Resources and support for families dealing with cancer and serious illness

Nancy Hernandez43 said:I totally broke down tonight and, after such a long time, I actually ended up crying to my mom on the phone....

Honey, any sane person would give anything to keep their loved ones in their daily lives. So many people burn themselves out trying to help a sick family member, and in the end—they just get exhausted and lost, while the people they love go through life however they need to!

If God exists (and I don't doubt it), everyone handles their relationship and life path with Him personally. Lawyers and representatives here don't have a say in that. Just have more faith in life and trust your loved ones to choose what matters most to them. No one can control someone else's journey. I had cancer once and I honestly felt like I was already seeing heaven and a golden castle, even hearing a voice from above—but then I saw my kid sitting by my hospital bed, looking at me all worried, and I wondered if they were worried about me or just themselves. I decided right then that I’d help my child here on Earth, because I'm not ready to start helping from heaven yet. Pretty quickly, my own illness just became secondary, and all I could think about was everything else I needed to do for my kid.

I think that's why my work program works and why my life is where it is today. Try your best, but ultimately, the decision belongs to the patients, no matter how much it sounds crazy or impossible to you. Respect your loved ones' choices, but also take a moment to reflect on whether you might have contributed to this situation yourself and what you want for your future. If everyone takes a hard look at their own nutrition, a lot of things will clear up!

Love yourself as much as the people who believe in you do. You'll see that those who pass on never doubt the future of those left behind. So why do we doubt them!? Peace and all good things—sending you my heart. 😘

Good luck with college! Sometimes it's not just about what you know—it's about luck and having a backbone. Show Mom that you care about everything going on around you and ask her for her help!

🙄 Medicine truly is a miracle...😬
By and large, you should follow what your doctor says. But when things aren't working? That's when you need to stop and ask why.😵
Greetings to everyone.

Donna Harris77 said:Honey, any sane person would give anything to keep their loved ones present in their daily lives. So many people burn themselves out trying to help a sick family member—only to end up depleted and lost themselves—while those they love follow whatever path they choose to take.

If God exists (which I don't doubt), everyone manages their own relationship and life path with Him; lawyers or representatives here don't play a part in that. You have to have more faith in life—and trust your loved ones to choose what matters most to them. No one can actually steer someone else's course through life. I had cancer myself—I could practically see heaven, a golden castle, and heard voices from above—but then I saw my child sitting by my hospital bed, looking at me with such worry... and I wondered, was that worry for me, or for themselves? I decided right then that I’d rather help my child here on Earth than try helping from heaven. In the grand scheme of things, my illness became insignificant; all I could think about was what else I needed to do for my kid.

I think my current life and work program are the direct results of that choice. Try what you can, but ultimately, the decision belongs to the patient—regardless of how irrational or impossible that sounds to you. Respect your loved ones' decisions, but take a moment to reflect on yourselves too—did you perhaps contribute to this situation, and what do you want for your future? If everyone takes a hard look at their own "nutrients"—their internal makeup—a lot of truths will surface.

Love yourself as much as those who trust you love you, and you'll see that those who pass away never doubt the future of those left behind. So why do we doubt them? Peace and all good things—I truly wish them for you. 😘

Good luck with college; sometimes you need more than just knowledge—you need luck and a backbone. Show your mom that you care about everything happening around you, and ask her to help you through it.

You have no idea how much your words helped me. Even though you were addressing someone else, it felt like you were speaking directly to me. If I trusted him and his choices when he was healthy, I have to trust him now that he's sick and be there for him in the exact same way. Thank you, truly.😘

Sophia Richardson62 said:They were busy treating him for a kidney infection... only to realize on his very last day, when it was already far too late, that the cancer had spread everywhere...
That’s the state of modern medicine today...

Medicine used to be an art. Now? It's just a rigid system where there's zero room for outliers. Instead of actual care, you get a checklist designed to find textbook symptoms.
The reality is that doctors fall into two camps:
those who follow the cookie-cutter standards🤣 and
the unconventional ones😎—the few who refuse to fit into a standardized way of thinking.
But let's be honest. There are so many patients now that a doctor doesn't have the luxury of actually thinking about a person. They're too busy publishing papers, dealing with family issues, or rushing to the grocery store. They can't afford to spend more than a handful of minutes per patient, especially since there are even regulations dictating how much time they can spend.
Every single human being is a unique organism.

Emily Peterson said:Seriously, thank you so much😘

It’s honestly nice seeing things fall into place like this. Plus, having this perspective makes dealing with the weight of everything I've learned a lot easier to handle. Thanks for reaching out to me—wishing you nothing but luck and wisdom! 👍

Chloe Jones95 said:Just figured I'd jump in here... if there's any advice I can offer, I'm happy to help.👍
Personally, I've dealt with these brutal illnesses a few times—both my grandmothers, and my dad, who unfortunately lost his battle. Now, I'm going through it again with my mother, and I'm hoping we win this round.😍.
It isn't easy, but life has a way of throwing curveballs when you least expect them...
Hang in there, everyone. Sending big hugs!😘

Respectful greetings. Honestly, thank you for this forum. I feel like I might actually find some answers—and maybe a little comfort—here.
Just a week before my checkup, I found out my mom has uterine cancer.
A bit of searching online made it clear: it's malignant.
So, frankly, I have to ask—how effective are these treatments really?
I can barely sleep at night. My mom is only 46.
Thanks in advance.
Regards

Charles Newman said:Hi everyone. I just wanted to say thank you so much for creating this forum! Honestly, I feel like I can find some actual answers and maybe even a little peace of mind here.
Just about a week before her chemo started, I found out my mom has uterine cancer.
I did a bit of digging online and realized how serious this malignancy is.
To be honest, I'm struggling—how effective are these treatments really?
I haven't been able to sleep at all. My mom is only 46.
Thanks in advance for any help!
Best regards,

A woman who’s a close family friend (I happened to overhear the news back then) was about 45 when she dealt with a malignant uterine tumor five years ago. She had surgery, and now she's doing great—living a totally normal life. That's all I know, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and your mom.👍

Anonymous said:A woman I know—a family friend I happened to overhear talking about her history once—is around 45. She had a malignant uterine tumor about five years ago. She had surgery, and now she’s doing perfectly fine; just living her life normally... that’s all I know. Keeping my fingers crossed for you and your mom. 👍

Thanks so much. Those words actually mean a lot right now.
Best,

Hey everyone! Sending big hugs to you all.......

I pop in here pretty often, even if I’m mostly just lurking instead of typing, you know?

My dad just finished his round of palliative radiation therapy.

He’s definitely looking weaker, but the best part is that he isn't in any pain. Honestly, we are all just so incredibly happy about that—it's hard to even put into words🙂 ......at least it feels like it's not hitting his bones directly, which is everything.

But now we're facing a new hurdle, and honestly, it feels like it might be spiraling into something way harder to manage.......which is starting to make me panic a little bit!!!

Basically, he's vomiting quite a bit (we're trying our best to manage it with meds) and he just won't eat much anymore... plus, he's becoming more depressed.

Does anyone happen to know how much a bottle of ProSure costs here in the States?

Thanks so much in advance for any advice you can share.

Angela Wright, how is your mom doing??
Best,
Ines

To Charles Newman:

My mother underwent surgery for uterine and ovarian cancer about seven years ago, and today, she is a vibrant, healthy 50-year-old woman. She always keeps her chin up and stays incredibly optimistic about the future. 👍

Charles Newman said:Respect to everyone here. I’m truly grateful for this forum! I honestly feel like I might actually find some answers and a bit of peace here.
Just a week before her surgery, I found out my mom has uterine cancer.
I did a little digging online and realized how serious this malignancy is.
To be blunt, I need to know: how effective are these treatments, really?
I can't even sleep at night. My mom is only 46.
Thanks in advance.
Best regards,

Look, if it’s caught early and isn't one of those hyper-aggressive types that spreads like wildfire—and if it hasn't breached the pelvic cavity—the odds for a full recovery are actually quite high.
I personally know of two success stories lately. In one case, they actually found malignant cells in the pelvic area, yet the patient responded incredibly well to radiation alone. It’s been about eighteen months now, and her markers are totally clear; she’s effectively in remission.
The second case happened just a few weeks ago. A woman went in for surgery to remove an ovarian cyst, and they stumbled upon a type of sarcoma on the uterus. They ended up removing both the ovaries and the uterus entirely, and she didn't even need follow-up oncology treatment.
Bottom line is, there's no one-size-fits-all scenario here. Your mother will likely undergo surgery first, and once the surgeons actually get in there, they'll have a much clearer picture of the next steps. In the meantime, they'll probably run a CT scan to get a better handle on the situation.

vividowl10 said:Does anyone know how much ProSure costs here in the States?

Thanks in advance for any tips.

Angela Wright, how is your mom doing?
Best,
Ines

Honestly, I have no idea where you guys are coming from, because if you're living in America, you can usually get ProSure or Ensure through Medicare for free.
Otherwise, it goes for about $13 per unit, which is honestly way too expensive considering one carton is supposed to count as a full meal.👎

My mom isn't doing well. She’s struggling to breathe and she can barely even manage a hug anymore.😢
Her big toenail actually just fell off after she showered. These dexamethasone doses have absolutely wrecked her.👎

Oh, Jesus... honestly, all I can say is that when that moment finally comes, I just want her to drift off like an angel and find some well-deserved peace...
How are you holding up???

I really don't know what to tell you, because there’s no advice I could possibly give that would actually help!
I guess you just kind of feel it instinctively—that gut feeling of how to be there for a parent during moments like these.

From what I've gathered, those oxygen concentrators can be super effective.
I heard you might even be able to rent one out in Chicago.

Thanks for mentioning ProSure....

Up until now, I’ve been ordering it online from the States, and it was easily half the price compared to what they charge here in the US, but unfortunately, they pulled it from the shelves.

Now I'm just driving myself crazy because I can't find anything that actually works for the damn vomiting and getting her to eat.

Best,

vividowl10 said:Jesus... all I can say is when that moment finally comes, I just want her to fall asleep like an angel and find the peace she deserves...
How are you holding up???

I honestly don't know what to tell you; there’s no advice I can give!
I guess you just feel instinctively how to support a parent during moments like this.

The only thing I know for sure is that oxygen concentrators are really effective.
I heard you can rent one out in Chicago.

Thanks for mentioning ProSure....

Up until now, I’ve been ordering it online from the States, and it was half the price compared to here, but unfortunately, they pulled it from the market.

Now I'm losing my mind because I can't find anything that actually works for the damn vomiting and appetite issues.

Best,

I was actually just talking to Vpava about the breathing situation—how it was with her husband—and she told me how the doctor at the hospital said that oxygen doesn't actually help much, because the brain is sending such garbled impulses that's why the person breathes like that. Once it fully hits the respiratory center, they'll suffocate. In that case, only a ventilator would help, but that just doesn't make sense. It is what it is; I don't know how much longer this can last, but it certainly won't be forever, though I stopped trying to calculate the timeline a long time ago. Whatever God wills, we will accept it. That's how I've spent most of this time in agony, and that's how I'll go until the end. I have done everything, and I am still doing everything humanly possible for her. I am deeply sad, yet strangely at peace. I miss my mom; she's been gone for a long time. I constantly dream of her being sick, when all I want is to dream of her healthy and smiling, loud and talkative, scolding me for leaving a mess around the house, just the way she always was. I have this feeling like she passed away without us ever getting to say a proper goodbye.

To everyone reaching out via DM with support, thank you from the bottom of my heart.😘

A massive thank you to everyone for the kind words and condolences.
At least I get to ring in my birthday in peace.
(And no—don't go blaming me just yet)
Truly, thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Much love to you all.

Honestly, Ivana, I really believe your mom is going to be around for as long as you both are.
I went through something similar with my grandma, and even now, I can still feel her presence nearby somehow.

I know we all dread the end, but at the end of the end of the day, death itself—and just letting go—actually brings a sense of peace.

My husband told me—and he’s seen it firsthand since both his dad and grandad passed away from cancer—that if this disease has any silver lining at all, it’s giving the patient enough time to say their goodbyes.

It felt so surreal to wrap my head around that at first, but as time passes, I’m starting to see exactly what he meant...

I’ll be grateful for every single meaningful, conscious day he gets to spend with us, but then again, I also want him to move on the very moment his quality of life fades... because, hey, isn't that when the time is right?

I can tell you've been through absolute hell, but one thing is for sure: your guardian angel will always be watching over you, just like you're watching over her right now.
😘

Alright, I promised I’d circle back once I had some fresh intel, and here it is. The drug is called DCV-ax brain. I’ve posted all the granular details over on the "find a new drug for glioblastoma" forum thread
.

Charles Newman said:Thanks so much, everyone, for all the kind words!

Back in '97, I was fighting cancer, and I really went all in on myself during that time. I did every single treatment the doctors threw my way. I stayed on top of my diet, got enough sleep, and once the surgery was over and I lost my strength, I hit the gym, took long walks outside, and just tried to stay away from anything—any person or situation—that drained me or stressed me out. I also used Iscador to help wipe out any potential new cancer cells.

Fast forward to 2007, and I’m doing pretty well health-wise. It takes a massive amount of work to keep yourself going when you feel like you've lost your identity and you're terrified—worrying about your family, wondering who you can actually trust, or searching for what might actually pull you out of the sickness.

Regarding your mom—honestly, I think she'd just love it if you lightened her mood with a joke once in a while or helped her get things done. Just talk to her. Ask her straight up how you can make her life easier, whether it's running errands, driving her to doctor appointments, or just making sure she gets some rest. Any help goes a long way, but nothing beats getting it from your own kid—trust me on that one.

Seeing how much you care for her warms my heart. It’s just like how a mother looks out for her child from day one all the way through adulthood—every single day. You learn love and how to care for people within your own family, and it sounds like yours is teaching you well.

Give your mom my best! 🙏

Hey there, hi everyone!

I wanted to reach out and ask you all about this term "Dexy"—is that actually what people call it? See, my mom was just prescribed some pills—dexamethasone... she has to take them right before her treatment and then continue for a few days after the chemo sessions. She’s starting on a brand-new chemotherapy regimen, so she needs these tablets to make sure she doesn't have any nasty allergic reactions. But oh my goodness, suddenly she's looking at taking 16 of them at once, and she has to do that on the second day, the third day, and so on. It's just such a disaster to look at! So, is "Dexy" the nickname for it, or have I completely mixed things up?

Carol Sanchez2 said:Hey, what's up!

I wanted to ask you guys—is "dexi" actually a real thing? Is that the word people are using? My mom was just prescribed some dexamethasone tablets. She has to take them right before her chemo sessions and then continue for a few days afterward. She’s starting a brand-new chemotherapy regimen, and they have her on these pills specifically to prevent any nasty allergic reactions. But here’s the kicker: she suddenly has to take 16 of them at once, and then she has to do the exact same thing on the second day and the third day. It sounds like an absolute nightmare. Am I tripping, or is that what people call "dexi"? Or did I totally get the name mixed up?

I don't know who this guy thinks he is, but honestly? It’s getting old. Does anyone else feel like we're just watching the same tired act on repeat? You see these types everywhere in the States—people who think they're untouchable just because they can shout a little louder than everyone else. Is it actually confidence, or is it just pure, unadulterated ego? I'm sitting here looking at the situation and wondering if there's even a point in engaging anymore. Why do we keep giving these people a platform?So, dexamethasone—it’s basically a corticosteroid that seems to be used for just about everything, if you ask me. From what I've gathered, its applications are incredibly broad. Why does it feel like this one drug shows up in every single medical textbook? I can't believe I'm still seeing people trip over the basics of pharmacology like this. Honestly, if you haven't brushed up on how drugs actually interact with the body, what are you even doing? You can read all the flashy marketing fluff you want, but without understanding the actual science behind absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion, you’re just guessing. And in medicine, guessing gets people hurt. Is it really that hard to grasp the concept of bioavailability? Or why a certain drug hits like a freight train when taken orally versus an IV drip? It’s not magic; it’s math and biology working together. Most people just want the quick fix, the "pill for every ill" mentality, without bothering to ask *how* that pill is actually getting to its target. If you're serious about this stuff, stop looking for shortcuts. Go back to the fundamentals. Understand the difference between a therapeutic effect and a toxic one, because the line between them is thinner than most people realize. Why do we care about half-lives? Because if you don't, you're either under-dosing or poisoning someone. Simple as that. It's high time we start treating pharmacological education with a bit more respect instead of just skimming the surface. If you can't handle the heavy lifting of the theory, maybe you shouldn't be touching the meds in the first place. Just a thought.When it comes to brain tumors, that stuff is used specifically to dial back the swelling—the edema, if you want to get technical. As for any other medical uses? Honestly, I haven't a clue. Maybe Angela Wright can shed some light on it; she’s already finished her PhD in pharmacology, so she actually knows her way around these drugs.😉