Resources and support for families dealing with cancer and serious illness

Amy Hayes28 said:Just send me what it says and I'll translate it for you.

Hey girl, everything good? I just sent you a DM.

Angela Wright said:Hey sweetie, you doing okay? I just sent you a private message.

I just sent one right back to you...🙂
Do you think this one would be useful for my dad??

Amy Hayes28 said:Exactly what I was thinking...🙂
Do you think my dad would actually get any use out of this one??

Look,🤷 people are raving about it and I see plenty of folks using it, so just give it a shot—you’ve got nothing to lose.

Angela Wright said:Look🤷 , I see plenty of people praising this and using it themselves, so honestly, just give it a shot—you’ve got nothing to lose.

How are American doctors actually reacting to this? Or maybe I shouldn't even bother asking. 😁

I did some digging just now, and according to their official websites, regardless of which injectable preparation you're using, you have to start by injecting a tiny amount just under the skin. You have to keep doing that until you actually see redness appear on the skin! That redness is mandatory, but the area shouldn't be any larger than a 5 cm circle.
It also says that for the very first time, it's best to have a specialist doctor handle it so they can nail down the exact dosage required.
Hmm, looks like I need to find myself a volunteer doctor.😁

Karen Fox36 said:Hello,
I haven't posted here in quite a while, as my days have become increasingly consumed by endless obligations. It has finally been confirmed that my mother is facing a Grade IV glioblastoma 😢, but I simply cannot afford the luxury of weeping; I intend to direct every ounce of my strength toward fighting this disease. I find myself in need of a small amount of assistance. We have acquired Iscador injections, specifically the 0.1 and 2 doses, though we have yet to begin administration because the instructions are written in German, and my proficiency is limited to English🙄 Could anyone perhaps offer some guidance on how to administer these to her?? I would be immensely grateful. On a side note, my aunt is arriving from the UK soon, and she will be bringing a large assortment of supplements she sourced from various pharmacies there—things like pineapple root extracts, shark cartilage, CoQ10, certain oils, and so on

Please, do not even attempt to search for time to grieve... instead, find the time to cultivate strength and courage, acting with the bravery you know you possess.

I am unable to offer specific advice regarding the injections. I recall how much my father struggled with them... my mother dealt with significant bruising during the initial stages...

Stay strong, kisses

Amy Hayes28 said:How are our doctors reacting to this? Or am I even asking the wrong question?😁

I did some digging, and according to their official sites, regardless of which injectable prep you're using, you're supposed to first test a tiny amount under the skin. You have to keep injecting small amounts until you actually see redness appear on the skin. That redness is mandatory, but it shouldn't spread into a circle larger than about two inches.
It’s best to have a specialist handle the very first round so they can nail down the exact dosage required.
Man, I really need to find myself a doctor willing to volunteer for this.😁

Don't expect anything but a hard "no."😳 My own internist practically chewed me out just for using organic propolis🙄, so there's no way they'll sign off on something administered via intramuscular injection.
Honestly, I'm not even mad about it anymore. I get it—professionally speaking, they can't give a green light to something that hasn't been backed by an officially recognized medical study. They have to protect themselves; if something goes sideways, it's their license and their neck on the line.

Angela Wright said:Don't expect anything but a hard "no"😳. My internist basically chewed me out just for using some organic propolis 🙄, so imagine how they'll react to something being injected straight into the muscle
. Honestly, I'm not even mad about it anymore—I get it. They can't professionally back something that hasn't been vetted by a massive clinical study, so they have to play it safe... because if something goes sideways, it's their license on the line
.

Yeah, right—like when my doctor was busy peddling Aloe Vera to everyone, she was all smiles and "highly recommended" it... especially if you bought it directly from her. Such a joke. 😠

stormyowl2 said:Well, that’s why my doctor used to push Aloe Vera on everyone—she was basically acting like a salesperson, telling us if we bought it directly from her, we’d be getting the "premium" stuff. 😠

Look, there's plenty of options out there,🙄 but honestly, most of my experiences have been pretty bad, especially when dealing with specialists.
In the eyes of mainstream medicine, Aloe is just a supplement, much like native propolis. But she was using an injectable version, which changes the entire equation; you can't just lump an injectable treatment in with basic dietary supplements. It makes me wonder how clueless she actually was regarding native propolis if she couldn't tell the difference there.

Angela Wright said:Look, there's a bit of everything out there...🙄 My experience has mostly been pretty lousy, especially when dealing with specialists.
Aloa is seen by the medical community as just another supplement—just like native propolis—but she was using something delivered via injection, so you can't exactly lump that in with standard eye supplements. Honestly, I can only imagine how much of a meltdown happened when she was acting all clueless about the native propolis stuff.

Oh please, Jane, I don't think the doctor was getting worked up because you suggested propolis... it was more like "who do you think you are suggesting things? I went to med school, not you."

As for specialists—I realized a long time ago that everyone is their own best expert. I spent an entire year and a half being dragged around by doctors who insisted I just had some fatty tissue under my armpit. I finally took matters into my own hands, went to a private surgeon to get it removed, and turns out... it was actually Hodgkin's disease, just like your friend. ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE...

Angela Wright said:Look, there’s a bit of everything out there.🙄 My own experiences have been pretty much a disaster, especially when dealing with specialists.
Aloa might be viewed by mainstream medicine as just another supplement, just like native propolis, but she was using something administered via injection. Because of that, you can't just lump it in with standard eye supplements. Honestly, I can only imagine how ridiculous her reaction was when she was acting all clueless about the native propolis.

I dealt with two different specialists who basically gave me the eye roll and told me not to throw my money away when I asked about using beta glucan. But here's the kicker: the fact is, it actually helped her bloodwork improve enough so she could finally get back to her chemo treatments. Now, she's on beta glucan constantly, and her blood counts are right back within the normal range. So, yeah—maybe it's better not to bother asking doctors at all.

brightgardener8 said:I literally got nothing but eye rolls from two different specialists when I asked about using beta glucan—basically just being told "don't waste your money." But here’s the kicker: her blood work actually improved because of it, which was the only reason she could even stay on her chemo schedule. Now, she’s on beta glucan full-time and her labs are totally back to normal. So yeah... maybe just don't bother asking the doctors.

True, but then you see all those cases where doctors themselves get diagnosed with cancer and suddenly they're turning down chemo. Makes you wonder why, right?
They know exactly what kind of poison they're dealing with. I honestly can't decide if they just let things play out naturally or if they're actively letting it happen... I even read somewhere recently—can't remember the exact source right now—about some specialist who actually turned to urine therapy to try and cure breast cancer.

But hey, ethics are ethics, I guess 😲

stormyowl2 said:Look, Angela Wright, I don't think the doctor was reacting so aggressively because you suggested propolis; it was more like, "Who do you think you are suggesting treatments?" They went through medical school, not you.

As for specialists, I realized a long time ago that everyone is their own best specialist. I spent a year and a half being dragged around by doctors who insisted I just had some fatty tissue under my armpit. Finally, I took matters into my own hands, went to a private surgeon, and it turned out to be Hodgkin disease—exactly like what happened to your friend. TERRIFYING.

No, actually, she rolled her eyes because she probably assumed we were colleagues (it’s happened at hospitals before where people address me as "colleague," likely because I'm pretty fluent in medical terminology😍 once, a head nurse actually called me out after I corrected her for giving my mom the wrong concentration of mannitol compared to what was written on the chart—and this was back when I was either in med school or doing my residency😂, though I actually graduated in fashion design😁 ) so she acted like, "How did you end up in such a low-level position? You're basically throwing money down the drain."
Honestly, I totally get why they're so arrogant (shoutout to the few exceptions, may God bless them), but I've learned that the best way to handle them is to stand your ground and act like you're a neurosurgeon👍. That's basically how I managed to navigate the hospital system to get my mom the care she actually needed.

Angela Wright said:Nah, she basically just rolled her eyes because she probably assumed we were peers—which, honestly, happens all the time at hospitals. People start calling me "colleague" just because I actually know my way around medical terminology 😍—like, once a head nurse tried to lecture me after I called her out for giving my mom the wrong concentration of manitol compared to what was on the chart... and yeah, I was either in med school or doing my residency back then 😂, though my actual degree is in fashion design 😁! So, basically, she was implying I should know better and that we’re just throwing money down the drain.
Anyway, I totally get why they act so high and mighty, but I've learned the hard way that it's best to just play the part and act like you're a neurosurgeon 👍. That’s pretty much how I managed to get my mom the care she actually needed while navigating different hospitals.

🤣 Cool, I am definitely digging this. Dreamers gotta do what they gotta do, right? 👍

My dear forum members... especially Ivanicapecatyou,
my family and I have endured a turbulent six months—a period defined by tears, laughter, anxiety, and the heavy reality of what happens when an entire household is forced to confront cancer...

When I first sought out this forum, it was because I found absolutely no support, understanding, or most importantly, practical help within my own circles. To be honest, I am still unsure who has carried a heavier burden through all of this—my mother or the rest of us...🤷 It is truly distressing that psychological support wasn't provided to us, as we are only now realizing the profound impact it had on our mental state. It is equally unsettling how little information one can actually obtain from our healthcare system regarding medications, co-pays, treatment protocols, costs, and similar matters...

On April 27th of this year, Mom was discharged from the hospital to home care with instructions to return for a follow-up in four days once her test results were finalized. Even then, markers and deformed ovarian cells had already been identified. After a month of suffering, biopsies, and indications that ovarian cancer was the culprit, they simply sent her home for recovery?!?!?!? I will never quite wrap my head around that decision...

My father refused to wait for those potential results. He has dealt with cancer multiple times before—he survived twice, his father passed away from lung cancer, my grandmother survived breast cancer, and Mom had previously battled uterine cancer. Within ten days, he made the decision to take her to Aviano to seek specialized care. On the very day the appointment was scheduled, the results were ready. Their staging scale ranges from 1 to 4, subdivided into four parts (a, b, c, d). They diagnosed Mom with stage 3c (with 4d being the highest), and she was on the operating table the very next day. Aware of our precarious financial situation, there was no question that we wanted everything done at this specific facility because they acted immediately. Today, one can only wonder how much longer our local doctors would have waited for that surgery to happen...

The surgery lasted six hours, which felt like the longest day of our lives, followed by days filled with constant dread. Mom couldn't stand or walk, couldn't eat, and couldn't even speak; my father was the only one by her side, as she adamantly refused visits from the rest of us. Despite the shock and the language barrier, Dad managed to navigate things; he bought her a compression garment that eased her pain and helped her find the strength to take a step each day (she still wears it today). I cannot begin to imagine what those first few weeks were like for him. When my brother saw her for the first time, he thought there was no hope left, and unfortunately, she felt that way too. She went into her first round of chemotherapy in fear, yet she emerged from it stronger than ever. Seeing other patients struggling with nausea and agonizing pain while she felt relatively fine gave her a strange sense of resilience. The doctors gave her strict orders on what she could and couldn't do, but she wouldn't be told how to live if she felt up to walking that day. As summer approached, the ocean became our sanctuary. At home, without air conditioning, it was unbearable, especially for someone who was required to stay indoors. We would unwind in the evenings with a swim, and the days seemed to pass quickly. However, after the third chemo session, her blood work began to show troubling signs. We spent twenty-four hours straight moving between different labs; it was exhausting to watch her being poked for the fourth time in a single day. She missed one session, which disrupted her cycle, leading them to adjust her interval from 21 days to 28 days between treatments. It was evident she was weakening, both physically and mentally, though she would never admit it herself...

About a month and a half ago, my father visited me and told me he was sorry, but he felt we were losing the battle because Mom’s condition was deteriorating and she was running out of strength; unfortunately, I felt it too. Those were the days when she could barely manage a coherent sentence. When she told me herself that her aunt had also been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, I felt as though it might break her completely. She went for her fifth chemo and returned worse than ever... physically frail, her face reflecting her misery, even as she denied it. Twenty days ago, she completed her final chemo, and we are left not knowing what to expect. When she arrived back at Aviano, the doctor simply stated that we are facing a six-month struggle to buy her more time...

Today, after six months of searching, they finally found no traces of cancer; all the results came back perfectly clear, and our battle is officially over... I just felt compelled to share this moment with all of you who follow my journey and read what I have to say. My family is still traveling through Aviano, and I am simply counting down the hours until they arrive home so I can call them and hear those words for myself. Honestly, some of your advice and posts were so helpful that I passed them along to my mother, and she wanted to express her own gratitude to you all! When we first faced that terrifying drop in neutrophils and white blood cell counts... I remember reading a suggestion somewhere about yeast and raisins, and today, whenever someone asks how to boost those levels, she immediately replies, "My little girl read about it on an online forum."

I don't know enough about the specifics of treatments or medications to offer any high-quality medical advice here, but once Mom is feeling a bit more herself, I will try to get her active on this forum. In the meantime, we are continuing to take those same "small" steps toward maintaining our health.

Please stay strong and keep believing, no matter how unbelievable it might seem. When I shared this news with a friend earlier today, he asked me, "If anyone had told you a month ago that you would be hearing this today, would you have believed them?"... I simply answered, "My days are defined by faith."

I feel your support every single moment, and THANK YOU ALL!!!

Katja

Angela Wright said:Well, there’s a bit of everything out there...🙄 My own experiences have been largely disappointing, particularly when dealing with specialists.
While Aloe is viewed by mainstream medicine as just another supplement, much like native propolis, she was once administered something via injection, which simply prevents it from being categorized as a mere dietary supplement in the eyes of ophthalmology. One can only imagine the fallout when she was acting so erratically regarding the native propolis...

🙄 Before my mother started her first round of chemotherapy, they brought her some Aloe preparations, and she actually showed them to her doctor to get his take. He flatly refused to let her take them, fearing they might interfere with how her body reacted to the chemo. When she pressed him on his reasoning, he explained that the human body functions much like a computer—if you try running too many different antivirus programs at once, they end up crashing into one another...

Everyone seems to have their own little theory...🤷

Angela Wright said:No, she actually just rolled her eyes because she likely assumed we were colleagues... it happened to me quite often at the hospital where people would address me as "colleague," presumably because I am reasonably proficient with medical terminology😍 once a head nurse even tried to lecture me after I called her out for giving my mother the wrong concentration of Mannitol compared to what was written on the chart, despite the fact that I am either in med school or already in my residency😂, though my actual degree is in fashion design😁. It felt more like she was implying I should know better, as if we were simply throwing money down the drain...
I find their arrogance entirely predictable (bless the few exceptions, may God bless them), but I have learned that the best approach is to hold your ground and perhaps even pretend you are a neurosurgeon👍. Generally speaking, that is how I managed to secure exactly what my mother needed while navigating various hospitals...

My father is a civil engineer, yet from day one, he has maintained his own separate logbook and a binder filled with copies of every lab result, specialist opinion, and everything else Mom and the doctors have gone through. It becomes rather comical when he visits a doctor and begins explaining, using highly technical jargon, what is actually required for my mother's care... but the reality remains that you get exactly what you demand of the situation...

Recently, my mother had blood drawn and the nurse made a mistake that damaged the vein. An immediate hematoma formed on her arm, and my father raised his voice, insisting they be more careful and noting that even he wouldn't make such a blunder...🙂

Amy Hayes28 said:How do our doctors react to this? Or am I just wasting my breath asking? 😁

I was doing some digging just now. According to their own websites, regardless of which injectable preparation you’re using, you have to start by injecting a tiny amount just under the skin first. You need to keep going until you actually see redness appear on the skin. That redness is mandatory, but don't let the area swell up into a circle larger than two inches.
The first time you do this, you really need a specialist. You need a doctor who actually knows their stuff. That's the only way to make sure the dosage is spot on.
I need a doctor to volunteer.😁

It’s wild how exclusive our oncologists are. Over in Europe or Japan, doctors regularly suggest supplemental therapies because they know chemotherapy isn't a cure for cancer—the statistics don't lie. But here in America? Our doctors practically scream at you if you even mention a single natural supplement.
Blackberry extracts. In Germany, they regularly use this alongside chemotherapy, and it actually sees some success. Smaller clinical studies have pointed to its effectiveness against cancer, while it’s already been proven to boost immunity in healthy people. Just keep in mind that all this research was conducted using only injectable extracts administered under the skin.
Lentinan and schizophrenia. In Japan, shiitake and suhiro-take mushrooms are registered as actual medicines used as adjuvant therapies for cancer. It’s vital to understand that eating these mushrooms does absolutely nothing for this purpose. You have to administer the isolated polysaccharides intravenously. In fact, taking massive doses of shiitake orally is extremely toxic.
Certain mushrooms can be taken orally and actually show real results against cancer. Coriolus versicolor is a powerhouse. It’s a heavy hitter when it comes to immune support. I’ve looked into it extensively. It works. If you want to strengthen your body's defenses, this is a serious option worth considering. i Reishi is powerful. It works. You need to understand its potential if you want real results..
Astragalus membranaceus. It’s a powerhouse. If you aren't looking into this, you're missing out. It works. Period. It’s proven to be somewhat effective against small cell lung cancer. AHCC is worth looking into. It’s a powerful tool for supporting the immune system. If you want real results, you need to take it seriously. Don't skip out on this one. Active hexose correlated compounds significantly cut cancer recurrence rates in patients who underwent surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma. We're looking at a measurable decrease in regrowth even five years after the initial procedure. It works.
Let's be clear: Taheebo isn't going to do anything for cancer. The only thing that actually shows any cytotoxic effect is Lapachol, which is isolated from Taheebo. To get any real impact on cancer cells, you’d have to take doses that are incredibly toxic to a human being. Don't look to Taheebo for a solution.
People battling cancer often turn to noni. While there are in vitro studies and animal trials suggesting anti-cancer properties, we still lack human clinical trials to actually prove it works. In my opinion, it’s smarter to spend your money on supplements that have already been rigorously tested rather than gambling on something that might not even do anything.
Stop throwing your money away on Aloe. There are zero studies on humans or animals proving that Aloe does anything against cancer. It doesn't even have an immunostimulative effect.
The immunostimulatory effects of Aloe gel rich in acemanan have only been proven in test tubes. Products like that are incredibly rare on the market, and they are outrageously expensive.
http://www.herbmed.org/Herbs/Herb3.htm#Category1Herb3

Immune stimulation. It’ll catch up to you through plants like:
Astragalus membranaceus. It’s a heavy hitter for immune support. People need to understand its potential. It works.http://www.herbmed.org/Herbs/Herb26.htm#Category1Herb26
Andrographis paniculata. It’s a powerhouse. If you aren't looking into this, you're missing out. Pure efficacy. Get on it.http://www.ics.trieste.it/MedicinalP...ant.aspx?id=23
Withania somniferum (ashwagandha)http://www.herbmed.org/Herbs/Herb136...tegory1Herb136
Echinacea http://www.herbmed.org/Herbs/Herb6.htm#Category1Herb6
Ginseng (panax ginseng and eleutherococcus senticosus)http://www.herbmed.org/Herbs/Herb108...tegory1Herb108
http://www.herbmed.org/Herbs/Herb98.htm#Category1Herb98
Maitake mushroom
Avoid using ginseng if you're dealing with hormone-dependent tumors because it acts similarly to estrogen.
Sending hope for recovery to everyone battling this tough disease.

Nancy Hernandez43 said:I am standing right there with you, and THANK YOU!!!

Katja drag

Honey, reading this really got to me—it actually brought me to tears, especially today when it feels like my mom is struggling just to catch her breath...
...this whole thread is part of my own fight against this damn disease, and seeing how that struggle is paying off for your mom makes it all feel worth it.
Thank you for sharing this and for the comfort; through your words, I truly felt God's grace touching my heart today.😘

Angela Wright said:Dear, reading this really moved me to tears, especially today when it feels like my own mother is losing her breath...
...this entire thread is part of my personal battle against this cursed illness, and seeing how those efforts are bearing fruit for your mother gives me hope...
Thank you for sharing this and offering such comfort today; through your words, I feel the grace of God...😘

Thank you for being here for all of us..

I truly have nothing else to say except that both you and your mother are in my thoughts, and I can only hope that strength continues to find you in your struggle.

"We" are turning a new page, and we stand ready to answer every single question that comes our way. Perhaps it is finally time to launch some sort of "real-world" initiative to support families in need.

Keep your faith and continue exactly as you have learned—with steadfastness and courage!

kiss

I was reading your post from the previous page and I couldn't help but smile. I am genuinely relieved to hear that you are doing well and that your Mother is holding up too. It’s a rare comfort when someone in our circle actually manages to beat back such a relentless illness. Truly, it warms my heart. God bless you all.
Regarding the talk about sourdough, raisins, and popcorn during chemo—I was actually posting on this forum during those exact days when my dear Mother was undergoing her treatment. She was following advice from a woman she met in Canada, who was passing along recommendations from their local doctors. In that region, the hospitals often lack the funding for expensive medications, and patients frequently find themselves without much financial support either. Consequently, they suggest anything and everything that might offer some relief at home. For my Mother, it actually worked. It brings me a sense of peace knowing that my little bit of advice helped someone facing such a heavy burden. Sending my best to you!

As for the IMMUNE SYSTEM INJECTIONS, my Mother used Helixor. Following the recommendation of an oncologist in Vienna, she took her first dose after the first day of chemo and then continued every fourth day, specifically between 10:00 and 12:00 PM. I still have a few boxes of those injections left over, so if anyone is in need, PLEASE REACH OUT—I am happy to give them away. My Mother didn't experience any major side effects, just a few small red spots on her face that lasted maybe a day or two. They come in specific series, starting from 0.