Resources and support for families dealing with cancer and serious illness

crimsonfox102 said:I am so sorry...

I know this might sound like a silly question—maybe a bit out there—but has anyone ever truly figured out why people get glioblastoma? According to some statistics mentioned during a segment on CNN regarding Hloverkin's show, the causes of malignant diseases are broken down into about 30% diet, 30% smoking, and 5% alcohol, while stress, lack of exercise, genetics, and other factors sit around 2-5%. To me, it feels like stress plays a much, much bigger role in all of this...

I wouldn't say they're necessarily right... My father-in-law was never a sickly man. We live out in the country and grow all our own food—whenever he went in for his KKS checkups, the doctor would tell him his results looked like those of a young boy. I know he suffered immensely during his time in exile because he couldn't even get back to his own yard (for what it's worth, my father-in-law was a mason, so he was always on the move—even on the day of his first seizure, he actually walked out to the field just to see if the clover had grown enough for mowing...).
He almost never smoked...
The number of people battling serious illnesses feels overwhelming lately—honestly, if you ask me, it’s all a lingering fallout from the war, regardless of whether folks lived right in the combat zones or further away. Life just moves at a hundred miles an hour now! I grew up in the city, but after things settled down and I moved out to the countryside, the older generation would always tell me how they actually had time for daily, weekly, or even annual vacations. They ate less meat, stayed active, walked more, and truly spent time laughing and connecting with one another. But us today? We don't even have time for ourselves, let alone anyone else—then we wonder what went wrong when tragedy strikes. We've become so self-centered. When our loved ones get sick, we pray to God that they stay with us as long as possible, mostly because we want them there so *we* don't feel lonely—but what about them? Does the person suffering really want that life, where the pain drains both their soul and their body? Who is that "other" person in this equation? To us, it feels like having them by our side makes us feel better, regardless of their struggle. Where did our humanity, our empathy, and our faith go—the belief that there is something better out there and that this life is just a bridge? As long as they are breathing, we have to be their rock, but when that final moment comes... we have to let them go peacefully. They’ve earned it.
I remember my mother telling me about how her brother passed away from a brain tumor back in 1971—my grandmother was absolutely devastated, just grieving by his grave for months on end. Then, one day, she had this strange dream where she saw a group of young men walking peacefully through a beautiful, vast landscape, but my late uncle was struggling, carrying these incredibly heavy buckets filled with water. He looked at her and said, "Mom, those are your tears; you aren't letting me rest in peace..." After that, Grandma finally found a way to start living again.
God isn't merciless—He always does what’s best for us and our loved ones, even when we can't quite wrap our heads around it...

Zeljko, God be with you.
You have no idea how much your words have truly helped me—honestly, I can't thank you enough.

I remember when my dearest one asked me why I was being so down—I told her it was just because I was worried about her—and she just gave me that classic, half-sarcastic little smile of hers:

And why are you even worrying?? Are you actually afraid I’m going to kick the bucket??
Mom, I’ve already passed away.
Nothing worse could possibly happen to me—honestly.

Shortly after that, she passed away.

For Betty Allen65

I am honestly just so glad that my little bit of insight could bring even a tiny spark of light into your world.

You know, they say a candle doesn't lose any of its glow just by lighting another one... if anything, they just shine much brighter together...

If you ever feel the need to talk—really talk—please don't hesitate to reach out via private message... I will always be more than happy to listen... "Friends are the angels who lift us up from rock bottom when things get tough and remind us how to fly again."

brightgardener8 said:Hey everyone!
The other day I actually put in the work and sat down to read through EVERY single post in this thread; now that I feel like I have a bit of a handle on everyone here, I’ve noticed most of you have just gone quiet. Where did everybody go, and what’s actually happening?

It feels like we’re all just drifting through some kind of collective crisis lately. My mom is doing really poorly, and honestly, the prognosis isn't looking any better. The cancer isn't at a stage where they can operate, and right now, she isn't even strong enough to handle any kind of treatment. It's hard to say if they'll even be able to start anything to try and slow the progression down, or if we're just stuck waiting to see what happens next.
Her sodium levels just keep plummeting, so they put her on an IV drip for a few days, but then as soon as she starts stabilizing and actually coming around, the whole thing just resets and starts all over again. It really can't work that simply, and apparently, the doctors are searching for some kind of permanent fix to break the cycle first. We're honestly just sitting here with no idea what's going to happen next.

On one hand, I actually feel a sense of relief now. Before this, I was completely lost, just staring at her and wondering what on earth was happening to her brain and body—trying to make sense of why she’d suddenly become so unbearable or why she was saying and doing such wild, nonsensical things when it was so obvious she was suffering. Now, finally, there's an answer: it's Alzheimer's and cancer. We'll see how we handle the first one, since that isn't exactly going to take her out in a few days, but the cancer? That might. At least now I know exactly who the enemy is. Having these diagnoses actually makes everything click into place, because honestly, some of the previous conclusions were just plain wrong. Last year, she ended up in the hospital because they suspected she’d had a stroke, but aside from some sodium deficiency, they couldn't find anything else; everything came back clean. Back then, they just chalked up her erratic behavior to the low sodium levels, which maybe should have pointed toward carcinoma, though it could just as easily have been a side effect of her medications. Her chest X-rays showed absolutely nothing. She had this cough that just kept getting worse—it was honestly painful to listen to—and while she’d have good moments, she’d have bad ones too. She went in for checkups, and every single time, the doctors told her everything was fine; I think they even did two lung scans during those visits, but they didn't catch a thing. Then, things just spiraled quite rapidly, and she was hospitalized for a second time. This time, the doctors told us they wouldn't be discharging her until they figured out what was actually going on. Once again, they hit her with IV drips to fix the sodium levels and kept suspecting cancer, but as far as her brain goes, they say that part is okay.😁 And they couldn't find a single thing anywhere, which just goes to show that cancer really has to decide to reveal itself on its own terms. It wasn't until they ran the chest CT that everything finally came into view, and then the bronchoscopy confirmed it—though by that point she had already been moved over to Jordanovac. In the middle of all that, we hit another major crisis involving intensive radiation treatment, but since she was already admitted to the hospital, things moved along a bit faster, even if she's feeling significantly weaker now.

Somewhere along the line, an Alzheimer's diagnosis was confirmed, which honestly feels like it might be a bit of a blessing in disguise amidst all this chaos. Looking back now, I can see how she slowly started shifting, gradually becoming a different person altogether. There were those moments when my old mom would peek through, that version of her that could send my blood pressure skyrocketing with just a single sentence—you know, the way only our mothers can do.😛
She’s feeling it somewhere around where the lung peaks are—which I guess was her version of saying "my stomach hurts" while she kept clutching her left side—and her back is acting up too.

We didn't tell her. Whether we should have—well, who really knows. At this stage, there’s just no point in it. If she were still lucid enough for someone to actually sit down and explain things to her, the truth would probably just plunge her into a state of profound grief and misery, and then Mr. Alzheimer would step in anyway to make sure she forgot the whole thing.😁
He really made sure my mom became an incredibly fun and witty person, too. We laugh together so much that you honestly wouldn't believe it if I told you. And she just laughs along with us, straight from the heart.👍

Once she finally drifts off to sleep, we’ll just head on back home and absolutely lose it, like popcorn popping all at once.

Everything is moving at such a breakneck pace lately that it’s honestly a bit hard to keep my footing, but all things considered, I think my brother and I are handling this whole situation pretty well. As for where we find the strength to keep going, only God knows.

I figured I should check in since it seems like most people have gone quiet lately. 🙂

The fight continues on our end. My grandfather finished six rounds of chemotherapy, but now they've identified some degenerative changes in his vertebrae, so he’s scheduled for a deep bone scan on May 30th. After that, he’ll be meeting with an oncology board to decide on the next steps for his treatment plan.
He’s actually feeling a bit stronger lately, which has triggered this sudden mania of him wanting to visit all our relatives; unfortunately, we're spread out across several different cities right now, so it’s quite a logistical challenge. Sometimes it feels like he's just trying to prove to everyone that he's doing okay to comfort his sisters, but other times, I can't help but feel like he might be saying his goodbyes.
As for me, I’m doing alright. I’m trying my best to be like a genie from a magic lamp—just a slightly more advanced version that can grant more than three wishes. I’m still experimenting with various alternative remedies, and honestly, my friends have started teasing me that I could probably open my own clinic at this rate. So, that’s where things stand.

Sending my best to everyone. 😍

Carol Ramirez said:Decided to chime in since it seems like most people have gone quiet lately. 🙂

We're still in the thick of it over here. Grandpa finished six cycles of chemo, but now they've found some degenerative issues in his vertebrae/spine. He's scheduled for deep bone imaging on May 30th, and after that, he has to face an oncology board to figure out the next steps in his treatment plan.
He’s actually feeling a bit stronger lately, which has triggered this sudden mania of him wanting to visit every single relative we have. Given how spread out our family is across different cities, it's been a lot. Sometimes it feels like he’s just trying to prove to everyone that he's doing okay—trying to comfort his sisters and such—but other times, I can't help but feel like he might be saying his goodbyes.
As for me, I'm hanging in there. I'm trying my best to be like a genie from a magic lamp, maybe a slightly more advanced version that can grant more than three wishes. I’m still experimenting with various alternative treatments; honestly, my friends joke that I could probably open my own clinic at this point. So, that's where things stand...

Best to everyone 😍

hey Carol Ramirez, help me out!
Since I'm acting as a bit of a "parachute" here—not fully caught up on the specifics of what your grandfather is going through—I was wondering if you could share exactly what's happening and what kind of alternative methods you're looking into? They say a desperate person is willing to try anything, and honestly, I think I am too.

Just checking in to give you guys an update on how things are going on my end. Honestly? It’s pretty grim. Mom is getting weaker by the day, and Dad is becoming increasingly hostile toward me. He’s basically lost all touch with reality and common sense. He actually "forced" me to go out and find a job because apparently, "no one in our extended family of this generation lives off their parents' backs..." I stared at him in pure disbelief; if the situation weren't so dire, I would have thought he was joking. He claims he can't handle the finances anymore—that he's spending more than he's bringing in—but I have absolutely no clue where the money is going since he handles all the shopping and bills. When I asked him how we were supposed to manage Mom's care, he just said he'll take his vacation first, and while he's away, he'll find someone to look after her (since he's financially 😕 ). So, I found a job immediately at a local pet grooming salon. I'll be bathing and grooming dogs from 9 to 5, which means I won't be home between 8 AM and 6 PM. I finished my first day already, and let me tell you, it is exhausting work. I tried talking to him again, explaining that I won't be around most of the day, and asking who is going to cook, clean, and manage the house... and you'll never guess what he said.
I'll be working for about $1333 months, and then I'll be handing over my entire paycheck—plus whatever extra allowance Dad provides—to some stranger who will sit with Mom for maybe five hours a day. This person won't provide even half the care I gave her, and there's no way to monitor how they treat her. At the end of the day, I'll come home, clean Mom up, finish everything the caregiver neglected, cook for the next day, do the laundry, mop the floors, walk the dog, and somehow act like the happy, smiling daughter my father expects me to be and the perfect girlfriend my boyfriend deserves.
What I wrote above is just the condensed version of the nonsense I've had to endure from my father over the last week. Everything from being called spoiled to being told that because he's the man and my father, I have to do exactly what he says 🙂 . The absolute kicker was when he claimed his biggest mistake was not knowing how to "talk" to me properly when I was younger 👍 :klap:👍 .
In truth, he’s actually lifted a massive weight off my shoulders, even if he doesn't realize it 🙏 . For the past few days, every single time Mom's condition worsens—every pressure sore, every urinary tract infection, every swollen or infected eye, every bout of hemorrhaging—it’s all on his conscience now. I don't even mention these things to anyone; I just fix them. My hands are clean. I did everything humanly possible for my mother and for him, and I was fully prepared to keep doing so until her very last breath, sacrificing my precious time in the process. He just spat on that. He stripped her of the best care possible in this world, thinking he has the right to take away our final moments together. But I guess that's just part of the package when you deal with sacrifice and unconditional love.

If you think you're unhappy, just remember there's always someone out there having a worse time than you. That's the only thought keeping my frustration and misery at bay right now. 🙂

Angela Wright said:Just wanted to check in and let you all know where things stand with me right now. Honestly? It’s pretty grim. Mom is getting weaker by the day, and Dad is becoming increasingly hostile toward me. He’s essentially lost any grasp on reality or logic at this point...

...In truth, he’s actually lifted a massive weight off my shoulders, even if he hasn't realized it 🙏. For the last few days, every single one of Mom's setbacks—every pressure sore, every urinary tract infection, every swollen and infected eye, every bout of hemorrhaging, and everything else she struggles with—I don't even mention them to anyone. I just handle it. And somehow, that weight falls on his conscience. Mine remains entirely untarnished. I have done everything humanly possible for both Mom and him; I was fully prepared to see this through to her final breath and sacrifice my own precious time to do so. He, however, has spat on that entire concept. He has stripped her of the highest quality care available in this world, claiming it as his right just so we can spend these final hours together. But I suppose that’s just the price you pay when you deal with sacrifice and unconditional love...

If you ever feel like you're having a bad run, just remember there’s always someone out there dealing with something far worse. That’s the only thought providing me any solace or tempering my frustration and misery right now.🙂

I am endlessly sorry you're being forced to endure this... you hit the nail on the head yourself: "your soul is clean and untarnished."
I truly believe how difficult this must be for you... I've actually started working on that website the Sarcoma patient suggested—it's helping me find a sense of purpose and a shred of strength during these final days when I often feel completely depleted. I'll send you a link via PM so you can get an idea of the concept. There's still a lot of writing to do, so please don't be alarmed by any empty spaces on the site. I haven't linked all the articles yet. Regardless, it should be finished in about a month, and there will be a forum too.
Working on this project gives me a sense of fulfillment. I'm not quite sure what else to say to you, but hang in there, take care of yourself... sending you my warmest regards and a hand of support! 😘

Angela Wright said:I wanted to check in and let you all know how things are going on my end. Honestly, it’s pretty grim. Mom is getting weaker by the day, and Dad is just constantly taking his frustrations out on me.

Honey, I think you realize as much as I do that all this talk about money is really just an excuse. When life hits you this hard, everything starts to fray at the edges. Your dad isn't actually mad at you; he’s just venting all that desperation onto you because you're there. Being unemployed is a nasty, frustrating mess for both of you. What can you even do about it? There isn't a magic fix. These kinds of situations feel completely dead-end. That's why I'm not sitting here asking if you can just find some remote gig or a four-hour shift. If that were an option, you would have done it already. And even if you did land a job, your dad would probably just find something else to pick a fight about. My doctor always says that beyond the patients themselves, it's the families providing the direct care who need support too.

We all snap sometimes over nothing, and if someone doesn't just shut up and let it go, the whole thing turns into an avalanche. 😛

Cleaning up isn't even on my radar right now. I mean, I am washing piles upon piles of laundry, but you know how it goes—some things are just impossible to get clean once they sit there and dry. The washer is running constantly and there's always something soaking in a basin. Both my place and my mom's place—we live in the same building—are in a state of total chaos. Mom used to have a woman come by to tidy up and iron, but I haven't called her. I just don't have the mental energy. It's not even a priority.

If my mom lives long enough to be discharged from the hospital, we're going to be facing another impossible situation. I honestly have no idea how we'll manage. I can't even think past tomorrow; my only focus is mixing up a little cocktail for her for the next day. Oh, I did start giving her some farmer's cheese mixed with flaxseed oil and ground seeds. She'll eat a spoonful or two, and it actually tastes okay if I mix in some dried fruit. Tomorrow I might try peanut butter; she likes that flavor. Anything beyond tomorrow feels like it's happening in a different galaxy.

Melissa Kim45 said:Beyond tomorrow, everything just feels like deep space to me.

Thanks for that line! I’ve actually shared that advice on this site more times than I can count, but honestly, I’ve been a little too forgetful about actually following my own advice. Really though, God works in mysterious ways, and since He's the only one who knows how all these pieces will eventually fit together for something good, maybe it’s better just to stop resisting and not miss out on the blessing.

slyseal28
Kudos to you! It looks solid, though I did stumble upon a few things that might be off. I’ll shoot you a private message with an example—it might not even be an actual mistake, but you should probably double-check it just in case. I know how much this helps you; starting this thread has been a huge help for me too.
I think we’ve set something massive in motion—maybe something so monumental that we don't even fully grasp the scale of it yet.👍 The mere thought of it makes my skin crawl.😍

Angela Wright,
I am truly sorry for everything you’re going through right now. It is honestly a situation that even the worst person in the world wouldn't deserve, let alone someone with a soul as kind as yours.

My advice to you is simply to remain who you are and refuse to abandon your principles. It’s clear your father is struggling, and his nerves are frayed, which likely means much of what he says and all those criticisms aren't coming from a rational place. While it might feel like your mother will suffer more without your presence, that isn't a burden for him to carry—it's one that will weigh on you. Sooner or later, you might find yourself regretting that you "gave up" on spending those final moments with her just to satisfy his whims. In times like these, the best path is often to avoid the arguments altogether and just follow your own heart.
I once found myself in a similar, though far less complicated, predicament. My two brothers, my father, and my uncle could never seem to reach an agreement regarding my grandfather's care; they had a knack for overcomplicating everything. The simplest solution was for me to step up and take on most of the responsibility myself, because while they were busy debating, the window of opportunity would slip away. I feel much more at peace knowing I’m doing everything within my power, especially seeing how much it means to my grandfather. Lately, I've been leaning into that sentiment from Andrić: "When trouble mounts and suffering strikes, when the pain becomes too much to bear, my soul turns within me, filling me with defiance and a bold, spiteful indifference, and the dark pride of those who have suffered far too much." Honestly, their criticisms don't move me anymore.

Stay stubborn in your kindness. 😘

Amanda Williams64 kaže:
hey Lecka, I need some help!
As someone looking in from the outside who isn't fully caught up on what your grandfather is going through, I was wondering if you could explain the situation more clearly and tell me about the alternative methods you mentioned? They say a desperate person will try anything, and honestly, I feel much the same way right now.

My grandfather has bronchial cancer. When I talk about alternative methods, I’m not referring to any kind of superstition or guesswork; I’m talking specifically about herbal teas and nutritional supplements. I know I’ve touched on this before, but I don't mind repeating myself. Essentially, we use natural remedies to help him manage the stretches between his chemotherapy cycles. For instance, ginger juice really helps settle his nausea. Taking half-hour baths in lukewarm water helps manage his heavy sweating. To help boost his white blood cell count, he drinks Taheebo tea (at least a liter a day), along with preparations made from Aloa, chicory, wine, and Propolis, as well as echinacea drops and royal jelly. For overall strength, we use a combination of green tea and ginseng, regular walks, and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. He also takes Ecomer capsules containing shark liver oil.
That’s pretty much the gist of it. 🙂

I’m one of those people who hasn't checked in here for quite a while. I can still somehow convince myself that I have my excuses, but as for everyone else...
My friends, seeing how much you all are struggling—it just isn't right. Reading some of these posts, I feel this tightness in my throat, and my vision actually starts to blur. If I could offer any kind of solace, I would, but I honestly don't know how many words can truly help.
I tend to direct my anger toward the doctors and the hospitals. It’s not just a way to vent; they really are at fault. And I’m not just talking about a broken system. Even if the system fails, the individuals chosen to heal us—damn it, they chose this path! This isn't just a job; it’s supposed to be a calling. Every single time I have to deal with them, I end up feeling like absolute garbage—bowing down to the exceptions. Please understand, even if it sounds extreme, that is simply how it looks to me, and I can't help it.
Angela Wright, I’ve told you a few times now that I’d gladly be your doormat, and I truly mean it. Your sensitivity and your capacity for love are immeasurable; anyone lucky enough to have you by their side is truly blessed. And I can hardly believe (I saw it in one of your posts) that you are only 30... I usually hold a somewhat cynical view regarding younger people, but you are genuinely making me rethink that. As for your father, someone mentioned before me that his reaction is just a response to a hopeless situation. I’d probably want to take my frustrations out on someone else, but he’s just wearing you down. Still, he'll find his way through this...
On another note, my sister-in-law is doing better. She handled her first round of chemo remarkably well. She’s still taking native Propolis and dandelion juice, and she sticks strictly to verified clean food. Her appetite is great, and everyone is surprised by how good she looks, even though she's constantly hovering on the edge of being anemic. She starts her second cycle on the 28th, so we'll see. I want to believe everything will turn out fine, but reading this forum, I see so few stories of people who made it through. But, you have to live day by day and find happiness while things are going well.
Hang in there, everyone. May a higher power watch over you.

Angela Wright,

Listen to your heart on this one—if you feel like being there with your mom, then just be there. But I have to wonder, do you think getting back into work might actually help? I don't mean from a purely financial standpoint, though obviously, that helps too, but I mean whether it could give you that much-needed distance from everything going on so you can recharge your batteries... Sometimes, honestly, just being out in the world and staying busy with something else can be such a lifesaver for pulling your mind away from a heavy situation like this...
I really agree with everyone who mentioned that your dad is just completely lost in the middle of all this chaos. You truly didn't deserve those things he said to you, but I really do think he doesn't even realize what's coming out of his mouth right now.
Hang in there!!! Brighter days are definitely coming...

Terry Rogers said:A family member was just diagnosed... they're heading into surgery in a day or two... it's malignant... they're just completely lost on what to do next...
What are the side effects, is it fatal, how does it work, where do we go from here?
Has anyone here actually gone through this... any info at all?
thanks so much

Hey,
Well, I've recently found myself walking this same path too—my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.
She actually felt a lump herself, and she just had her surgery last week, which went incredibly well! The doctor mentioned they cleared everything out, though the tumor was actually quite large. They ended up removing her right breast along with the lymph nodes under her arm. Now, we're just sitting tight, waiting for the pathology reports to come back so we'll know exactly what kind we're dealing with.
Just try to take things one single step at a time. Honestly, when it comes to breast cancer, the survival rates are actually pretty high, so the most important thing is that it was caught early.

Please keep us posted on what the doctors say, and if there's anything at all I can do to help...

Best!

hey... my mom is facing the exact same thing in a few days... they're going after the right breast and the lymph nodes too...
is your mom heading in for chemo...?
mine has adenocarcinoma...

Angela Wright said:Just wanted to check in and let you all know how things are going on my end. Honestly, it's pretty rough right now. Mom is getting weaker by the day, and Dad... he's just taking it out on me constantly...

QUOTE=Angela Wright;8570573]Just wanted to check in and let you all know how things are going on my end. Honestly, it's pretty rough right now. Mom is getting weaker by the day, and Dad... he's just taking it out on me constantly...
QUOTE]

Oh, Angela Wright, honey, my heart just breaks for you—having your dad make an already painful and heavy situation even harder to bear...
I'm sure he's just acting this way because he's feeling so helpless and overwhelmed by everything, and when life gets this hard, it's so easy to lose your way. I really hope he snaps out of it soon; maybe in just a few days, things will shift. Honestly, it might actually be better if you don't try too hard to reason with him right now. I have this feeling that he's just "tuning out" everything at the moment, but once he spends more time sitting by your mom's side, he might finally come back to reality and realize that the incredible care and love you're pouring into her is something nobody else could ever provide...
I know it’s so much easier for me to type this out than it is for you to actually live through these days, but please, don't let those dark thoughts take hold. When they start creeping in, try to stop them right then and there, because once they start rolling in one after another, it just feels impossible to catch them—it's always better to nip them in the bud early on...
Whenever things feel their absolute worst, just remember that everything is temporary and constantly changing, except for that beautiful soul of yours, filled with all the love and kindness you've given—and continue to give—to your mother. No one can ever take that away from you; it's etched forever in your soul and in hers.

😘 Hang in there!

Terry Rogers said:hey... my mom is facing the exact same thing in a few days.. they're going to do the same thing, right breast and lymph nodes...
is your mom headed for chemo...?
my mom has adenocarcinoma...

Hey, we aren't quite sure which specific type of cancer we're dealing with just yet, but she's actually recovering beautifully and isn't in much pain at all! She'll be coming home this week, so you can tell your mom that the surgery itself really isn't as scary as it sounds. Right now, we're just sitting tight waiting on the test results and instructions for the next steps of her treatment, so I don't know if she'll end up needing chemotherapy or not. Until she starts therapy (whether that's radiation and/or chemo), she’s being super careful about her diet: lots of olive oil and flaxseed oil, legumes, fruits, veggies, soy... oh, and you already made that drink for her with Aloa, Propolis, and alcohol... so once she gets home, she'll start sipping on that. You can find that recipe back on page 21 (I copied it from one of our fellow forum members who had posted it before, though we've heard even more variations of it over the last few pages!). Her doctor has strictly forbidden caffeine and chocolate, and from what I've been reading in medical literature, she needs to stay far away from hydrogenated vegetable oils (so definitely keep an eye on those ingredient labels on everything you buy!).

Keep us posted.... Good luck!

Here I am again...
I just don't understand what has taken hold of people lately... is it time? Is it the pressure?
My dad has refused chemotherapy once more—and he won't even listen to talk about alternatives (specifically the Breussov therapy). It’s as if he has suddenly just given up on everything.
He had his checkup last week; his lungs and heart look fine, though we are still waiting on the blood work and markers to see where we stand...
Physically, he has fully recovered—he actually gained weight beyond his old baseline, which is good since he was always skin and bones.
But mentally? He is in a total coma. For this past week, he hasn't spoken to anyone, won't go anywhere, just lies there staring at the wall—occasionally snapping at Mom, my sister, or me... he doesn't want to pick up the phone when we call, and he refuses to talk about absolutely anything.
He gets agitated over the smallest things—like, he’ll just blow up if a plate is left on the table after lunch and nobody clears it immediately.
All he does is repeat that he won't be a burden for much longer, and that we should just go on living our lives...

Hey, great job starting this thread!

My dad had colon surgery about 2.5 years ago... they had to remove his entire colon.
Everything seems fine now, he eats like there's no tomorrow🙂 which is good, obviously, but you know what really eats at me?
I can't stop wondering... how much longer? What if he suddenly takes a turn for the worse? What if he just collapses or passes away in a month or two.
I don't even understand myself, but after everything he went through—the radiation, chemo, losing hair, the weight loss, the mental toll—I'm just terrified that things might take a turn for the worse again.
He’s doing well right now, actually great, but that fear...

Does anyone here know someone who dealt with colon cancer where the whole thing had to be removed?

thanx

wearymaker52 said:Hey, I really admire you for starting this thread!

My father had colon surgery about two and a half years ago—they actually had to remove his entire colon.
Everything seems fine now, and he eats like he’s never missed a meal—🙂 which is obviously a great sign—but do you know what's actually eating away at me?
I can't stop wondering... how much longer does he have? What if things suddenly take a turn for the worse? What if he just collapses or passes away within a month or two?
I don't even understand myself—but after witnessing all those horrors (the radiation, the chemo, the hair loss, the weight drop, the mental toll)—after everything he endured, I am just terrified that things won't stay on this upward trajectory.
He's doing well right now—actually, he's doing great—but that fear...

Does anyone here know someone who dealt with colon cancer where the entire colon had to be removed?

thanx

A friend's dad went through colon surgery—everything was removed, he uses an ostomy bag, finished his chemo, and has been living and working perfectly normally for six years now. He just goes in for checkups twice a year, and that's it. It was incredibly tough for them at first, but in my opinion, the most critical factor is socialization. Especially in cases like this, where people tend to isolate themselves because of an "attachment" they can't control the way they used to.