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Resources and support for families dealing with cancer and serious illness

Started by Angela Wright · · 👁 89 views · 3K replies

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Participants Angela WrightChristian Wilson16Morgan Williams4Jeremy Nelson3John Chase6steelbadger83hiddentiger80urbanjackal3silentviper30mistyranger4ruggednomad182placidfalconJerry Morales4frozenviper492velvetgull9Joshua Flores48Frank Ramirez23Roger Hall15Walter Cox5mellowlynx8boldjackal70northernfox9ALaura Gomez10 …
Donna Harris77 Donna Harris77 Newcomer
3 messages
joined Jun 2009
#1021 ·
I’ve personally been through my own cancer battle, so I really want to support you guys in this fight. Having that drive to heal and staying informed about all your options is everything. This specific supplement wasn't around when I was going through my treatment—it hit the market just a few years ago—but I wanted to make sure you all knew it exists.

THE ULTIMATE IMMUNE SYSTEM BOOST

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Worldwide, AHCC capsules are considered one of the strongest immune system boosters out there. When taken in high doses, it shows powerful anti-cancer properties and acts as a support tool for all types of cancer, managing chemo side effects, hepatitis, AIDS, liver cirrhosis, inflammation, chronic/opportunistic infections, fatigue syndrome, stress, autoimmune issues, hypertension, diabetes, viruses, and other chronic or degenerative conditions.
AHCC doesn't attack cancer directly. Instead, it supercharges your immune system so it can actually do its job—destroying those tumor cells! That’s why it works so well for so many different types of cancer and illnesses.
Over 700 hospitals and medical clinics globally use AHCC when treating cancer patients. While there are tons of supplements available in Japan, AHCC is the only one recognized by the American Medical Association as an effective product.

CLINICAL EFFICACY

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AHCC is typically used as a complementary therapy alongside chemotherapy or other anti-tumor treatments, or as a preventative measure to help manage the side effects caused by chemo during cancer treatment.
In one study, AHCC was administered to patients with advanced-stage cancer at doses of 3g/day or 6g/day. In 25 patients, the cancer disappeared completely, and in another 28 patients, the cancer was reduced by more than 50%.
AHCC is also great for maintaining quality of life (QOL), helping things like appetite, general well-being, sleep quality, and recovery from exhaustion in patients undergoing end-stage cancer treatment.

www.ImmunoMax.info
slyseal28 slyseal28 Member
11 messages
joined Mar 2007
#1022 ·
Donna Harris77 said:I’ve navigated my own cancer battle, so I truly want to support everyone here in their pursuit of wellness. Having the will to heal and staying informed about your treatment options is vital. This specific supplement wasn't available during my own treatment—it only hit the market a few years ago—but I want you all to know it exists.

THE ULTIMATE IMMUNE SYSTEM BOOST

------------------------------------------------------------------

Globally, AHCC capsules are recognized as one of the most potent immune system enhancers. When taken in high doses, they exhibit strong anti-cancer properties and serve as a supportive aid for various conditions, including chemotherapy side effects, hepatitis, AIDS, liver cirrhosis, inflammation, chronic and opportunistic infections, fatigue syndrome, stress, autoimmune disorders, hypertension, diabetes, viral issues, and other chronic or degenerative illnesses.
It’s important to understand that AHCC doesn't target the cancer directly. Instead, it fortifies the immune system, empowering it to perform its fundamental duty: destroying tumor cells. This mechanism explains why it remains effective across a wide spectrum of cancers and related ailments.
Over 700 hospitals and medical clinics worldwide incorporate AHCC into their cancer patient treatment protocols. While there are countless dietary supplements available in Japan, AHCC stands alone as a product recognized by the American Medical Association for its efficacy.

CLINICAL EFFICACY

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AHCC is typically utilized as an adjuvant therapy alongside anti-tumor chemotherapies, or as a preventative agent to mitigate the harsh side effects caused by chemical treatments in cancer patients.
In one particular study, AHCC was administered to patients with progressive and advanced-stage cancer at dosages of 3g/day or 6g/day. Remarkably, the cancer disappeared entirely in 25 patients, while in another 28 patients, the tumor size was reduced by more than 50%.
Furthermore, AHCC has proven effective in maintaining or improving Quality of Life (QOL) metrics—such as appetite stimulation, general well-being, improved sleep patterns, and recovery from exhaustion—for patients undergoing terminal cancer treatments.

www.ImmunoMax.info

Yes, this has actually come up before. We took the printed data regarding this supplement to our professor, and he had never even heard of it. After reviewing the statistics listed on that site, he dismissed them as being poorly presented and unprofessional; frankly, he said he wouldn't touch it himself if he were in our shoes. That’s just his take, of course. We listened to his advice, and I don't believe we made a mistake by following it.
Zachary Castillo7 Zachary Castillo7 Member
16 messages
joined Jun 2008
#1023 ·
slyseal28 said:Yeah, people have already brought this up. We actually printed out the data on that supplement and showed it to our professor. He’d never even heard of it. After looking over the statistics on that page, he said they were written unprofessionally and that if it were him, he wouldn't touch it. That’s just his take, but we listened to him and I don't think we made a mistake.

It’s common for product efficacy to be totally overhyped, and this is one of those cases. AHCC has shown it can significantly extend life for postoperative patients dealing with hepatocellular carcinoma. Period. No other major study has been done regarding AHCC's effectiveness against cancer.
In Japan, lentinan and shizophyllin are recognized as adjuvant therapies for cancer, but they're administered strictly intravenously because they're so hard to absorb through the digestive tract. Coriolus versicolor has shown notable success when taken orally (with AHCC being even higher).
Check out the Noni and lung cancer thread—I posted some links there.
By the way, there's very little being discussed about noni's here.😬
Angela Wright Angela Wright RegularOP
731 messages
joined Feb 2007
#1024 ·
Olivia Ramos66 said:By the way, we barely talk about noni's here.😬

How can you say that? I’ve already posted about this.🙂 My mom has been taking it for a year and six months now, paired with some native propolis. Honestly, my take is that it’s an incredibly healthy supplement—packed with minerals and vitamins to boost immunity and serving as a powerhouse antioxidant. I’ve heard it’s supposedly 600 times more potent than pineapple. My mom takes it, and I truly believe it helps prevent infections and keeps her digestive system moving smoothly; she hasn't had a single bout of constipation, which is a miracle considering she’s been completely immobile for a year. Beyond that, nothing else has fundamentally shifted—the cancer is still progressing, though it's moving much slower than what we see in other glioblastoma patients. I recommend it, but I would never go around trying to convince people—like those aggressive door-to-door salespeople you see everywhere—that this stuff is a "cure" for cancer. It's a heavy-duty immune stimulant that might just give the body enough strength to work its own magic.
Zachary Castillo7 Zachary Castillo7 Member
16 messages
joined Jun 2008
#1025 ·
Angela Wright said:What do you mean it isn't? I've written about this.🙂 My mom has been taking it for a year and six months now, paired with native propolis. In my opinion, it’s an incredibly healthy supplement packed with minerals and vitamins to boost immunity; it's a powerhouse antioxidant. I was told it's 600 times stronger than pineapple. Mom takes it, and I truly believe it helps prevent infections and keeps her digestion regular—she’s been completely immobile for a year, yet she hasn't dealt with a single day of constipation. Nothing else has changed significantly, though; her cancer is still progressing, just much slower than other patients fighting glioblastoma. I recommend it, but I would never try to convince others—unlike those aggressive salespeople you see everywhere—that it’s a cure for cancer. It's a very potent immune stimulant that can give the body the strength to work its own miracles.

It's an immunomodulator. But you shouldn't take it continuously for that long because there have been reports of serious liver damage from noni's preparations.
Angela Wright Angela Wright RegularOP
731 messages
joined Feb 2007
#1026 ·
Olivia Ramos66 said:It’s an immunomodulator. But you shouldn't stay on it indefinitely because there have been reports of serious liver damage associated with noni's products.

You really think my mom is going to kick the bucket from liver cirrhosis while fighting glioblastoma?😳
There’s a slim chance, honestly almost zero. She’d be more likely to develop cirrhosis from taking Phemiton than from drinking three small glasses of juice a day. Besides, she takes native propolis, which completely offsets any negative effects from noni's.👍
slyseal28 slyseal28 Member
11 messages
joined Mar 2007
#1027 ·
Olivia Ramos66 said:It’s a common enough occurrence in this industry—products being touted as miracle cures when, in reality, they're being massively overhyped. I honestly think we're seeing one of those classic cases here. While there is some discussion surrounding AHCC and its potential to make a significant impact, we really need to take these lofty claims with a grain of salt. I suppose we should keep this conversation going. There isn't much else to be said on the matter yet, but I find myself waiting for more data to surface before we draw any definitive conclusions. It feels like we're just scratching the surface of what's actually happening here. The quality of life for patients navigating the aftermath of hepatocellular carcinoma... that’s the real crux of it. And honestly? That’s all there is to say. It's frustratingly clear that we haven't seen any other truly significant studies regarding how effective AHCC actually is when it comes to treating carcinoma.
In Japan, they’ve actually recognized lentinan and schizophyllan as adjuvant therapies for cancer. They have to be administered intravenously, though, because the body has such a hard time absorbing them through the digestive tract. On the other hand, Coriolus versicolor has shown some pretty remarkable success when taken orally—even outperforming AHCC in certain contexts.
Take a look at the thread regarding noni's and lung cancer—I’ve added some of my own thoughts there, along with a few links that might be worth your time.
It’s funny how little anyone actually talks about noni's benefits around here. It feels like such an overlooked topic.😬

I wasn't exactly out there singing the praises of this product's efficiency. I didn't claim it was some kind of miracle cure. If you're looking for proof, there's some statistical data listed right on the website. I was browsing through some information on Immunomax recently—it’s one of those sites that really makes you stop and think about how much we actually know about our own biology. It covers quite a bit regarding immune support and cellular health, which is something I find myself contemplating more often as the years pile up. It’s interesting, isn't it? We spend so much of our lives trying to outrun fatigue or just generally feeling "off," yet we rarely look into the foundational stuff like how certain supplements might interact with our natural defenses. The site dives into the science behind things like AHCC and its relationship with Coriolus, which is always a fascinating rabbit hole to fall down if you have the patience for it. I remember reading a similar discussion where Donna Harris77 mentioned how skeptical they were about these types of specialized formulas, and honestly, I get it. In an era where everyone is selling a miracle cure, you have to be incredibly discerning. You can't just take everything at face value. But then again, when you start looking at the actual studies cited by organizations like the American Medical Association, the conversation shifts from mere speculation to something a bit more grounded. It’s a lot to digest. There's a fine line between being proactive about your health and falling for the latest wellness fad, but there's also a middle ground where legitimate nutritional science lives. I'm still weighing my options on whether to incorporate more of this into my routine, but I suppose that's the eternal struggle, isn't it? Staying informed without becoming overwhelmed by the sheer volume of data out there.
I didn't just pull this out of thin air!
Angela Wright Angela Wright RegularOP
731 messages
joined Feb 2007
#1028 ·
Hey everyone, I stumbled upon this site while trying to weigh in on another thread about pressure sores, and I ended up finding a massive catalog of medical supplies for home care. There aren't any prices listed—which I'm assuming means they're eye-wateringly expensive—but I'm seriously considering picking up a patient lift. My elderly father and I are both dealing with some pretty significant back issues at this point.
Zachary Castillo7 Zachary Castillo7 Member
16 messages
joined Jun 2008
#1029 ·
slyseal28 said:I wasn't overhyping how well this stuff works... There’s actual data right on the http://www.immunomax.info/ website.
I didn't make those numbers up!

Look, I never said you were personally exaggerating anything! It's the manufacturers who do that—and they do it incredibly effectively, if you ask me.🙄
That website covers everything. But honestly? A lot of it is nonsense. They take conclusions from in vitro tests and animal studies and act like they apply perfectly to humans. That’s just not how biology works.
What we *do* know for sure is that Aetna has immunostimulatory effects, but plenty of other supplements do that too! You can't just label it a cancer cure based on that alone.
We need way more research before we can draw any solid conclusions. Right now, the only truly relevant study involves postoperative patients dealing with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Zachary Castillo7 Zachary Castillo7 Member
16 messages
joined Jun 2008
#1030 ·
Angela Wright said:Do you think my mom will die from liver cirrhosis because of her glioblastoma?😳
The odds are slim, almost zero. She’ll likely deal with cirrhosis from Prometheus long before she does from drinking three glasses of Noni juice a day. Plus, she uses Native Propolis, which offsets the negative effects of Newtonian products.👍

Whoops, I didn't mean it like that.😳 It's just that people nowadays grab any random supplement—including Noni—without considering the risks. They'll drink Noni just because they sneezed twice😬 ,even though it's definitely not indicated for common colds...
Native Propolis is a solid product that makes sense to take alongside cancer treatments, but I don't believe it offers significant liver protection. Why not try Milk Thistle (silymarin) and NAC (N-acetyl cysteine)? Also, angelica root, celery, and Labrador tea have very strong hepatoprotective and anti-necrotic properties, much like milk thistle.
Best of luck!
Roger Hall15 Roger Hall15 Active Member
107 messages
joined Jul 2003
#1031 ·
Olivia Ramos66 said:About 30 to 60 minutes before radiation therapy, you should apply a thin layer to the area being treated using a blend of unrefined macadamia or avocado base oil mixed with niaouli essential oil, specifically the cineole chemotype, at about a 10-20% concentration. It really helps minimize the risk of skin burns.
Once the session is over, rinse the skin with a strong infusion made from black elderflower—just steep 8-10g of dried flowers in about a cup of hot water for 15 minutes, then use it while it's lukewarm. After that, you can massage in a mixture of unrefined tamanu oil, and macerations of St. John's Wort in sesame and Centella in almond, topped off with some German chamomile and/or helichrysum essential oils (around 0.5-1% each) along with some calendula CO2 extract. For the oils, I usually stick to Prometheus or Ayurveda for the essentials and base oils, and Nature's Bounty for the carrier oils.
I hope this helps.

Thanks so much.👍
Zachary Castillo7 Zachary Castillo7 Member
16 messages
joined Jun 2008
#1032 ·
Melissa Kim45 said:Thanks so much.👍

Don't mention it!🙂
vividowl10 vividowl10 Member
21 messages
joined May 2007
#1033 ·
Does anyone have any advice on how to get blood calcium levels back where they need to be? My dad is currently fighting prostate cancer that has spread to his bones.

The thing is, his calcium keeps dropping even though he’s taking his prescribed 1800mg daily dose. It’s becoming a huge headache because it’s actually blocking him from starting his new dose of Zometa.

Hey everyone... it's been a little while since I checked in... hope you're all doing okay!

xxxxxxxxx Jane
Elizabeth Collins60 Elizabeth Collins60 Member
32 messages
joined Jul 2007
#1034 ·
Greetings to all fellow fighters. I’ve been MIA for a few days because I’ve been spending nearly all my time helping my dad with radiation treatments and work. Unfortunately, it isn't his head that's the primary concern right now—it's this massive lump under his armpit. I wanted to ask: how long have your loved ones been on dexamethasone? While he was on the dex, he seemed fine, but then his oncologist added Miller to the mix, and honestly, it feels like it's doing absolutely nothing. Has anyone else noticed an increased appetite while taking dex? My dad just eats and eats; he's hungry non-stop. He also has this intense redness in his face—has anyone else seen this or dealt with it given how long they've been on steroids?
I know of patients who have been on dex for as long as six months. But when it's someone you actually love, all that medical knowledge you think you have just evaporates. Emotions take over. You find yourself constantly questioning every single medical procedure and obsessing over what else can possibly be done. One thing I know for sure—and this community has really helped me realize—is to cherish every single new day. Enjoy every moment while we still can, while we can still go somewhere together and truly be a family. I know that one day, there won't be anything left to pour out.
Sending big hugs and strength to everyone...
Christian Wilson16 Christian Wilson16 Newcomer
6 messages
joined Jan 2007
#1035 ·
For vividowl10:

You might want to try using some high-quality American apple cider vinegar, as it’s naturally rich in calcium and contains certain elements that help boost absorption. A simple way to do this is by stirring two tablespoons into a glass of water and drinking it first thing in the morning, just before you eat. I also find it helpful to make homemade bone broth; if you're simmering chicken bones, try adding two or three tablespoons of vinegar right at the start of the cooking process to help extract more of that goodness from the bones.

It could also be beneficial to drink about four cups of yarrow tea daily, since it's known to support bone marrow health.

And, of course, make sure to include plenty of foods rich in Vitamin D3 in your diet.
Christian Wood63 Christian Wood63 Newcomer
6 messages
joined May 2008
#1036 ·
Angela Wright said:Hey everyone, I stumbled upon this site http://www.medicalsupplies.com/care/index.htm while trying to help out on another thread about pressure sores, and I found a huge list of medical supplies for patient care. There aren't any prices listed—which I assume means they're expensive—but I'm considering whether we should invest in a Hoyer lift. Both my elderly parent and I are already dealing with some noticeable back issues.

When dealing with pressure sores, nutrition is everything.
The patient needs to eat well and be repositioned every two hours onto their side—though, realistically, it depends on where the sore is located.
As for dressing the wound, the most critical step is debridement. You have to remove all necrotic tissue—basically, any dead debris sitting in the wound down to the fatty tissue (I'm not sure how deep the sore goes).
Anything green or black must go.
Clean it down to the healthy skin edges and the healthy, bleeding tissue.
Dressing frequency depends on the stage of the wound, but three times a day is usually best.
Use a hydrogen peroxide solution, soak a gauze pad, apply it, and then rinse with 0.9% saline. It is vital to rinse thoroughly so the wound stays clean and dry!!!
After that, you can apply Rivanol to a gauze pad and cover the wound.
Instead of Rivanol, during the early stages, you could use a PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone) solution (though it can cause allergies in some people) or a 10% NaCl hypertonic solution. The latter helps stimulate local blood vessel development and promotes healing.
Of course, you could also manage the wound using ONLY Octenisept (the newer solution)—strictly exclusively with that—but that type of dressing should only be used after the initial stage when the pressure sore has already developed.
Regarding creams and ointments:
You can use ointments, but only on the tissue that is already healthy and red.
Products like Flogocid, Panthenol, or Fibrolan should only be applied to the healthy edges of the wound, specifically the skin line. Otherwise, they are useless.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Clean the wound as many times a day as possible.
Ensure the patient eats well. If you're struggling with wound hygiene, don't overthink it—just use soap and water to wash the wound.
Don't hesitate. The wound will heal if the body is vital.
Everything heals... feel free to use soap and water.
😬
Angela Wright Angela Wright RegularOP
731 messages
joined Feb 2007
#1037 ·
Elizabeth Collins60 said:Hey everyone. I’ve been offline for a few days because I’ve been spending most of my time helping my dad through radiation and his treatment schedule. Honestly, it isn't his head radiation that's got me worried—it's this massive lump under his armpit. I wanted to ask how long your loved ones have been on dexamethasone? My dad was doing fine while he was just on the dex, but then his oncologist added Miller, which doesn't seem to be doing much at all. Has anyone else noticed an increased appetite after starting dex? My dad is eating constantly; he just won't stop. He also has this intense redness in his face—has anyone else seen that happen, or is it just a side effect of being on dex for a while?
I’ve known patients who were on steroids for six months straight, but when it’s someone you actually love, all that medical knowledge goes right out the window. Your emotions take over, and you end up stuck in this endless loop of questioning every single procedure and wondering if there’s anything else left to try. One thing I’ve learned, and this community has really helped me realize, is to cherish every single day. Enjoy every moment while things are still good enough to go out together and just be a family in the truest sense. I know that one day, I won't have anyone left to pour my heart out to.
Sending love and strength to you all...

My mom has been on dexamethasone non-stop for a year and a half now. Her appetite definitely spiked, and her face stays flushed red to this day—I’m guessing it’s due to her blood sugar levels. Make sure your dad keeps a close eye on his glucose. If it starts to climb—which it almost certainly will—try managing it through his diet first, or talk to the doctor about something like Glurenorm to help stimulate his pancreas to produce more insulin.
Steroids are unfortunately a necessary evil, and the longer they are used, the more they tend to cause secondary issues and damage😳.
Christian Wood63 Christian Wood63 Newcomer
6 messages
joined May 2008
#1038 ·
Glucocorticoids drive up blood glucose levels, which introduces an entirely new complication.\
The biggest culprit behind spikes in blood sugar is stress. If you can manage the anxiety, you've already won half the battle.
But, considering the specific medications being taken and their actual mechanism of action... well...
A total "old-school" remedy for lowering blood sugar involves brewing coffee using beer water—essentially just salty water.
Don't overdo it. It has to be done gradually, bit by bit, because the goal here is to avoid crashing straight into hypoglycemia.
Angela Wright Angela Wright RegularOP
731 messages
joined Feb 2007
#1039 ·
Christian Wood63 said:Glucocorticoids spike blood glucose levels, which just creates another massive headache.\
The biggest trigger for high sugar is stress—if you can manage that, you've already won half the battle.
But looking at the specific cocktail of meds she's on and how they interact... well...
Some old-school folks think the "fix" for high sugar is brewing coffee in beer water—basically using beer as the base.
She shouldn't overdo it, though; it has to be gradual because people try to force a sudden hypoglycemic crash.

Unfortunately, beer—or any kind of alcohol—is completely off the table for someone dealing with a brain tumor, especially given the anticonvulsants being prescribed. The warnings on those labels are crystal clear: zero alcohol consumption allowed.
We did manage to bring my mom's sugar down a bit by stripping her diet back to the absolute bare minimum of carbohydrates—nothing with even a hint of sugar in it.
Even though she was only taking one pill of Eglucon a day, her levels hit 18.9 at one point, which basically means she's moved straight into insulin territory.
I don't even want to talk about how cooking has turned into an absolute nightmare; now I’m not just trying to find things she can actually swallow, but everything has to be strictly low-glycemic too.😢 .
Elizabeth Diaz60 Elizabeth Diaz60 Member
20 messages
joined Aug 2007
#1040 ·
My mom has been having a really hard time swallowing pills lately, which makes taking her medications—and even her daily propolis—a total struggle. Does anyone know if there’s an alternative or maybe a different format available, like a liquid version? Also, I was wondering, what kind of effect would she actually get if she just opened up the capsule and took the contents directly?

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