Resources and support for families dealing with cancer and serious illness

Greetings, everyone. I’ve been away for quite some time, though I make sure to read everything happening here whenever I get the chance. It truly breaks my heart to see how incredibly brave and phenomenal you all are, fighting such difficult battles... winning is just so hard sometimes. I have to say, Angela Wright, I wish there was a way I could personally show you my deepest respect, and you know how I feel about that... everything that unfolds is ultimately God's will.
I previously wrote regarding my mother-in-law, who is battling colon cancer. Her mental and physical state has improved significantly lately, and she is currently awaiting chemotherapy. I cannot thank you all enough for the advice; if it weren't for this community, we would be lost... She’s consuming just about everything—from Noni and Native propolis to beet juice, clean eating, and even homemade dandelion juice. Even though she feels much better, she remains quite anemic, which likely suggests some sort of serious internal bleeding that isn't immediately obvious. Otherwise, after a full month of this intensive regimen, there is no other explanation, at least from my perspective.
But what I really need to vent about....... the hospitals, the doctors..... AAAAAA!!! (if you'll excuse the outburst)...😵 🤮!!!! The way they treated her... compared to their conduct, being caught in a massacre with a chainsaw or any other blunt tool would feel like a luxury vacation in Tahiti!! I’ve said it before: you’d get better treatment from a sack of potatoes. Between the neglect, the incompetence, and the sheer AUDACITY (forgive my language), I feel a sudden urge to strangle someone, even from this distance. If they can't or don't know how to treat a patient, the very least they could do is offer helpful advice or a look that doesn't come from Mount Olympus or involve feigned concern...... but no, nothing. Instead, a woman facing cancer is left feeling, well, what can I even say???.. When she sees a pile of dog crap, she might say: "Hey buddy, you have no idea how lucky you are!!" And then people will act surprised when someone loses their mind and randomly selects a few "medical experts" only to lock themselves, the doctors, and two grenades in a hospital room together.
Claiming "impossible conditions" is just a pathetic excuse and a far too common justification for everything. And... I will bow to the exceptions. But exceptions remain just that—exceptions.

Anonymous said:Thanks for catching my message, and hey, let me know if you hear anything! Honestly, I'm still trying to wrap my head around how this whole site works—everything feels a little bit overwhelming and strangely organized to me...

No worries at all, as soon as I find out anything, I'll be sure to reach out and let you know!

Does anyone actually know which company produces this Beta-glucan you guys keep talking about?
I’ve been looking into different manufacturers, and honestly, it’s driving me crazy—they all seem to have the exact same ingredients, yet the price gaps are absolutely ridiculous!

George Palmer7 said:Hey everyone. I’ve been away for a while, but I’m checking in whenever I can to see what’s happening here. It honestly breaks my heart to see how incredibly brave and phenomenal you all are, fighting these battles when winning feels so damn hard. I have to say, Angela Wright, I’d love to be able to personally thank you one day... everything we’re going through is God's will.
I was previously posting about my mother-in-law, who is battling colon cancer. Her mental and physical state has actually improved quite a bit, and she’s currently waiting to start chemo. A trillion thanks to everyone for the advice—if it wasn't for this group, she wouldn't be doing half of what she is. She’s drinking everything under the sun: Noni, Native propolis, beet juice, all kinds of healthy stuff, even homemade dandelion juice. Even though she’s feeling much better, she’s still incredibly anemic, which probably points to some kind of serious internal bleeding we can't see. Aside from that, after a month of this intense regimen, there’s no other explanation, at least from where I’m standing.
But what I really need to get off my chest....... hospitals, doctors..... AAAAAA!!! (Let me find the right words here)...😵 🤮!!!! The way they’ve treated her... compared to them, a chainsaw massacre would look like a relaxing vacation in Tahiti!! I’ve said it before: you’d treat a sack of potatoes with more dignity. Between the neglect, the incompetence, and the sheer AUDACITY (pardon my language), I feel like I want to choke someone from thousands of miles away. If they can’t or don't know how to heal, the least they could do is offer actual advice or look at a patient without acting like they're looking down from Olympus or faking concern...... but nope, nothing. Instead, a woman fighting cancer is left feeling... well, what can I even say? It’s like a woman facing a pile of dog crap looks at it and says, "Hey buddy, you have no idea how lucky you are!" And then people shouldn't act surprised when someone snaps, picks their medicine from a random list, and locks themselves and two grenades in a hospital room.
"Impossible conditions" is just a convenient excuse and the most overused cliché in the book. And... I’ll bow to the exceptions. But exceptions remain just that: exceptions.

Thank you to you and everyone else who thinks so highly of me; I am truly touched.😳
Once again, I want to emphasize that everything I do, I do because I believe it’s the logical, sane, and healthy thing to do. It helps me cope with my own suffering... if my small act of starting this forum has triggered a positive chain reaction to make things better, then that’s huge. But it’s not just my doing; it belongs to all of you who share your stories, your pain, and your wisdom. In fact, work is already underway on that Sarcoma website where people will try to organize all these tiny, vital life details in one place, so that others facing the same nightmare won't have to lose their minds just to find out what we had to fight so hard to learn.

Doctors are just the way they are. Unfortunately, in a situation like this, the only thing you can do is accept that reality, stay one step ahead of them, and expect these outbursts. Don't take them to heart; instead, navigate around them to get what you actually need from them.
Forget all the nonsense regarding them or about them. What matters is that the fight continues and that we don't falter. God's providence is with you, just believe in that. Because whenever you find yourself in a seemingly hopeless situation, a solution will be served to you on a silver platter...that’s just my experience in life.🙂

My dear friends,
I am on this forum almost every single day, and honestly, I’m still surprised by how many people come here just looking for a little bit of support. My father-in-law is battling an aggressive glioblastoma—and to be perfectly honest, we haven't learned much from his doctors at all. Most of the strength I've found has actually come from this community and those long phone calls with Ivanica. I don't think I've ever encountered a disease quite this cruel in my entire life. He had surgery back in December 2006, and then started chemotherapy and radiation in February. For the first four weeks, everything seemed to be on track, but since then, his condition has been declining—literally every single day. He was discharged from the hospital on April 5th, and since then, he has stopped speaking entirely. He lost function on his right side and is now bedridden (using diapers). Some days, he can only manage a tiny amount of food—just enough to fit in a small yogurt cup—and we have to give him fluids via a syringe; he might only take 5 ml in a whole day. By April 21st, we couldn't even administer his medication because he was choking, so I rushed to the ER to explain the situation, only for them to tell me, quite coldly, that they wouldn't come get him. I ended up staying at the ER until they finally relented. He is currently in the neurological ICU, and they had to put in a feeding tube the day before yesterday. They ran a new CT scan and sent it over to Indianapolis for the reading. When the doctor reviewed it, he told us that the primary glioblastoma had grown despite the chemo and radiation; it's now about the size of a small apple. To make matters worse, there are four new spots, and they said he only has a few days left.
Up until that moment—when the doctor read the new scan—I was trying so hard to be the pillar of strength for my mother-in-law and his wife, and I was doing my best to keep the kids distracted so they wouldn't fully grasp the gravity of what was happening. But then, a wave of pure fury, helplessness, anger, sadness, and endless tears just broke over me... It was overwhelming. Then, my younger son walked into the room, saw my red, tear-streaked eyes, and just started crying and pulled me into a hug. In that moment, I felt this incredible warmth, and suddenly, I felt a sense of peace. I suppose those of us who suffer alongside those who are leaving—sometimes because of the circumstances surrounding their departure—tend to keep our windows wide open, yet we fail to see the light because we are constantly staring at closed doors. Now I realize that while I will certainly cry when this man leaves us, I will also be endlessly grateful to him. Through his suffering, I feel like I am growing too. I know, once he crosses that earthly bridge, the Kingdom of Heaven will be waiting for him. He'll be wrapped in God's warmth, the suffering will finally leave him, the pain will vanish, and he will simply rest in God's infinite mercy...

And please, remember this:
THE DARKER THE NIGHT, THE BRIGHTER THE STARS WILL SHINE!!!!!

A huge thank you to Ivanica for all her support, and to everyone else on this forum.

Amy Hayes28 said:Who actually manufactures this Beta-glucan everyone is discussing?
I've come across so many different brands—identical ingredients—but the price gaps are just staggering!

http://www.zdravljeizivot.com/hr/in...ta-13_d_glucan

It's produced by Transfer Point USA

northernfox9 said:http://www.zdravljeizivot.com/hr/in...ta-13_d_glucan

It's made by Transfer Point USA

I’m actually super curious about this too, so if you guys wouldn't mind, could you maybe explain what kind of ingredients and specific dosages we should even be looking for in a high-quality Beta-glucan?
Like, what’s the actual, official name I should be searching for?

And why is, say, this specific one from the States considered so good?

Because, just like Amy Hayes28, I’ve been falling down an internet rabbit hole and found so many different types of Beta-glucan out there:
- some are tiny at 20mg and others go all the way up to 500mg
- some come with extra vitamin blends and some are just pure
- there are tons of different manufacturers and distributors everywhere

So, please, if anyone has a second, could you enlighten a total newbie like me? 😍

PS. The funniest part is that none of the ones I found online in Germany cost anywhere near 100 Euros like they do here in the US!! They're more like 15 to 30 bucks.

Back again with you all.
I find myself checking this forum several times a day just to stay updated.
My mom finished her 8th cycle of chemo, and her oncologist suggested pushing through to 12 cycles, so we'll see how that plays out...
She wrapped up her 9th cycle last week and is starting to feel the fallout now.
She’s still fairly mobile, but she tires easily, lacks strength, isn't eating much, and is dealing with dry mouth, dry skin, and diarrhea.
She mentioned all of this to her oncologist at yesterday's check-up. He prescribed Ensure and recommended an extra week of rest before the next round. You can get Ensure via a blue prescription, though there’s a co-pay for a 30-pack $10; it comes in vanilla and chocolate.
She forgot to ask about the artificial saliva. I managed to grab the prescription yesterday, but I have to head over to Union Square to pick it up at the pharmacy. It’s a 50ml bottle of drops. I wanted to wait until she could consult the oncologist, but has anyone here used it? I'd rather not wait if it works.
Angela Wright, thanks for the recommendation on the Native propolis.
There are so many dietary supplements claiming to help that it honestly leaves you confused. You end up with a hundred questions about what to buy and what dosages actually matter.
And then you read about how wildly different the prices are—how some people are getting filthy rich off other people's misery...
Take Noni, for example. There are at least ten different brands, and nobody knows which one is the real deal.
My daughter was in the Dominican Republic, and they sell Noni in regular corner stores for pennies.
Whether it actually helps or not, I can't say for sure.
My mom took it, but I can't claim with 100% certainty that it made a difference.
Right now, she’s taking Native propolis twice a day and beet juice.
Regarding the Beta-glucan and ImmunoMax, I wanted to order them, but I had too many questions and decided to hold off for now.
And Angela Wright, you’ve really started a very positive chain reaction here.
I hope that in time, we can uncover enough information to truly benefit all patients and their families.

I have a little more to add
When we first found out about my mom's diagnosis, I made a massive mistake. I wasn't honest with my kids; I tried to sugarcoat the whole thing to protect them, but they saw right through me.
They sensed something was off and, naturally, they went online and figured everything out.
It took some work to smooth things over, but we've moved past it. Now, we talk about everything openly.

darkviper5 said:I'd love to know more too! Could someone please explain what specific ingredients and dosages a high-quality Beta-glucan actually needs to have?
What’s the exact name I should look for?

And why is, for example, this one from the USA considered so good?

Cocker wrote a really detailed post about it today, so if you're interested, definitely check it out here:

darkviper5 said:I’m actually really curious about this too. Could someone please break down what specific ingredients and dosages we should be looking for in high-quality Beta-glucan?
What is the actual technical name I should be searching for?

And why, for example, is this particular one from the US considered good?

Like Amy Hayes28, I’ve stumbled across a bunch of different Beta-glucan options online:
- They range anywhere from 20mg all the way up to 500mg
- Some come with vitamin additives, others don't
- There are endless manufacturers and distributors

Come on, please, enlighten us mere mortals here! 😍

PS. The most ridiculous part is that none of the ones I found in the States cost anywhere near $100 like they do back home!! They're more like $15-$30.

Exactly. I didn't want to rush into anything and look like an idiot by missing something crucial, but honestly, I don't understand any of this stuff!
I was at the pharmacy today and they told me it’s absolutely insane that (Beta-glucan 1.3 D 500 mg 90 capsules) costs over $50 somewhere!!

Amy Hayes28 said:Exactly, I didn't want to rush things and look foolish by missing a crucial detail, but honestly, this whole thing is beyond my comprehension!
Today at the pharmacy, they told me it was practically unbelievable that (Beta-glucan 1.3 D 500 mg 90 capsules) could cost more than $50.00 somewhere!!

PEOPLE, LET ME REPEAT MYSELF. BETA-GLUCAN 1.3 D (THAT VERY SAME AMERICAN MANUFACTURER) COSTS IN INDIANAPOLIS JUST $50 FOR 60 TABLETS OF 500 MG EACH $190

Linda Campbell said:GUYS, I am seriously telling you again. That Beta-glucan 1.3 D (you know, from that specific American manufacturer) is priced at 60 tablets of 500 mg in Indianapolis $190

$190 = 80 bucks!!!!!!

darkviper5 said:$190 = 80 dollars!!!!!!

But that is precisely my point, dear. In just the last month alone, I’ve come across ten different price points for Beta-glucan on this forum. It is an absolute SHAM.

Research is still rolling in, and this time they found that pomegranate can actually slow down lung tumor growth. Eat more raw fruit (and veggies too) instead of all that processed junk from the factory:

http://www.news.wisc.edu/13633.html

Hey there,
has anyone here actually tried using bioenergy or any other kind of alternative medicine to treat these diseases? (I’m thinking specifically about glioblastoma cases)
also, does anyone have advice on dealing with insomnia in patients? I’m looking for anything that isn't just more pills...
Thanks!

Count me in too!
I had surgery at a major orthopedic hospital to remove a growth on my arm, specifically on my forearm.
Initially, they thought it was just some kind of cyst, but once the pathology results came back, things got serious—they said the mass looked like a synovial sarcoma. They managed to remove the whole thing entirely. I’ve since seen an oncologist who ordered a full battery of follow-up tests—lungs, liver, thyroid, lymph nodes, the whole works... I went through with all of it privately using color Doppler imaging, and everything looks clear so far.
Even though the results are good right now, I’m still in a state of shock and, honestly, I'm scared.
Can anyone tell me more about this? Does anyone know how I can protect myself so this doesn't happen again?

brightgardener8 said:Hi there,
has anyone here had any experience using bioenergy or other types of alternative medicine to treat these kinds of illnesses? (especially when dealing with glioblastoma)
Also, what’s your experience with helping sick patients deal with insomnia? I'm looking for anything that isn't just more pills...
Thanks!

Look, I’ve already mentioned how my mom spent six months seeing this one well-known bioenergy practitioner.
So, here’s the deal: she had surgery for glioblastoma, but because the prognosis looked so grim, she turned down radiation and chemo. Instead, she went to see a bioenergy healer intensely for four months, doing an hour-long session every single day. After those four months, her MRI came back crystal clear. She looked and acted completely normal—she was dusting out closets and even traveling to places like Indianapolis, Aljmaš, Split, and Medjugorje just a month and a half after her surgery. Because the sessions were so pricey (even though the lady offered to do them for free, Mom felt too awkward to accept), we scaled back. We only did sessions on the days the practitioner happened to be in the city, and they were only thirty minutes long. Sadly, six months after the surgery, she had a recurrence. Whether that happened because she didn't get enough treatment or because the surgeon did such a flawless job that a recurrence was inevitable within that timeframe is hard to say. My take on the whole thing, based on what I saw with my own eyes regarding other patients being healed by this woman, is that bioenergy really does work for glioblastoma too. However, because this specific cancer is so incredibly aggressive and malicious, trying to maintain daily multi-hour sessions is almost physically and mentally impossible for both the patient and the healer.
The other issue is that it’s virtually impossible for a bioenergy healer to provide the same quality of treatment to someone undergoing radiation as they would to someone who isn't. During radiation, the healer can't effectively do anything; it's only a few months after the last dose that a woman can start receiving treatment, and even then, it's just remote sessions lasting maybe 15 minutes. Apparently, the radiation is so harsh that it actually causes the skin on her hands to crack and bleed.
Ultimately, my realization is that when you're facing glioblastoma, everything you try is nothing more than a "maybe." Real hope lies in clinical trials.

Angela Wright said:Look, I’ve already touched upon how my mother spent six months seeing a well-known bioenergy practitioner.
To give you the context: she had a glioblastoma, underwent surgery, and because the prognosis was so grim, she refused radiation and chemo. Instead, she committed to an intensive four-month regimen with this practitioner, seeing her every single day for an hour at a time. After those four months, her MRI was absolutely spotless. She appeared and functioned completely normally—she was dusting closets and even traveling to places like Indianapolis, Aljmaš, Split, and Medjugorje just six weeks after her surgery. Because the sessions were expensive (though the lady offered to do it for free, which my mother declined out of sheer awkwardness), we scaled back to only the days the practitioner happened to be in the city, and even then, sessions were cut to just thirty minutes. Tragically, six months post-op, she suffered a recurrence. It’s impossible to say whether the treatments were insufficient or if the surgeon simply did such a flawless job that a recurrence was inevitable within that timeframe regardless. My personal take, based on what I’ve witnessed firsthand regarding other patients being healed by this woman, is that bioenergy does indeed work for glioblastoma. However, given how incredibly aggressive and malignant this specific cancer is, attempting to sustain daily, multi-hour sessions is physically and mentally exhausting for both the patient and the practitioner.
The second hurdle is that it’s virtually impossible for a practitioner to provide the same quality of treatment to someone undergoing radiation. During the radiation period, nothing can be done; it's a total standstill. It isn't until several months after the final dose that a person can begin receiving remote sessions, and even then, they can only last about 15 minutes. Apparently, the radiation is so damaging that it causes the skin on the hands to crack and bleed.
Regrettably, my conclusion is that when dealing with glioblastoma, everything you attempt is merely an "attempt." All real hope lies in clinical trials.

Could you please send me that woman's number via private message?

After finishing radiation for his back (prostate cancer metastases), we've been stuck in the hospital. The doctors here have been providing top-tier care, though. They’ve been giving him blood transfusions and IV fluids... he seems to be looking much better.
The thing is, I don't quite get why the blood transfusion was necessary, but clearly, it did the trick. However, we're currently dealing with a major issue: constant vomiting.
Look, we can't just magically give the body extra strength. The medical team assumes this is just a side effect of the radiation treatment.
Does anyone know how to make this stop?