Resources and support for families dealing with cancer and serious illness

Well, at the end of the day, being able to keep going is what matters most.
I didn't pick up any noni, but I've been sticking with shark liver oil (Ecomer), some homemade remedies, and various vitamins. I actually heard a few good things about broccoli capsules recently—do you happen to know anything about those?

Carol Ramirez said:The main thing is that it won't cause any harm.
I haven't picked up any nonij yet; I've just been sticking to shark liver oil (Ecomer), some homemade concoctions, and various vitamins. I've heard decent things about broccoli capsules—do you know anything about those?

I've heard they're great too. Sulforaphane in broccoli is a powerhouse antioxidant. Since my mom is already loading up on so many different supplements, I usually just cook broccoli for her instead of giving her pills. I came up with this delicious broccoli and garlic cream soup that she absolutely loves, so I find myself whipping it up for her all the time.👍
I remember my late cousin's husband taking that shark liver oil while he was going through chemo. Sadly, his cancer was moving way too fast for anything to catch up; he passed away halfway through his treatment, so he was only on those capsules for maybe a week or two before that. I can't give you much in the way of "real-world experience" there. But I do know that sharks are one of the few creatures on this planet that seemingly don't get cancer. They just have this immune system that recognizes malignant cells and shuts them down immediately. I don't think it'll do Grandpa any harm. At the very least, it’s packed with Omega-3s, which are excellent for heart health.

Hello, this is my first time posting here.
My dad was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma, which was surgically removed 14 days ago.
The surgeon mentioned the tumor was about five centimeters—and thankfully, his other vital organs seem fine—BUT he’s been suffering from intense headaches... the results from his brain CT scan are absolutely terrifying: three metastases. It isn't operable. He's scheduled for radiation next—ten sessions total. Does anyone have experience with this? What does this actually mean for him regarding prognosis, side effects, or even supplements I could give him in the meantime?

Carol Ramirez said:Well, he just can't give up—that's what matters most.
I haven't picked up any noni yet; instead, I've been sticking to shark liver oil (Ecomer), some homemade remedies, and vitamins. I've heard some pretty good things about broccoli capsules—do you happen to know anything about those?

I am diligently reading through everything you all are posting... I actually bought my dad some Beta 1,3 D glucan at 500mg. It costs roughly $250 60 capsules; a cousin of mine who works in pharmacy recommended it. He suggested taking two capsules on an empty stomach about thirty minutes before meals to help activate the immune system—it's supposedly quite beneficial! But, honestly, I don't know how effective it truly is yet since he's only been taking it for three days.

northernfox9 said:Hi, I'm new here.
My dad has lung adenocarcinoma, which was removed 14 days ago.
The surgeon said they got all five pieces and his other vital organs look fine, BUT he’s having terrible headaches... and the head CT results are terrifying: 3 metastases. It's considered inoperable. He's scheduled for radiation—10 sessions. Does anyone have experience with this? What does this actually mean for him, what are the consequences or side effects, and is there anything I should be giving him in the meantime?

Look, primary brain tumors don't typically metastasize; the chances are slim to none that they spread to other organs. But since we're dealing with brain metastases originating from a primary tumor that was already removed... I honestly don't know. Radiation should kill off or at least shrink the tumor, and maybe once it shrinks, it becomes operable via Gamma Knife. I don't know where you guys are located, but I strongly suggest getting a second opinion—maybe from someone at Mayo Clinic or one of their specialists. Someone like a top-tier neurosurgeon would be best. I know plenty of cases where doctors labeled someone "inoperable," but once they actually sat down and looked closer, they just rolled up their sleeves and did the job.
When it comes to primary brain tumors, Temodal is usually the gold standard. Whether that's an option for him, I can't say. You really need to consult with a specialist at Mayo or a leading oncologist. If I were in your shoes, using whatever limited wisdom I have, that's exactly what I'd do.
Just stay strong and keep pushing forward. Nothing is lost yet. One more suggestion: Make sure to get a brain MRI with contrast. The difference between an MRI and a CT scan is like comparing a photo viewed under a microscope to one viewed through a magnifying glass—the level of detail is night and day. You'll probably have to pay out of pocket for that MRI. It'll cost roughly $667. My mom had her private MRI done at Medicol. They have a fantastic radiologist there, Dr. Vuckovic, whose diagnoses are almost always spot on.

Angela Wright said:Look, primary brain tumors don't typically metastasize—meaning the chances of them spreading to another organ are incredibly slim, almost nonexistent. Now, since we're dealing with a brain metastasis originating from a tumor that was already removed... I honestly can't say for sure. Radiation should ideally kill off or shrink the tumor, which might then make him a candidate for Gamma Knife surgery. I don't know where you all are located, but I strongly suggest seeking a second opinion—perhaps at Mayo Clinic from Paladin or someone on his surgical team. Paladin is easily the top neurosurgeon in the US, if not globally. I personally know plenty of cases that were labeled "inoperable," but once the surgeon actually sat down with the patient and committed to the task, the job was done immediately.
For primary brain tumors, Temodal is often considered the gold standard. Whether that's an option for him remains to be seen. You really ought to consult with Paladin or one of the oncologists at Mayo Clinic. Honestly, if I were in your shoes, that is exactly what I would do.
Just stay strong and keep pushing forward. All is not lost yet. One more recommendation: Make sure to get a head MRI with contrast. The difference between an MRI and a CT scan is like comparing a photo viewed through a microscope to one viewed through a magnifying glass—the gap in detail is massive. You'll likely have to pay for that MRI out-of-pocket. It probably costs around $667 with the contrast included. My mom had her private MRI done at Medicol. They have an incredible radiologist there, Dr. Vuckovic, whose diagnoses are almost always spot on.

Is Medicol located near downtown?
By the way, my dad is currently at the infamous Jordan hospital, and I'm terrified that his findings were reviewed by Paladin or some other neurosurgeon from Mayo Clinic because the doctors here at Jordan apparently can't even interpret them (or so they told me?!)
And here is another update that has me feeling utterly disillusioned with the American healthcare system—the radiation machine at Mayo Clinic has been broken for several days now!! Patients are being sent over to Petrov, where emergency cases are facing a wait of about a month and a half... what can I even say? Any comment feels redundant.
As for the MRI, I'm working on getting that scheduled right now. Thank you for the advice.

northernfox9 said:Is Medicol over on Voćarska?
By the way, my dad is at that notorious facility in Jordan, and I’m terrified his scans were interpreted by Paladin or some other neurosurgeon over at the Rib, because apparently, the folks at Jordan can't even read them (or so they told me?!).
And here's another update that leaves me feeling totally disillusioned with the American healthcare system—the radiation machine at the Rib has been broken for several days now!! Emergency cases are being sent over to Petrov, and there's about a month-and-a-half wait... honestly, any comment I make feels redundant.
As for the MR, I'm working on getting that scheduled right now. Thanks for the advice.

Medicol is located at 106 Voćarska.
Regarding the radiation machines, they’re prone to breaking down simply because of the sheer volume of patients coming through the doors. There was a massive backlog at the Rib once before when the one over at Petrov went offline. At the end of the day, the priority is just making sure the treatment continues without interruption. Hopefully, they get things fixed within a week; waiting that long is like taking a bullet to the head.
About those medical reports, check. In my experience, we had to be absolute pests just to get anyone to listen to us or actually explain anything. You have a legal right to a verbal explanation from the doctor. Don't just settle for some dismissive "that's why" or "we just don't do that." We aren't idiots; if there's a legitimate reason, they can easily explain it to a layperson. Ask them to walk you through exactly why Gamma Knife isn't an option in his specific case and whether there's any chance for post-therapy surgery. When my mom needed decompression (her brain edema was spiraling out of control), they refused, claiming, "we simply don't perform that procedure." But once we pushed back and asked for their reasoning and who specifically suggested the alternative, they suddenly performed the surgery (maybe they just felt awkward being challenged). It worked—my mom came out of her coma and was strong enough to proceed with chemo and radiation.
Anyway, let me know what happens. I'm dying to hear what they tell you.🙄

northernfox9 said:Hi everyone, first time posting here.
My dad has lung adenocarcinoma; they removed it 14 days ago.
The surgeon said they got the whole thing and his other vital organs look fine, BUT he’s having these headaches... the head CT scan results are terrifying: 3 metastases. It’s inoperable. He’s scheduled for radiation next—10 sessions. Does anyone have experience with this? What does this actually mean for him, what are the consequences or side effects, and is there anything I should be giving him in the meantime?

Side effects are pretty standard—burns and fatigue. The main thing is making sure he takes some kind of antioxidant. There are plenty of options; just look through what people have shared here and definitely pay attention to the experience of ruggednomad182, who worked wonders with their method.
Ask the doctor if my dad can apply Dermazin cream to the radiated area, since it's great for burns. I didn't know about that cream back when my mom was going through radiation. Poor thing had such bad skin issues, and they just gave her some purple liquid to rub on the burns. Once he finishes his radiation sessions, it would be a good idea to use some Bepanthen ointment to help the skin recover and stay soft.

What are the odds of a glioblastoma coming back (a recurrence) even after a successful surgery where the tumor was completely removed, followed by chemo, radiation, and Temodal?
Does anyone have any insight on this?

Anonymous said:What are the actual odds of a glioblastoma coming back after a successful surgery where they get everything out, followed by chemo, radiation, and Temodal?
Does anyone have an answer?

Unfortunately, the odds are incredibly high. In reality, it almost always returns.🙂 That’s why every treatment plan is really just about managing the situation and buying more time. Glioblastoma metastases are so microscopic that it's physically impossible for a surgeon to see how far they've spread or what the cellular landscape actually looks like. Of course, that's the perspective from conventional medicine. As for alternative methods, there isn't any controlled evidence to back them up, so most of those supposed "cures" are just based on hearsay. Personally, I believe it is possible to beat cancer.
The common thread among all malignant diseases is the simple fact that they can—and often do—return. It is a constant threat for anyone who has survived cancer, and it’s something you just have to learn to live with.

In my relentless pursuit of a solution—which is really just an attempt to save my father’s skin—I’ve been reading Dr. Breussa’s book, and I truly believe it holds weight. I actually know two people who successfully purged the illness from their systems using this method. As far as I'm concerned, I would push my dad to start fasting immediately, but I am terrified of racing against the clock. The book suggests waiting at least six months after surgery before starting the therapy, yet in our case, it has only been 16 days. And the metastases? They have aggressively invaded his brain; one of them is nearly 1.5 inches and located in the cerebellum, which has completely wrecked his sense of balance. His overall condition is nothing short of catastrophic. Now I find myself wondering—what if I had known about these things thirty days sooner? What if he hadn't gone through with the surgery? But we can't turn back the hands of time, and we can't see the answers before they arrive.
Next week he starts ten rounds of radiation, so we shall see... I refuse to let the prognosis discourage me; I always tell everyone upfront that I simply don't care about those numbers. I only want concrete facts. Perhaps psychologists would call this "denial," but I will tell you all this: there is plenty of time for crying and despair later. As long as there is breath in his lungs and blood pumping through his veins, remember this—there is NO GIVING UP.

northernfox9 said:In this relentless hunt for an answer—which is really just a desperate attempt to save my own father’s skin—I’ve been digging through Dr. Breussa’s book. And honestly? It holds water. I personally know two people who managed to purge the sickness from their systems using his methods. If it were up to me, I’d force my dad to start fasting immediately, but the clock is my biggest enemy right now. His book suggests holding off on therapy for at least six months post-surgery, and we are only sixteen days out. To make matters worse, the metastases have absolutely hammered his brain; one tumor is sitting right in the cerebellum at 4cm, which has completely wrecked his sense of balance. He’s in terrible shape. I can't help but spiral into "what ifs"—what if I had known about all this thirty days ago? What if he hadn't gone under the knife? But you can't rewind the tape, and you can't predict the finish line before the race starts.
He’s starting ten rounds of radiation next week, so we’ll see how that goes. I refuse to let the grim prognoses get under my skin; I tell everyone upfront that I don't give a damn about what doctors predict. Just give me the hard facts. Some psychologist might call this "denial," but I say there will always be plenty of time for crying and despair later. As long as there is still breath in his lungs and blood pumping through his veins, remember this: there is NO giving up.

What you’re feeling isn't denial about him being sick; it's the weight of feeling like there's no way out. And honestly, lean into that! That drive is what keeps you moving. You’ll likely see things start to look much better once the radiation is finished.😘

Here is a little dose of optimism—and I promise this story is true. It concerns my father's cousin: six years ago, he was diagnosed with two different types of cancer, specifically in his pancreas and colon. The doctors basically told him he should start looking for a burial plot for when he visits the States on vacation (he actually lives in Germany). Then came the fight—the facility involved is the Schwartchwald clinic, though the methods were all too familiar: chemotherapy, radiation, more chemo... just an endless loop. The metastases started spreading one after another: prostate, lungs, brain. Back in 2003, I saw him and honestly thought he wouldn't make it through the day; his head was blackened from radiation burns, and he weighed barely 110 pounds. But he refused to give up. He combined vitamin injections and herbal teas—the classics mixed with alternative approaches—to fight for Aunt Mary's sake. He called my relative the other day to say that the very same doctor who once suggested he find a grave told him—he is CURED OF BOTH TYPES OF CANCER, without even having surgery.

I was watching this program recently featuring an 87-year-old gentleman who was incredibly sharp and remarkably full of life. When he was asked that rather cliché question about his secret to longevity, he just gave a simple answer: "I've been lucky."
He paused for a moment, reflecting, before adding two more things: "I love women, and I love spending time with younger people."

I’ve also been reading up on that "futuristic" Stimuvax vaccine, which is designed to prime the immune system so the body can fight cancer cells on its own. Perhaps the next generation will simply be luckier (God willing). But that doesn't mean we can stop fighting right now; we can't just sit by while our loved ones suffer. I am becoming increasingly convinced that the real key to overcoming cancer lies in strengthening the immune system, and looking at my Grandpa's hematology results, I can see that it actually makes a difference. I don't know how much time he has left—he’s an elderly man who has already lived through so much—but I just want every single moment he spends with us to be high quality.

Maybe all of this sounds a bit scattered; I'm feeling quite exhausted and think I might be coming down with a cold... 🤣

Hi everyone,
A close friend of mine is battling malignant melanoma, and just three days ago, her doctors essentially gave up on her. They sent her home with the devastating prognosis that she might only have about 15 days left to live. It’s truly heartbreaking—she’s only 26 years old.
We recently heard about Dr. Branko Stakic from Belgrade, who specializes in alternative medicine. During our conversation, he mentioned that his treatments might be able to halt the rapid spread of the metastases.
What I’m trying to find out is whether any of you have heard of him or if anyone here has had any firsthand experience with his work.
Thanks,
p.s. here is the link to his website:

http://www.cytomedica.com/0002.htm

Laura Gomez10 said:Hi everyone,
A close friend of mine is battling malignant melanoma. Just three days ago, her doctors basically gave up on her and sent her home, claiming she only has about 15 days left to live. It’s absolutely devastating. She’s only 26 years old.
We heard about this guy Dr. Branko Stakic from Belgrade who practices alternative medicine. During our conversation, he told us he believes his treatments could potentially halt the spread of those galloping metastases.
What I really need to know is if anyone here has heard of him or has any actual experience with his work.
Thanks,
p.s. here is the link to his website:

http://www.cytomedica.com/0002.htm

A woman on this forum mentioned some drops from a professor out of Belgrade once, but she wasn't specific about who it was or what they were for. I just sent her an email asking if she meant Stakic; if so, I'll post her reply immediately. Fingers crossed. Honestly, don't take doctor prognoses as gospel. They love handing them out and acting like they have all the answers, but they conveniently forget that every patient is different and that in medicine, 2+2 doesn't always equal 4.
Just stay strong and focus on boosting her immune system. For you, as for everyone else on this forum, I want to recommend Native propolis (www.hedera.hr) once again.
God works through the smallest things—I learned that firsthand during my own tragedy.

Angela Wright said:What you’re feeling isn't a refusal to accept the diagnosis—it's the weight of feeling like there's no way out—and honestly? That realization is actually a good thing! Just keep pushing forward; you'll see that once the radiation is finished, things are going to look much brighter.😘

Someone from the medical community told me today that radiation can have side effects—specifically, my dad could end up paralyzed. Is there any way to mitigate such a risk? 😕

Laura Gomez10, shoot me a DM if you want; I might have some info that could actually be useful!

Fellow forum members, I am desperately seeking some guidance here! My mother is currently battling extensive tumors. She has one large mass on her right ovary, along with two smaller ones, and there is also a tumor on her stomach measuring about 25x25 cm. As of now, her liver, pancreas, kidneys, and intestines appear to be okay. Her white blood cell count was at 16 this past Friday, but it shot up to 250 just yesterday. She also had her tumor markers tested; one came back at 87, and the other was at 456. Please, if anyone can offer any insight or help, I need it as soon as possible.

northernfox9 Asks:
I just had someone from the medical community drop a bombshell on me: radiation can have serious side effects. Specifically, they told me my dad could end up paralyzed. 😕

It looks like my mom is going through the exact same thing. As much as they tout radiation as being "precise," the reality is that it hits both healthy and diseased cells with the same intensity, leaving behind nothing but necrotic tissue. It’s a double-edged sword, plain and simple. Honestly, even though my mom is practically a shell of her former self now, I still can't say for sure if we'd choose radiation all over again. The only way I can wrap my head around this right now is by telling myself that, at the very least, we exhausted every single option available to us.