Resources and support for families dealing with cancer and serious illness

After reading through most of the posts on this forum, I decided to reach out and ask for some advice since the doctors aren't giving us much information. My mom is battling uterine, rectal, and kidney cancer. She just finished 26 radiation sessions, including two intense rounds of internal radiation lasting 48 hours each, and she's currently home recovering... I was wondering if anyone here has heard anything about those "Graviola" capsules? Apparently, they're supposed to help fight cancer, and you can order them from the USA.😕

Hey Emily, how’s your mom doing, and how have you been holding up lately?

Sending my support and a kiss to everyone.😘

Hi everyone!

So, last week my mom (who's 60) got the news that she has breast cancer. She’s going to need surgery, though we aren't quite sure yet if it has spread or not. Honestly, Mom is handling it incredibly well, and we're all doing our best to keep the vibes high and surround her with nothing but positive energy... but man, obviously, it was a total shock for the whole family...
I would be so incredibly grateful for any insight you guys might have regarding the treatment process, or maybe some advice on nutrition specifically for breast cancer patients? I'm also wondering what else we can do as a family to help out beyond just being there for emotional support, and what she should realistically expect once the chemotherapy is finished... Also, are those breast cancer support groups for women actually helpful, and is it worth reaching out to them?
She’ll be receiving her care at the Rib under the care of Dr. Paula Podolski—has anyone heard anything about their team?
I am just so hoping that it hasn't spread...
Thanks so much in advance for any info you can share!

Carol Sanchez2 said:Hi everyone!

Last week, my mom (60 years old) found out she has breast cancer. She’s headed in for surgery, though we aren't sure yet if it's spread. Honestly, Mom is handling it incredibly well; we're all just trying to surround her with as much positive energy as possible. Still, naturally, it's a total shock to the whole family...
I would really appreciate any info regarding the treatment process, what kind of diet works best for breast cancer patients, or what else we can do as a family beyond just being there for her emotionally. What should we expect once she finishes chemo? Also, are those breast cancer support groups actually helpful? Is it worth reaching out to them?
She'll be receiving treatment at the Rib under Dr. Paula Podolski—what's their reputation like?
I'm just praying it hasn't spread...
Thanks in advance for anything you can share!

How did she find out in the first place? Did she feel a lump herself, or was it caught during a routine checkup?

If the cancer is localized, they'll likely just cut it all out and then do some radiation on the surrounding area to make sure they kill off any lingering cells.

As for the support groups, definitely reach out to them. Those organizations are filled with women who have already walked this path, so you'll get the most practical, firsthand information there.
The one thing almost all cancer patients have in common is eating clean (think Mediterranean or macrobiotic diets) and taking some form of antioxidant in high doses. There’s been plenty written about this here already, so take a look at the older posts so I don't end up repeating myself.

Just stay calm, don't panic, and I truly believe everything will turn out fine.👍

Thanks so much for the support!
She actually felt this lump (and it was painful!) while she was just showering. She usually stays on top of her checkups, but she hadn't been in for a little over a year, and then—just like that—she happens to stumble upon it...
About a month and a half ago, we went together for a checkup (mine was on the 28th) at the local clinic, and the doctor there basically told her, "Oh, it's definitely not cancer because cancer isn't painful to the touch!!!!" He didn't even bother sending her for a mammogram! He just told her to take some nighttime supplements and said to check back in a month!!! What an absolute jerk!!!
Thankfully, she wouldn't let him have the last word, so she went to get a second opinion, and the doctor at the hospital was absolutely appalled when she explained what that first guy had suggested... They ended up doing a biopsy, and well, here we are...!
I was reading through some of the older posts, so I really hope everything is turning out okay with your mom.

Carol Sanchez2 said:Thanks for the support!
She felt a lump—a painful one—while she was showering. She usually goes for regular checkups, but she hadn't been in for over a year when she just happened to stumble upon it...
About a month and a half ago, we went to her appointment together (mine was on the 28th) at the clinic with Petrov, and the doctor actually told her: "It’s not cancer, because cancer doesn't hurt when you touch it!!!!" He didn't even send her for a mammogram. Instead, he just gave her some vitamins and told her to check back in a month!!! What an idiot!!!
Luckily, she couldn't stop thinking about it, so she went to get a second opinion. The doctor at the Rib hospital was absolutely appalled when she heard what the first guy had suggested... They performed a biopsy, and here we are...!
I've been reading through the previous messages, so I really hope everything turns out okay with your mother.

😲
Still, I believe it might still be caught in time for her. There's this unwritten rule that if it hurts, it's probably nothing, but people still get sent in for biopsies regardless. It feels like you might have caught it during that transition phase from benign to malignant (just my two cents), but things will be fine—they have to be.
My mom is doing very poorly, unfortunately; there's just no saving her😢. That's simply the nature of this disease. I haven't heard of anyone who has truly beaten it yet.😳

Thanks again!

I am so incredibly sorry to hear about your mother. Honestly, what can I even say? At the end of the day, we all have our time, and it’s just one of those heartbreaking parts of life where parents often leave us before their children do—that's just how nature works, isn't it? It is absolutely devastating when a parent loses a child, though.
But man, just the thought that there will come a day when our own parents aren't here anymore... it really gives me the chills...
Hang in there, you are truly an amazing person... brighter days are definitely coming your way...

Anonymous said:After scrolling through most of the posts on this forum, I figured I’d just jump in and ask a few questions since the doctors aren't really giving us much information to work with. My mom is currently fighting uterine, rectal, and kidney cancer, and she’s been through the wringer—she finished 26 radiation sessions plus two separate 48-hour internal radiation treatments, and now she's finally back home focusing on her recovery. While we're navigating all of this, I was wondering if anyone here has heard anything about those "Graviola" capsules? Apparently, they're supposed to help in the fight against cancer, and you can order them right here in the USA.😕

I’m going to try and dig around and see what I can find out about those capsules! My sister actually lives over in the States, so she might be able to track down some more intel for us, which is a huge plus since we really need to start diving into this whole situation right now.

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice. My husband started radiation therapy on April 16th, and now that he's completed his eighth session, we're seeing the first signs of side effects—his platelet count has dropped to 158, which is right on the edge.
Last week they were at 190, and two weeks before he even started, they were at 240.

Beyond taking Noni, propolis, royal jelly, and sticking to a strict diet (all of which we're already doing), does anyone know of any other "magic" remedies that might help him keep those platelet numbers up? 😕

Maybe this is a silly question, so please don't judge me if it is.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give, 😘

Carol Sanchez2 said:Hi everyone!

Last week, my mother (60 years old) found out she has breast cancer. She’ll need surgery, though we aren't sure yet if it has spread. My mom is holding up incredibly well, and we're doing our best to surround her with positive energy... but obviously, it's been a massive shock for all of us.
I would truly appreciate any information regarding the treatment process, nutrition for breast cancer patients, or what else we can do as a family beyond just emotional support. What should we expect after chemotherapy? Also, are those breast cancer support groups actually helpful, and is it worth reaching out to them?
She will be receiving treatment at the Rib, under Dr. Paula Podolski—what is their reputation?
I am desperately hoping the cancer hasn't metastasized...
Thanks in advance for any insight you can share!

Here is a bit of hope: a relative of mine had surgery back in January 1997 for cancer that had already hit the lymph nodes in her armpit. After surgery and chemo, she is still alive and thriving, despite dealing with an extremely difficult and stressful family situation. Hang in there, everyone!

slyseal28 - My mom used to make my dad freshly squeezed beet juice after his treatments—just straight from the source, you know? But they were super strict about one thing: she wasn't allowed to use any metal at all when preparing it, so no metal pots or utensils or anything like that. It actually seemed to help him quite a bit, because his blood work started looking normal again really fast. Thanks for sharing that link!

briskbison27 said:Here is a little bit of hope for everyone—someone from my extended family had surgery back in January 1997 for cancer with metastases in the axillary lymph nodes, followed by chemo. They are still alive and doing great today, despite dealing with an incredibly tough (just so you know, REALLY tough!) and stressful family situation. Hang in there, everybody!

Thank you so much, I've been gathering every single piece of information I can find regarding breast cancer lately, so honestly, every little bit helps me more than you know.
It is just so important to keep a positive mindset!!!

slyseal28 said:Hey everyone, I really need some advice here. My husband started radiation on April 16th, and after eight sessions, he’s starting to see his first side effects—his platelet count dropped to 158, which is right on the edge.
Just last week it was 190, and two weeks before he even started radiation, it was at 240.

We’re already using Noni, propolis, royal jelly, and keeping a strict diet (we're all over that), but does anyone know of any other "magic bullets" that might help him keep those platelets up? 😕

Maybe this is a silly question, so please don't judge me.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give, 😘

My mom took daily Noni and 15 propolis capsules a day (split into three doses of five), and her blood work never dipped once. Honestly, it seems like everyone reacts totally differently.😕

Angela Wright said:My mother was taking Noni extract daily along with 15 propolis capsules a day—that's three doses of five every single day—and her blood work stayed perfectly stable. Not once did her numbers drop. It really makes you think; it seems like these things are incredibly individual when it comes to how they affect the body.😕

mistyranger4 said:slyseal28 — My mother used to make my father fresh, homemade beet juice right after his treatments. They were very careful about it, though; she was explicitly told not to use any metal tools or containers during the preparation process—nothing from stainless steel or anything similar. It actually seemed to work wonders for him, as his blood counts stabilized incredibly fast. Thanks for sharing that link!

Thanks, ladies. 😘

Katherine,
maybe try some beet juice—about half a cup daily, thirty minutes before meals and also first thing in the morning on an empty stomach? We usually pick up Biotta Breuss at CVS; it’s guaranteed organic (though I realize you might not have the luxury of time to hunt down organic beets and juice them yourself—even if that would be the most effective way). It is recommended to hold each sip in your mouth as long as possible to mix it thoroughly with saliva—since that helps it enter the bloodstream directly.
I’d also suggest the Beta-glucan being discussed here lately; my dad barely had any side effects during radiation (no burns, no vomiting, nothing like that). It isn't a guarantee, obviously, but I’ve seen it help in many of our situations. Then again, everything depends on the individual, doesn't it?

By the way, just repeating this—if anyone knows where to find it here in the US (anywhere outside of Indianapolis) for less than $253 (500mg, 60caps.), please let me know.
In case anyone was wondering, it's unavailable in Canada—at least that's what they told me in Brežice.

Ivanica,
stay brave and stay strong. I honestly don't know what else to say. You will be in my prayers, along with my own mother.😘

A glimmer of hope has finally appeared for my dad...🙂
The marker results just came in—they plummeted from 911 down to 0, or something along those lines...
How much weight can we really put on these markers?

northernfox9 said:A tiny glimmer of hope finally appeared for my dad...🙂
The marker results just came in, and they dropped from 911 all the way down to 0, or something like that...
How much weight should I actually put on these markers?

👍

That's great news. Just keep moving forward with courage.

northernfox9 said:A tiny glimmer of hope just appeared for my dad...🙂
the marker results came back, and they plummeted from 911 down to 0, or something like that...
How much weight can we actually put on these markers?

Believe them, because what’s the point of running these tests if you can't trust the numbers? Think of markers as reagents that react to the sheer volume of tumor cells circulating in the bloodstream. It's basic math: the more cells floating around, the higher the odds that one of those little bastards will hitch a ride through the blood and settle in another organ—those damn metastases.
You have it right there in black and white—the therapy is working.👍 🙏
You've honestly made my day.😘

[QUOTE=slyseal28;8260256]Ladies, I need some advice. My husband started radiation therapy on April 16th, and after his 8th session, we're seeing the first side effects—his platelet count dropped to 158, which is right on the edge.
Last week it was 190, and two weeks before he started, it was 240.

Besides Noni, propolis, royal jelly, and maintaining a strict diet (all of which we are doing), is there perhaps some other "magic bullet" that might help him keep those platelets up? 😕

Maybe this is a silly question, please don't judge me.

Thank you all in advance for your replies, 😘[/QUOTE

If you look online, you will find plenty of information regarding Beta-glucan 1.3 D; the consensus seems to be that it is exceptionally effective at mitigating the various side effects caused by RADIATION.

Dear Ivanica! You are in my prayers; may God grant you and your husband the strength to endure this entire ordeal.[/QUOTE]

Carol Sanchez2 said:I'll try to look into those capsules since my sister lives in the USA, so she might be able to dig up more info. Plus, we really need to start tackling this issue head-on.

Thanks for catching my message! Let me know what you find—honestly, I’m still struggling to navigate this site; the layout feels a bit weird to me...