told not to waste any more money or energy, basically advised to just go home and wait for the end. Instead, he went straight to his local pharmacy, spent everything he had on chemotherapy treatments—even driving all the way across the country to get them—and explored various alternative therapies without ever giving up on himself. That was two years ago. Today, he is doing great, living a full and healthy life, and he serves as a huge inspiration to us in our own struggles.

Thirdly, I'm not sure if this link has gone dead in recent research updates—http://www.braintumor.org/SurvivorSt...p_StoryID=3937—but I think it serves as a perfect example of how someone can survive even a diagnosis like this and move forward with their life.

So, my advice to all the moms out there, especially when dealing with this illness and the medical teams, is to just stay brave. I might not have a concrete answer to the specific question being asked, but I really hope I’ve helped lift everyone's spirits at least a little bit. :-)

fadedcanyon89 said:Greetings to everyone out there!
I must confess, I find myself drawn to this particular discussion for rather somber reasons, as a difficult illness has unfortunately taken hold within my own family. It is a heavy burden to carry, truly, but I have found that reading through your various posts provides a strange sort of solace; there is a certain comfort in realizing that I am not wandering through this dark forest entirely alone. 😢
It feels like just yesterday—well, actually, exactly one month ago—that my father underwent surgery to remove a section of his colon, about 12 inches of it, which the surgeons managed to reconnect quite successfully. At the time, his pre-op scans looked incredibly promising, showing absolutely nothing out of the ordinary in the surrounding areas. We were all feeling so optimistic! However, things took a sudden and rather jarring turn when his post-operative markers started climbing, which naturally prompted a follow-up scan just a few days ago. It is truly heartbreaking to share that the new imaging revealed two metastases in his liver. He didn't waste any time at all, though, and he has already begun chemotherapy to fight this head-on.
From what I have gathered through my own extensive reading and various discussions on the subject, it seems that while chemotherapy can certainly work to shrink liver metastases, it rarely makes them vanish entirely on its own; rather, the primary goal is often just to reduce their size, which then potentially opens the door for surgical intervention to physically remove them, provided they remain small enough to be manageable!
Does anyone out there have a similar experience to share, or maybe even just a bit of advice? Honestly, I’m just looking for anything at all to help me navigate this massive wave of sadness that seems to be crashing over me right now. I am fully aware that we are looking at Stage IV, and I know deep down that the prognosis isn't exactly bright, but I can't help myself—I find myself searching for a glimmer of hope. Is there anyone out there who might be able to offer a little encouragement, perhaps by sharing a story where things turned out much more fortunately than expected? I just really need to feel like there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

Regarding the whole chemotherapy situation, I’ve been wondering if there’s any actual logic in taking certain supplements to give my immune system a bit of a boost. Everything just hit me out of nowhere—one day you're fine, and the next, you're staring down a medical mountain—so I’m still in that stage where I'm frantically reading up on everything and trying to make sense of it all. I’ve even heard people whispering about this fungal therapy approach, which sounds a bit wild to me, but does anyone here actually have real-world experience with that?

I am just so incredibly grateful for every single bit of help and advice you all have shared with me! It truly means the world.

I find myself in a remarkably similar predicament regarding my own father...

I noticed you’ve started an open thread over on the forums! Welcome to the official community forum for 60 Minutes!.

There is also quite a wealth of information available right here on the forum if you know where to look! Medtronic.

I'm doing my homework. I'm reading everything I can get my hands on, including those two news sites mentioned earlier.

Now I need some help with immune boosters. I need to grab something ASAP. What are you all recommending? Any personal experiences would be helpful.

Elizabeth Gonzalez55 said:I’ve said this a million times and I’ll say it again: when doctors tell you there’s no hope (or whatever version of that), that’s exactly when you need to start fighting the hardest. Forget their stats and their "prognoses"—those are just broad guesses based on huge groups of people. Your family member *isn't* just a number—they’re a human being, a unique individual with their own path.

Second off, I don't know much about this specific diagnosis, but I know a similar story involving a brain tumor—doctors told him not to waste money or energy, basically telling him to go home and wait for the end. Instead, he hit up the nearest pharmacy, shelled out a ton for chemo, drove halfway across the US to get treatment, tried various alternative stuff, and never once gave up on himself. That was two years ago. Today? He’s doing great, healthy, and he’s a massive inspiration for us in our own fight.

Third, I'm not sure if this page "broke" in the search results— http://www.braintumor.org/SurvivorSt...p_StoryID=3937—but I think it’s proof that you can actually survive even with a diagnosis like this one.

So, hang in there everyone—especially you, mama. Don't let the disease or the doctors get you down. Just stay brave. Maybe I don't have a perfect answer to the specific question asked, but I hope I helped boost morale a little bit. :-)

Man, that doctor's attitude totally caught us off guard. I mean, isn't their job to actually try and treat people? Not just send you packing and tell you not to waste cash... honestly, it makes you wonder if they're just looking for a kickback to show even a shred of optimism, even if it's fake. 🤷
Obviously, their opinion isn't gonna stop us from fighting with everything we've got. And thanks for the link—haven't seen it yet, but it definitely gives us some hope. 👍

restlesscanyon16 said:That doctor’s perspective was honestly a bit jarring, wasn't it? One would assume their primary objective is to actually heal people—or at least attempt to—rather than simply dismissing us and suggesting we stop throwing money down the drain... it almost makes you wonder if they are just looking for an excuse to pad their own pockets by offering a modicum of optimism, even if it is entirely unearned... 🤷
Naturally, their cynical outlook won't deter us from fighting as hard as we possibly can, and I appreciate you sharing this link; I hadn't come across it yet, but it certainly offers a glimmer of hope. 👍

Money is such a subjective concept when it comes to one's personal wealth. If any level of assistance can make a difference, even if the medical professionals characterize it as "futile," then it remains worthwhile. In our situation, financial considerations were never the priority; our only goal was to support my mother in every way imaginable. Had we hesitated, she wouldn't be able to make her usual sarcastic remarks about how relative money truly is: "When I finally came around after surgery, I saw an ad in the paper for a fully loaded red Alfa Romeo... the price tag looked like pocket change compared to what my operation cost." None of us regret pouring everything we have into her recovery, because we believe in the fight...

Do not falter and keep fighting... especially when the doubts seem most overwhelming. Stay strong... kisses

fadedcanyon89 said:Hi everyone.
Unfortunately, a serious illness in my family has brought me to this thread. It feels a little easier just reading your posts and knowing I’m not alone in this 😢
About a month ago, my father had surgery for colon cancer (they removed about 12 inches and successfully reconnected everything). His pre-op CT scans looked fine. However, his markers spiked after the surgery, and a recent CT scan unfortunately showed two metastases in his liver. He started chemotherapy immediately.
From what I understand, chemo can shrink liver metastases, but it won't make them disappear—surgical removal is usually the only way if they are small enough.
Has anyone dealt with something similar? I'm looking for advice, experiences, or honestly just anything to help ease this massive weight of sadness I'm carrying. I know we're talking Stage IV here and the prognosis isn't great, but I’m desperate for someone to share a success story to give me some hope.

Regarding the chemo, does it make sense to take any specific supplements to boost his immune system? Since this all hit us out of nowhere, I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything. I've even heard mentions of fungal treatments—has anyone actually tried that?

I am incredibly grateful for any help or advice you can offer.

In my experience, Avastin is the most effective chemo option for those types of liver metastases resulting from colon cancer.
You should also check out the association's forum. There is an entire dedicated thread specifically for colon cancer with liver involvement.

restlesscanyon16 said:I've been scouring forums and websites for days now, desperately hunting for anything encouraging regarding astrocytomas. Specifically, I’m looking for real stories from people who managed to beat it or, at the very least, found a way to live a high-quality life despite it... but I'm coming up empty. A family member is currently battling a Grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma (it’s a recurrence of a Grade 2 astrocytoma that was partially resected and treated with Gamma Knife three years ago). This recurrence is inoperable. The suggested plan is whole-brain radiation combined with Temodal, but the doctors aren't being optimistic at all. In fact, because Medicare doesn't cover Temodal for this specific tumor grade, the doctor literally told us we were just throwing money down the drain since the treatment won't work anyway 😲😲 I mean, WTF? Are we just supposed to throw our hands up in the air and wait for the worst? Obviously, we aren't about to just give up—it's not the money that's the main concern here—but we are desperately seeking someone's experience, someone who has walked this path and is still with us. If anyone on this forum knows someone we could contact to share their positive experiences or provide even a shred of hope regarding this specific type of tumor, we would be incredibly grateful. Feel free to PM me; any information is more than welcome!

🙏🙏

On
the website , ctpaba posted about her father, who essentially rose from the dead after fighting GBM at the Mayo Clinic. She left an address and a phone number. Honestly, I think you have nothing to lose by reaching out and asking questions.

New member, , check your PMs. My dad is also dealing with a brain astrocytoma, so I want to share as much as I can—what we’ve dealt with and the alternative methods we used to boost his immunity and try to slow down the tumor's growth.

Dear fellow members,

Doctors will almost certainly never tell you that you can overcome cancer through proper nutrition and apricot kernels—*WATCH THIS VIDEO*
It isn’t their fault, really; they aren't taught this in medical school. The issue lies within the entire Western medical establishment, which focuses on managing symptoms rather than ever actually addressing the root causes of illness.
The word "cure" is considered taboo in those circles, yet they are more than happy to prescribe endless, lifelong medication regimens without a second thought.
Unfortunately, when it comes to Big Pharma, profit margins always take precedence over human lives.

Philip Day is fighting to bring truth back to medicine, teaching people how to heal themselves—how to take control and heal from cancer and various other ailments that conventional doctors would typically try to treat with a mountain of pills...

I won't beat around the bush: I truly believe there are viable alternatives to chemotherapy, radiation, and the brutal surgical procedures that leave people broken.

Stories from those who have recovered:
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?...61582609712661
And here is a book regarding the "cancer mafia":
http://credencegroup.co.uk/zen/index...products_id=14

Best regards to everyone!

P.S. I have already shared a post regarding the "cancer mafia," so please go back and review that one as well!

Hey Anna,
Speaking as someone whose mother spent her first six months relying solely on macrobiotics, bioenergy, and homeopathy—only to end up with a relapse—I’m telling you straight: you cannot treat CANCER using nothing but alternative methods.
I appreciate you sharing what you know, but your claim is fundamentally wrong and totally baseless. Real medical claims require rock-solid scientific evidence backed by years of rigorous clinical studies and peer-reviewed research.
In my view, the effectiveness of what you mentioned is about as significant as the benefits of noni and aloe vera. They're healthy, they won't hurt you, and they might help support overall wellness, but for heaven's sake, they don't cure cancer. We see countless people claiming they were healed just by using noni and aloe, but anecdotal stories aren't truth; truth requires legitimate proof. Can you wrap your head around that? My mom took noni every single day from the moment she was diagnosed until just before she passed away—that's two years and four months of following the recommended dosage—and it didn't cure her. Believe me, there is a massive crowd of people just like you who worship this stuff as an absolute panacea for everything. Let's stop deluding ourselves and presenting something incredibly obvious as fact when it simply isn't. It is beyond irritating, especially for those of us who have stared this problem in the face and actually taken the time to dig deeper into the reality of the situation.

Hi everyone,

If anyone is looking for resources, the website http://www.cancertutor.com/ lists almost every alternative treatment available for specific types of cancer.
It’s about the only site I’ve come across that covers them with any sense of objectivity. When you dig through the links and the content on those pages, you always find testimonials from people claiming a specific treatment actually worked for them.
I believe there is truth in those stories. It’s just common sense—there will always be someone who recovered by using a certain method.
Unfortunately, I haven't read anything regarding the number of people for whom these alternative treatments failed. I'm sure there are plenty of such cases.
Some of these methods have already been discussed here, and both Emily and Indigo22 have posted about them. To be blunt, Indigo22’s posts are well below any civilized level of communication, especially on a forum like this where we are all fighting for our lives or the lives of our loved ones. Thank God she got through her ordeal, but the rest of us are still living in uncertainty. Our only goal here should be helping one another with advice, not insulting each other.

In the whole discussion surrounding alternative treatments in America, I feel like something is missing: "alternative oncologists"—specialists who could recommend a specific protocol for a specific type of malignancy. There are so many alternative options out there, and having that kind of guidance would be invaluable to anyone choosing to go that route. I assume only the bravest souls would opt for an alternative based solely on hearing a story about someone else's recovery. As far as I can see, the uncertainty of success is virtually the same as it is with conventional medicine. The only problem is that there isn't a professional out there to tell you when it's time to switch tactics if the chosen alternative fails to work.

Until that happens, mainstream medicine, with all its virtues and flaws, remains our reality.
Regardless of the shortcomings of modern medicine, I wouldn't recommend anyone abandon it entirely.

What I find acceptable (and what my wife actually uses) is complementary therapy alongside standard medical treatment. Complementary therapy involves a range of supplements, but it never rejects the medical foundation. And of course, everything is done under the consultation and supervision of a professional.

Whatever path someone chooses, I hope they receive God's help in finding success. We all have the exact same goal: for ourselves or our loved ones to get healthy.

Best regards, and stay strong.

restlesscanyon16 said:Honestly, hearing a doctor take such a cynical stance was a bit of a shock to our system. At the end of the day, their whole purpose is to heal people—or at least give it their absolute best shot—rather than just sending you home and telling you not to waste your money. It almost makes you wonder if they’re just feeling the financial pressure themselves and trying to play it safe rather than offering even a glimmer of optimism, even if it's uncertain. 🤷
Of course, their skepticism isn't going to stop us from fighting this battle with everything we've got. And thank you so much for sharing that link! I haven't had a chance to dive into it yet, but it certainly feels like a beacon of hope. 👍

Oh my goodness... I truly have nothing but wonderful things to say about the medical team over at Mayo Clinic, specifically working alongside Professor Paladin and Professor Miklic. They stood right there in the trenches with us during the incredibly difficult fight against the brain tumor my little boy was facing. Not once did they make us feel hopeless; in fact, they were constant sources of encouragement. They would always talk to us about survivors and discuss various alternative treatments too. They were never dismissive or blunt about whether an alternative approach might work or not; quite the opposite, they actually encouraged us to explore those paths. Even when things reached a point where it felt like we were running out of options, they stayed by our side, providing comfort and strength... 😢, and they made themselves available to us whenever we needed them, no matter the hour. I also have to mention Dr. Santek from oncology, whom my son absolutely adored. It really catches me off guard when I hear such cold, clinical statements from doctors who really ought to
work on their bedside manner and learn how to communicate with families in a more compassionate way... 😢 😢

Carol Hernandez94 said:I have to mention Dr. Santek from the oncology department at Mayo Clinic, whom my little boy absolutely adored... It always catches me off guard when doctors drop these cold, detached remarks. They really ought to
take a moment to reflect and actually learn how to communicate with us people, rather than just reciting facts....😢 😢

I find myself nodding along with your perspective and sharing that exact experience... we also shared such a wonderful connection with our professor, Santek... 👍

Angela Wright said:Dear Anna,
Speaking from my own personal experience—as someone whose mother spent her first six months relying solely on macrobiotics, bioenergy work, and homeopathy, only to face a relapse shortly after—I feel a heavy responsibility to tell you that cancer is a different beast entirely. I truly believe it’s simply impossible to rely solely on alternative medicine if you want to see real results. While I have such deep respect for holistic approaches and natural wellness, I’ve always felt that true healing requires a much more balanced, multi-faceted strategy. In my experience, trying to tackle serious health concerns by looking only at unconventional methods can feel like trying to fix a structural issue in a house by just painting over the cracks—it might look better on the surface, but the foundation still needs professional attention. I find that a thoughtful integration of modern medical science alongside those wonderful natural remedies provides the most stable path toward recovery..
I truly appreciate you sharing your perspective with me, though I have to say that I find your assertion to be quite misplaced. In my view, such a claim lacks a solid foundation, especially since any conclusion of that magnitude really requires rigorous scientific evidence backed by years of dedicated studies and peer-reviewed research to hold any weight.
I really think there’s some merit to what you mentioned regarding the benefits of noni and aloe vera. They are healthy additions to a diet and certainly won't do any harm, and I truly believe they can provide some level of support for the body, but let's be realistic—they aren't going to cure cancer. We see so many people out there claiming they were completely healed just by relying on noni and aloe, but anecdotal stories aren't the same thing as truth; for anything to be considered fact, we need legitimate, scientific evidence. If you don't mind me being blunt, I have to share a bit of my own experience. My mother took noni every single day, following the recommended dosage strictly, from the very beginning of her illness until just before she passed away two years and four months later. It didn't cure her, and believe me, I know there are countless people out there who, much like yourself, praise these substances as if they are a magic bullet for every ailment under the sun. We shouldn't delude ourselves or claim something is a miracle cure when it simply isn't. It becomes incredibly frustrating, especially for those of us who have been forced to face these struggles head-on and have taken the time to look much deeper into the actual science of it all.

I couldn't agree more with what was said, though if I may add my own two cents to the conversation. We were consistently incorporating noni, aloe vera, and Mykosan mushrooms into our little guy's routine—he was such a brave soul, honestly, he never once complained or turned anything away, even when he wasn't feeling his best. While those supplements didn't ultimately cure him, I truly believe they played a vital role in helping him endure the grueling marathon of fifty radiation treatments and two rounds of chemotherapy. It felt like they gave his immune system that extra bit of strength it needed to hold on just a little longer and certainly helped manage some of the physical pain he was going through. Sadly, the cancer was simply too aggressive and moved much faster than we could ever hope to keep up with.😢

I wanted to weigh in on those much-talked-about "miracle cures." Personally, I’m a huge supporter of alternative approaches—everything from visualization and using noni or aloe vera to colloidal silver, herbal teas, and so on. I don't just believe they work; I know they do. However, cancer isn't some phantom or just a minor dip in your immune system. It’s a total lottery, both in terms of whether you get it and whether you can beat it. My husband is coming up on a year and four months since his diagnosis and surgery. He’s still doing great! So, who gets the credit for him being here? Was it the cat that spent years sleeping on his stomach in such a specific way? Was it me, insisting on a gastroscopy even though he seemed perfectly healthy and I was mostly just annoyed at where the cat liked to nap? Or maybe the gastroenterologist who noticed something slightly off and insisted on biopsies at five different spots—finding one malignant, three suspicious, and one clear? Was it the surgeon who performed the first operation? Or the dedicated staff at the Mayo Clinic who worked tirelessly when his fever spiked, even when the monitors weren't showing anything obvious? Maybe it was the second surgeon who decided to go back in late in the afternoon and discovered things were looking pretty grim—his abdomen was full of fluid, enzymes, acid, and infection. Perhaps it was the KRS that definitely sped up his healing once the wound started closing, or the wonderful doctor who let me bring it into the Mayo Clinic? Or was it God, watching over him? Or simply my husband’s own courage, faith, and sheer persistence through it all? Who exactly saved his life? Honestly, everything I just mentioned played a part, and on top of all that, there was a massive stroke of luck. If even one link in that chain had been missing, things could have gone very differently—maybe much worse.
Believe me, there is no magic potion, no special mushroom, and no single seed that can fight something this aggressive on its own. My husband has this funny saying he uses whenever I try to jokingly take him down with a karate move, and it applies perfectly here: "You can't fight a bulldozer with a teaspoon." :-) Just start with the fact that diagnostics belong to mainstream medicine. No one is saying you should hand your life over entirely to it—of course not—but you have to admit that to find success, you need to follow the experts. You have to acknowledge that people who have spent years studying this science and working in the field know infinitely more than a layperson like me or you.
Anyway, that’s just my take, as someone who genuinely appreciates alternative methods.

From what I can tell, this site: http://www.cancercompass.com/message.../1,0,119,5.htm is easily one of the best forums out there for brain tumor discussions. You can dig up a massive amount of info regarding actual patient experiences and various treatment options.
That data might actually be useful for someone.
Best regards, everyone.

Hey there, fellow fighters!!!
Well, I’m back and feeling pretty good... 😉 I don't even know what to tell you guys, but this round of immunotherapy and electrotherapy was actually a success—meaning, I didn't have any side effects at all, it was smooth sailing through and through. I just got my lung scans back and they show the exact same thing as they did three months ago, plus all four tumor markers I usually get tested for are right at the normal limit, and my blood counts are looking really solid too. Honestly, dear friends, I feel great—it feels like I always get a second wind right when everyone else thinks things are going south. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for all of you and your loved ones who are out there in the "trenches," because I truly believe positive energy gives you that extra bit of strength you need.
Everything is still super fresh from my trip to Germany, so once I catch my breath and rest up a bit, I'll jump back in here with all the details.
Best, Grace Fowler

P.S. I just want to add one more thing—over these long nine years of fighting this monster, I've become personally convinced that the right path toward healing (and I mean real healing) is combining modern medicine with alternative approaches. I’m not trying to offend anyone, I really am, but unfortunately, there is no such thing as a single "magic pill" that does it all...

Grace Fowler said:Hello to all my fellow fighters!!!
Everything is smooth sailing on my end... 😉 I don't know what else to tell you, but this round of immunotherapy and electrotherapy was a total success. No side effects at all—it was smooth as silk. My lung scans show the exact same status as they did three months ago, all four tumor markers I usually check are right within the normal range, and my blood counts are looking excellent. Honestly, dear friends, I feel great. It seems like I always get a second wind just when everyone else thinks things are hitting rock bottom. I am keeping my fingers crossed for all of you and your loved ones fighting this battle, because staying positive really does give you that extra bit of strength.
My reports from Germany are still fresh, so once I catch my breath, I'll follow up with more details.
Best, Grace

P.S. I just want to add that over these long nine years of fighting this beast, I've become convinced that the true path toward recovery (and I mean actual recovery) lies in combining modern medicine with alternative approaches. I'm not trying to offend anyone, but unfortunately, there is no such thing as a single "magic bullet" cure.

Way to go, Grace. Respect.
It’s a real breath of fresh air to hear such good news.
Please, just keep doing exactly what you're doing.
Hang in there. Best regards.