Resources and support for families dealing with cancer and serious illness

Brenda Richardson33 said:Hi everyone.
More bad news... not only am I still struggling to process the fact that my dad is gone, but now my paternal grandmother has passed away—it's just too much. How can one person handle this many losses in such a short span of time?
I know she was elderly—which makes this part of the natural cycle—but everything about this just hits far too close to home regarding my father...

I am so sorry, Brenda Richardson33—please accept my deepest condolences.

Brenda Richardson33, just remember that time really does heal all wounds... brighter days are definitely on the horizon... hang in there!😘

Brenda Richardson33 said:Hey everyone.
More bad news... not only am I still struggling to wrap my head around my dad being gone, but now my paternal grandmother passed away too. I just can't handle this much grief hitting me all at once in such a short window...
I know she was old and this is just how life works, but everything about this just keeps reminding me of him...

😢
I am so sorry! It feels like you're stuck in one of those brutal seasons of life right now. But listen, there are new days ahead, and I promise they will bring more happiness. Give yourself the grace to grieve your loved ones properly. Everyone needs that time to process things in a healthy way. I really hope your friends and coworkers are being understanding with you.
It might be a good idea to treat yourself to a trip somewhere quiet near the water if you can afford it. An aunt of mine lives near the Mississippi River in Indianapolis, and she always says she’d never move from there because the Mississippi carries the sadness and pain away. They taught her as a kid to walk along the river because the water washes all that negativity downstream. When my mom got sick, we were staying with them in Indianapolis and spent so much time walking by the Mississippi and over near a small town in the Midwest by the Missouri River. During those days, I felt so much better.

Brenda Richardson33, I promise you, this too shall pass.
The start of this year was just... it was incredibly heavy for me. First, I lost my dearest one, then Zoe, and then a close friend, all taken by such cruel illnesses. On top of that, I was fighting through rounds of chemotherapy, dealing with the bureaucracy at Social Security, and trying to manage the cost of expensive medications. Everything felt so bleak and depressing, but I suppose I just refused to let it break me.
It’s only been four months, really, but today I feel like I’m living life at a hundred miles an hour—it sounds crazy, I know—but I’m just so full of optimism, energy, and this deep belief in the future and in life itself.
In some strange way, cancer actually made me a better person; it changed me and gave me this chance to look at everything from a completely different perspective. It helped me realize that even when things are ugly, there's still beauty in it, because life is just so wonderful and beautiful, and I guess we all carry the responsibility for our own lives, choosing our own paths and how we want to live.

I truly wish for all of you to first and foremost find a way to accept the illnesses of your loved ones, to treat them as if they were healthy, and to be that steady support system while they try to find themselves again. I mean, cancer can be this intense, accelerated path toward reaching the very core of who you are—I might even go so far as to say it makes the journey easier in its own way. Some people succeed on this path and some don't, there are no guarantees, of course, but I feel like anyone who falls ill is given a special opportunity by God to grow spiritually, and those closest to them can really help facilitate that growth.

steelbadger83 said:Brenda Richardson33, hang in there. This too shall pass.
The start of this year was incredibly brutal for me. First I lost my dearest one, then Zoe, then a close friend—all taken by these wicked diseases. I found myself fighting through chemotherapy, dealing with the Social Security Administration, and trying to manage the cost of expensive medications. Everything felt utterly bleak, but I refused to let it break me.
It’s only been four months, yet here I am, living life at a hundred miles an hour. I’m overflowing with optimism, energy, and a renewed faith in the future and in life itself.
Cancer actually refined me. It changed me. It gave me the chance to view existence from a completely different perspective and realize that even when things are ugly, they possess a certain beauty. Life is magnificent, and at the end of the day, we are each solely responsible for our own lives, choosing our own paths and how we choose to walk them.

My wish for all of you is that, above all, you accept the illness of your loved ones. Treat them as if they were healthy, and be their pillar of strength while they navigate their own journey of self-discovery. Cancer can be an intense catalyst for reaching the core of one's being much faster than usual (I might even go so far as to say easier). Some succeed on this path, some don't—there are no guarantees—but anyone who falls ill has been given a unique opportunity by God to grow spiritually, and those closest to them can play a vital role in supporting that growth.

That was beautifully written, 😘

steelbadger83 said:Sleeping Beauty, hang in there—this too shall pass.
The start of this year absolutely kicked my teeth in. First I lost my dearest one, then Zoe, and then a close friend; all taken by those wicked diseases. I was fighting through chemo rounds, dealing with insurance headaches, and the crushing cost of medication. It felt like everything was sliding into total darkness, but I refused to cave.
It’s only been four months, and today I’m living life at full throttle—I feel like I'm doing 200 mph. I am overflowing with optimism, energy, and a genuine belief in the future.
Cancer actually refined me; it changed me. It gave me the chance to shift my entire perspective and realize that even when things are ugly, they have a certain beauty. Life is incredible, and at the end of the day, we are each solely responsible for our own existence, choosing our own path and how we live it.

My wish for all of you is that you first learn to accept the illnesses of your loved ones. Treat them as if they were healthy, and be the pillar they need while they navigate their own journeys of self-discovery. Cancer is essentially a shortcut to reaching the very core of one's being—it's faster, and if I'm being honest, maybe even easier in its own way. Some people succeed on this path and some don't—there are no guarantees—but anyone facing this illness has been handed a unique opportunity from God to grow spiritually, and their loved ones can play a vital role in supporting that growth.

You have no idea how much it brightened my day to see you back here; it’s been way too long.😍

Are you finished with your treatment?

steelbadger83 said:Sleeping Beauty, hang in there—this too shall pass.
The start of this year was a total nightmare for me. First, my dearest one passed away, then Zoe, and then a close friend—all taken by those damn diseases. I spent my time fighting through chemo, dealing with the Social Security Administration, and trying to afford astronomical medication costs. Everything felt pretty bleak, honestly, but I refused to let it break me.
It’s only been four months, yet here I am, living life at a hundred miles an hour—full of optimism, energy, and actual faith in the future.
Cancer actually changed me for the better; it gave me a chance to view existence through a completely different lens. It made me realize that even when things are ugly, they can still be beautiful—because life is incredible, and at the end of the day, we’re all just responsible for our own paths and how we choose to walk them.

My wish for all of you is that you first learn to accept the illnesses of your loved ones. Treat them like they're healthy, and be their rock while they try to find themselves again. If anything, cancer is a shortcut to reaching the core of your being—maybe even a slightly easier way, if I dare say so. Some people make it through that journey, some don't—there are no guarantees—but anyone facing this has been given a special opportunity from God to grow spiritually, and those closest to them can really help facilitate that growth.

That was really beautifully written..🙏
I lost my favorite grandfather recently, and it wasn't until I finally processed that loss that my mom's cancer diagnosis hit me..but I guess that's just how it goes. If I lose my mom, though, I honestly have no idea what I'll do..I don't even want to think about it...

I find myself scrolling through this forum every single day, just reading... reading about everything we're all fighting against. Every day I feel this urge to chime in, to add my two cents, or maybe just vent for a second, but then I always end up hesitating and staying quiet.
My mom is nearing the end of her first week on Temozolide. So far, she hasn't been feeling too nauseous, though things got a bit heavy on the second day—one of the other patients passed away in her hospital room, and I think seeing that really shook her up. Or, honestly, maybe they’ve just bumped up her anti-nausea meds, so everything seems "under control" for now.
I've seen some of the comments floating around regarding our doctors. I wanted to weigh in, but I don't even know where to start. I'm not trying to question their medical expertise or anything, but it feels like some of them (just certain individuals, mind you) have lost that human touch. Trying to get even the simplest piece of information out of them can feel like a mission impossible. There are exceptions, of course, but they feel rare.
Angela Wright, how is your mom doing? Is she still dealing with that swelling in her arms? Have you tried using any herbal teas, like dandelion root? If you have, I really hope it's helping.
Wishing everyone the best.

I really did say everyone just needs to hang in there, when was that...
I logged onto the forum today only to be met with such a wave of bad news. If kind words offer any comfort, we should try to remember the good times, hold onto hope, and believe that our loved ones are waiting for us in a better place. We have to cherish the days we still get to spend with them while they are here. Brenda Richardson33, everyone on this forum truly understands what you're going through, and if talking helps, we are all right here with you.
Just to follow up on what Nicole Edwards76 said (why do I always assume that's a guy??)... no, no, no, this neurosurgeon is actually from Chicago, and he is quite the big deal. He’s got quite the reputation, even outside the States. As for that specialist you mentioned from Seattle, I think I know who you mean... he’s even more high-profile; he practically has a premium service fee. It's like walking into an upscale boutique instead of a regular shop.
And my sister will pay whatever she has to, because she can. Though now she’s out there trying to pull strings in other cities too. And regarding the pajamas and robes—she’s got summer and winter sets now, so if things fall into an autumn schedule, she can just mix and match: summer bottoms with a winter top, or vice versa, depending on whether she’s feeling hot or cold. That way she won't have to buy new clothes, and she can save that money for bribes and corruption—I mean, sorry, I meant "healthcare services."

Amanda Williams64 said:Angela Wright, how’s your mom doing? Are her hands still swollen? Did you ever get a chance to try that herbal tea? If you did, I really hope it helped.
Good luck to everyone!

Mom is doing poorly; she’s barely speaking at all now. The swelling in her hands seems to have gone down quite a bit thanks to those medicated oil drops we've been using to massage them.👍 I couldn't pick up the tea because things are so tense with my dad right now—I don't even dare suggest anything to him.
A few days ago, she woke up with these horribly swollen lips; it looked like she’d had some botched silicone implants done. I initially thought it was an allergic reaction because she was cramping up quite a bit, which is what the home health nurse thought too when she stopped by. When I finally managed to pry her mouth open to check if her tongue was swollen, I realized there was this thick layer of fungus covering her tongue, the inside of her lips, and her gums—it was several millimeters thick. I immediately brewed some sage tea to rinse it out, and the nurse advised her to get some oral rinse gel from the pharmacy. Anyway, it cleared up within two days. Honestly, I think it's being caused by the medication delivery; my dear father refuses to give her the pills with yogurt and insists on giving them with juice instead. She ends up just tucking the tablets against her cheeks like a hamster, then crushing and chewing them into her food rather than swallowing them whole. If she takes them with yogurt, she actually swallows them, but feeding her is a constant battle because she gets so nauseated, and it’s clearly exhausting for her to be constantly wiped down and spoon-fed when she keeps spitting.

At any rate, my mother is heading toward the end, taking slow but steady steps. I just hope it happens quickly and peacefully, without the kind of agonizing suffering I've read about in various online forums.😢

Angela Wright said:Mom isn't doing well; she’s barely even talking anymore. The swelling has gone down quite a bit, thanks to those oil drops we've been using for massages.👍 I haven't been able to pick up the tea because things are so tense right now with my dad, and I don't even dare suggest it to him.
A few days ago, she woke up with her lips all swollen—it was terrible, honestly, she looked like she’d had some botched silicone injections. I initially thought it was an allergic reaction since she was cramping up quite a bit, which is what the home health nurse thought when she stopped by. I tried to get her mouth open just to see if her tongue was swollen too, and once I managed to do that, I realized there was this layer of fungus on her tongue and along the inside of her lips and gums, several millimeters thick. I immediately brewed some sage tea to rinse it out, and the nurse advised her to get some Rojazol gel for the oral cavity. Anyway, the swelling subsided within two days. I suspect it’s a side effect of the medication; my dear father refuses to give her the pills with yogurt and insists on giving them with juice instead. She ends up tucking the tablets against her cheek like a little hamster, then crushes and chews them with her food rather than swallowing them whole. If she had the yogurt, she’d swallow them easily, but feeding her is such a struggle because she gets so nauseated, and I suppose it’s exhausting for her to constantly have to wipe her and chase her with a spoon every time she spits.

At any rate, my mother is heading toward her final destination, taking slow but steady steps. I just hope it happens quickly and peacefully, without the kind of suffering I’ve read about from other people on these forums.😢

I'm right here with you...😢

Greetings, everyone,

For over eight months now, alongside my wife's standard medical protocol for glioblastoma, we have been using a variety of supplements and mushroom-based preparations—specifically Agarikon and Lentif, from the Dr. Myko brand.
During the first four months, she was taking heavy doses: 7.5 dl of Lentif and 6 dl of Agarikon every single day.
Right now, her regimen consists of 30 days at 3 dl of Agarikon daily, followed by 10 days of 7.5 dl of Lentif combined with 3 dl of Agarikon daily, and then another 30 days of 3 dl of Agarikon per day.
Personally, I have zero doubts that these preparations have contributed positively to my wife's stable condition, but keeping up with this pace is a massive financial strain (our current mushroom protocol averages about $1.50 per month)

Does anyone have any insight regarding efficacy, daily dosages, duration of use... or perhaps you've heard someone else's experience using these specific supplements?

On another note, my wife begins her sixth cycle of chemotherapy with Temozolide next week.
Everything has been going well so far; she is doing good, and I haven't noticed any signs of tumor growth. We are hoping, with God's help, that the scans after this sixth cycle will look positive.

I wish you all strength and a positive mindset.

Hey there! So, I’m back after being away for quite a while... I’ve been through the whole diagnostic gauntlet—CT, MRI, PET scans—and yeah, the damn thing is back. After five years, I’m looking at a recurrence in my pelvis and lungs. Honestly, everything feels like a total blur right now... I mean, I've already survived 15 rounds of chemo and 9 different surgeries, but it’s never spread this far before... So, I am BEGGING for any info or experiences anyone has regarding lung metastases from CA-ovaries.
THANKS everyone..

Grace Fowler said:Hey everyone. I’m finally checking back in after being away for quite a while. I’ve gone through all the diagnostic rounds—CT, MRI, PET scans—and yeah, the monster is back. After five years, I’m facing a recurrence in my pelvis and lungs. Everything feels like a total blur right now. To be honest, I’ve already battled through 15 rounds of chemo and 9 surgical procedures, but it’s never spread this far before... So please, I am BEGGING for any info or personal experiences regarding lung metastases from anyone who has dealt with this.
THANKS to you all..

I don't have any direct experience here, other than offering support.
Don't let this break you! You beat it once, and you're going to finish the job this time! Just keep the faith and fight until you win.😘

What else can I even say besides a massive, heartfelt thank you? I’ve been on the front lines for seven and a half years—dealing with a million different situations—but back in February of '99, I finally made a choice: I was going to be the one to take him down, not the other way around. And that’s how it’s been ever since. I guess I’ve slowed down just a tiny bit lately. See, I’m the kind of person who needs to know every single detail about what's happening, and I usually go at everything with everything I've got—but now, most of the doctors are starting to hide things from me. It’s a very serious situation... so please, don't push too hard with the questions... especially since they've basically stopped looking me in the eye here in the ICU. 😕
But I’m pushing forward... I have to... there are still so many things I want to see... so much more to do... so much more love to give. After all, I'm only 38. 🙂

Best,

Grace Fowler,

Hang in there, seriously! I’m honestly at a loss for words right now, but just please know I'm thinking of you... whenever things start feeling heavy or overwhelming, don't hesitate to jump on here and vent to us on the forum!!!😘

Hey everyone, my aunt was just diagnosed with brain metastases. They’re certain about one lesion in the temporoparietal lobe that's causing pressure, but the MRI also showed two other tiny spots that they aren't quite sure about yet. The primary tumor hasn't been located, though thankfully all her other organs are perfectly healthy. I've been a complete wreck for days now—I'm just lost. I don't know how this progresses, how to stop it from spreading, or what her actual chances are. If anyone has gone through something similar or knows anything at all, please, I could really use some answers. 😢

Angela Wright, my mom’s tongue is swollen too. Same fungal issues. Here’s what I’m doing: I take a Q-tip, wrap some extra cotton around the end, soak it in some antiseptic or herbal tea—like sage or whatever—and just gently clean her tongue with it. It actually helps...
Dad even found an old cologne spray bottle and uses that to mist her tongue. Well, he sprays her with tea, not actual cologne (hopefully he washed the bottle out really well first)...

Grace Fowler said:Hi! I'm finally back here after quite a while... everything has been confirmed through testing (CT, MRI, PET scans), and yes—it's back. After five years, I have a recurrence in my pelvis and lungs. Everything feels so foggy right now... honestly, I've already endured 15 rounds of chemo and 9 surgeries, but it has never spread this far before... So PLEASE, if anyone has any information or experiences regarding lung metastases from CA-tea...
THANK YOU all..

Grace,
perhaps it would be wise to look at the blog by our member Lepine—he actually overcame a recurrence and achieved full remission using the Brezov therapy. If you want the specifics, please feel free to reach out.

Have you guys ever heard about alternative medicine? They use brain scans to actually detect what’s going on with your body and all sorts of ailments, and they can even pinpoint exactly when something started. Apparently, the timing is everything because that’s how they link the illness back to a specific stressful event we went through. Basically, the idea is that every single sickness is just a reaction to some sudden shock in our lives, and since we picked them up that way, we can supposedly heal them too—as long as we tackle the actual root cause.
I mean, I find it pretty plausible, especially since they claim things like metastasis don't really exist in the way we think; instead, they view them as entirely new conditions triggered by specific internal conflicts.
I actually picked up a manual that goes into quite a bit of detail about all this, and it's honestly pretty fascinating. I even went to see a specialist who practices this, and I have to say, I was kind of blown away by the whole thing.

I've finished up my more intense treatments, though I'm still on hormones and taking a few other medications that help me keep functioning normally day-to-day.

Grace Fowler, hang in there.