Support for families dealing with cancer and other serious illnesses (Part II)

Chloe Bennett5 said:Thanks, Nicole Jackson4

My mom just hit 60.
Everything moves way too fast. We're fully aware of what we're dealing with, but man, it's just heavy,
Ever since she first went into the hospital, she's been on noni and raw propolis—she actually started using them while still admitted—so she’s been handling the radiation and chemo pretty well, and her blood counts have stayed solid.

Good luck to you too.

Really hoping someone pops up with some info on that PCV protocol.

I know how brutal this is... It's just awful..

Did you guys keep up with those supplements during the actual chemo sessions? Or just during the breaks between cycles?

I'm also keeping an eye out for anyone who knows about that protocol, I'm following this closely.

hello to everyone else out there dealing with the exact same mess I am.

Ten days ago, my dad (65) just suddenly blacked out and collapsed. Turns out it’s lung cancer with three brain metastases. We’re currently waiting on the pathology report to figure out the specific type of lung cancer we're fighting.

He’s got partial paralysis on his left side and can't move, so he’s staying with me and my husband now.
We have a little one—only eighteen months old—so this whole situation is hitting us incredibly hard.
Dad refuses to go into a nursing home. He actually threatened to end it all if we tried to put him in one, so now we’re just taking it one day at a time.

I’m reaching out because I’m struggling with the diaper situation. Dad is in diapers, and I’ve tried everything from Tena briefs with maximum absorbency to using two diapers at once—even trying those Tena pull-ups—but they still leak. And I mean heavily. I’m changing the bedsheets three times a day, and the whole house still reeks of urine.
I can't tell if I'm just bad at putting the diaper on correctly, or if he's just releasing such a massive amount of urine so fast that no diaper can keep up.

Does anyone have any advice on what I should try next?

Kate Edwards51 said:Hello to everyone else out there going through this exact same thing.

Ten days ago, my dad (65) suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed. The diagnosis was lung cancer with three brain metastases; we’re currently waiting on the pathology report to confirm the specific type of lung cancer.

Dad has partial paralysis on the left side of his body and can't move, so he's staying with me and my husband now.

We have a little one—only eighteen months old—and honestly, this whole situation is hitting us incredibly hard.

Dad refuses to go into a nursing home; he actually threatened to take his own life if we tried to move him there, so right now, we're just taking it one day at a time.

I'm reaching out because I'm struggling with diaper issues. Dad is wearing diapers, and I've tried using Tena products—everything from high-absorbency pads to Tena pull-ups, even doubling up on two diapers—but they still leak heavily. I'm changing the bedsheets three times a day, and the whole house reeks of urine.

I can't tell if I'm applying the diaper incorrectly, or if he's just releasing such a massive amount of urine so quickly that the diaper simply can't keep up.

Does anyone have any advice on what I should try?

I'm not familiar with those specific brands, but my mom used Simex. With men, the issue is often anatomical—the positioning of the genitals causes urine to spray over the top edge of the diaper. For her, leaks happened too, but she always slept on incontinence pads (like the ones used for changing babies, though Simex makes larger versions for adults), which kept the sheets from getting ruined.
By the way, since brain metastases and lung cancer are extremely sensitive to radiation, I'm surprised they haven't addressed that yet, unless you just didn't mention it.
Dad is also entitled to home health nursing visits—specifically seven times a week for 45 minutes each. You should check with his hospital about requesting that. Having a nurse come by to wash him in bed daily and give him a full bath once a week was an absolute lifesaver for me.

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Chloe Bennett5 said:Hello everyone!

I am truly, deeply sorry that things have reached this point.
I’d actually suggest getting a second opinion from another neurosurgeon—maybe someone in New York City, or you could head over to Paladin since they operate privately. When Paladin gives you a recommendation, you can take it to the bank; you'll know you're 100% getting the truth.
When it comes to glioblastoma, the people who manage to hold on the longest are the ones living from one surgery to the next, jumping on a new operation the second a recurrence pops up. As for the fallout? That’s a grim reality you can't dodge, even if you skip the surgery altogether. It’s like watching a slow retreat where the disease systematically claims pieces of your body and your ability to speak. It starts with the legs and works its way up to the arms. At the end of the day, everything boils down to a desperate series of attempts to buy just a little more time.
The second line of defense involves Vincristine and the CCNU protocol. If my memory serves me right, that’s a combination of oral tablets and IV therapy. My mom wasn't a candidate for that specific route given her condition at the time. I know for a fact that Vincristine is incredibly toxic. You really have to weigh the potential benefit of extending life against the actual quality of that life.
This study from the National Institutes of Health dives deep into the complexities of managing patient outcomes during intensive chemotherapy regimens. It’s not just about throwing drugs at a problem; it’s about the delicate, often brutal balancing act between aggressive treatment and the physiological toll it takes on the human body. The researchers look closely at how specific toxicities—the kind that can derail an entire treatment plan—impact the overall success rate. Think of it like tuning a high-performance engine while it's still running at full speed; if you push the fuel mixture too hard, you risk blowing the whole thing apart before you ever reach the finish line. They break down the data on how various side effects influence dose intensity and, ultimately, whether a patient actually hits those critical survival milestones. It’s a sobering look at the fine line doctors have to walk every single day in the oncology ward.

Sending everyone lots of strength.

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Just checking in, it's been a while... ❤️
My son is currently on his third round of chemo. We won't know the actual status of the tumor until next month.
As for the chemo itself... I wanted to share what we've been going through. He’s handling it surprisingly well, which is impressive because this stuff is brutal (doxorubicin, etoposide, Vincristine, dacarbazine... there's more).
To fight off nausea, he gets Ondansetron injections at the hospital before things even start.
At home, I just follow whatever the instructions say on the box.
I squeeze fresh juices every single day using whatever is on hand—apples, carrots, oranges, tangerines, pomegranate, blueberries, pears, lemon... basically anything that tastes decent. I also drop 12 drops of Vit D3 into the juice.
One probiotic capsule every day.
He has bacon and a boiled egg every day too.
I make beef or bone broth that simmers for at least five or six hours (I make a huge pot that lasts a few days) and I load it with root vegetables.
Oral hygiene is NON-NEGOTIABLE!!!!! Brushing with a soft toothbrush multiple times a day.
We use Rojazol gel for fungus and rinse with sage tea. When the fungus really gets out of hand, he takes Diflucan for a short bit.
When mouth sores show up... Anaftin, propolis, sage, flaxseed slime + sometimes I give him a Coke. We stumbled upon the Coke thing by accident, but it actually helps soothe the pain, so I give it to him.
I focus heavily on quality nutrition every day... fruit, veggies, soups, some meat but not too much... teas with honey, and sweets only occasionally.

Between chemo rounds, I also give him Native propolis. Hedera did some research on it, so I trust it. As for how much the propolis alone helps, I honestly don't know.
Don't get me wrong, I believe in science. I'm incredibly skeptical when it comes to alternative medicine.
It drives me crazy reading those nonsense posts online claiming some random herb can cure cancer in 15 days.
Every day, we try to get out into nature. Whenever he's feeling up to it, we'll walk through the woods or a field for thirty minutes to an hour.

Susan Watson3 said:Just checking in with you all, it's been a while... ❤
My son is currently on his third cycle of chemo. As for the tumor itself, we won't know the actual status until next week.
Regarding the chemo... I wanted to share what our experience has been like. He’s actually handling it quite well, though it’s definitely not easy (we're using doxorubicin, etoposide, vincristine, dacarbazine... there's more to it).
To fight off nausea, he gets Ondansetron—and we make sure he gets it before things even start; he receives injections at the hospital.
At home, I follow the instructions on the packaging precisely.
I squeeze fresh juices for him every single day using whatever is on hand—apples, carrots, oranges, mandarins, pomegranate, blueberries, pears, lemon... basically anything that tastes decent. Plus, I add about 12 drops of Vitamin D3 to the juice.
He takes one probiotic capsule daily.
He also has bacon and a boiled egg every day.
I make beef or bone broth that simmers for at least five or six hours (I make a huge pot that lasts us a few days), and I load it up with plenty of root vegetables.
Oral hygiene is MANDATORY!!!!! We brush teeth with a soft toothbrush multiple times a day.
We use Rojazol gel for any fungus and rinse his mouth with sage tea. If the fungal issues get really out of hand, he takes Diflucan for a short period.
And when canker sores show up... we use Anaftin, propolis, sage, and flaxseed slime + occasionally I give him some Coke... we discovered the thing with the Coke by accident, but since it seems to soothe the pain right now, I give it to him.
Every day, I focus heavily on high-quality nutrition... lots of fruit, veggies, and soups, less meat but still some... teas with honey, and sweets only once in a while.

Between chemo sessions, I also give him Native propolis; Heather has conducted some research on it, so I trust her. As for how much the propolis helps on its own, I honestly don't know...
That said, I believe in science, and I’m extremely skeptical when it comes to alternative treatments.
It especially drives me crazy when I read those vague posts online claiming some specific herb can cure cancer in 15 days or something along those lines...
Every day, we try to get out for a walk in nature; whenever he's feeling up to it, we'll stroll through the woods or a field for half an hour to an hour.

Reading this brought me back to not so long ago—the nausea, the canker sores, the fungus... my mom went through all of that because of chemo. It takes about seven days for the oral cavity to regenerate. My mom found relief in tonic, tangerine, and even Coke... she never drank it in her life, but suddenly she was going through a bottle of sparkling soda every day. It helped settle her nausea, so I used to buy it for her. Anything just to ease the struggle.
Sending you all strength to get through this and wishing for a successful recovery.

I used to get Octenidol MD., but I don't think Schülke makes it anymore—it feels like it's vanished from the shelves everywhere. Now, I just grab a very similar mouthwash called Octenident instead. It’s actually a bit cheaper than $23, and most importantly, it doesn't have any alcohol. That part is absolutely key for me.

If you're trying to clear out some fungus, you need to gargle for about two minutes. For just basic oral hygiene or disinfecting little sores and stuff, thirty seconds should do it. Also, honestly? Sage tea works great too if you want to gargle with that.

hello, quick question here.
He just finished preventative cranial radiation, and even though every article out there claims the side effects should be mild, it seems like this treatment hit him way harder than all his previous chemo sessions combined. He’s completely wiped out—exhausted—and needs a transfusion to get his blood counts back up. It’s been two months since the radiation ended, but the fatigue isn't letting up. Roughly how long does it take for the body to bounce back from something like this? thank you so much.

quietpilot87 said:Hello, I have a quick question.
The patient just finished preventative radiation to the head, and even though every article claims the side effects should be mild, it seems like this radiation hit him much harder than all his previous chemo sessions combined. He’s incredibly exhausted and actually needs a transfusion to get his blood counts back up. It’s been two months since the radiation ended, but the fatigue hasn't let up. Roughly how long does it typically take for the body to bounce back from something like this? Thank you so much.

Fatigue, brain fog, and cognitive shifts are pretty common after radiation therapy to the head (especially when targeting the brain). Of course, the risk level depends on whether they treated the whole brain or just a specific area, the total dose used, and what his baseline cognitive function was to begin with. Recovery is all over the map—it can take several months, and in some cases, there might be lasting effects on mental function. As for the impact on blood counts during head radiation, that shouldn't usually be a long-term issue, so it might be worth looking into other potential causes. You can find more details here: https://www.oncology.org/radiotherapy

hello,

Unfortunately, life has led me here to this topic...
My father-in-law, who is 77, was diagnosed with a high-grade myofibrosarcoma in his chest, and they have surgically removed it. Before the surgery, he had a PET/CT scan which didn't show any metastases, his lung X-ray was clear, and the MSCT of his abdomen and pelvis came back normal too...
The oncologist in Miami is now asking for follow-up CT and MRI scans, as we suspect they might be worried that the surgery didn't clear everything out. We are considering seeking a second opinion, and while browsing through various forums, I saw Dr. Shantek at Johns Hopkins Hospital mentioned as a specialist for rare tumors. We are trying to get in touch with him, but since I read somewhere that he doesn't check his emails regularly, I was wondering if anyone might happen to have his contact information...
Any experiences you all have with this type of sarcoma would be more than welcome...

boldwalker13 said:hello,

Unfortunately, life has led me to this specific topic.
My father-in-law, who is 77, was diagnosed with high-grade myofibrosarcoma in his chest. It was surgically removed. Before the surgery, he had a PET/CT scan which showed no metastasis, his lung X-ray was clear, and the MSCT of his abdomen and pelvis came back clean too.
The oncologist in Miami is requesting follow-up CT and MRI scans; we suspect they think the surgery might not have cleared everything out. We are considering seeking a second opinion. While browsing the forum, I saw Dr. Shantek at Johns Hopkins Hospital mentioned as a specialist for rare tumors. We’d love to reach out to him, but since I read somewhere that he doesn't check his emails regularly, I was wondering if anyone here might have his direct contact info.
Any and all experiences regarding this type of sarcoma would be more than welcome.

Depending on how large the tumor was and how aggressive the disease is, radiation therapy might be an option after surgery if there's any suspicion that some cancer cells were left behind.
For more general info on sarcomas, check this out: https://www.oncology.com/soft-tissue-sarcoma

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice here.
My dad (59 years old) was diagnosed at the end of summer with Stage 4 non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma—it had already spread to his adrenal gland, one vertebra, lymph nodes, and his brain.
He’s completed 10 rounds of brain radiation and 5 out of 6 chemo sessions (using platinum).
He’s actually handling the treatment quite well—his tumor markers are negative, and he’s even put on a little weight.
We had a follow-up CT scan before his 5th chemo session, and the doctor claims his condition has improved incredibly—that the tumor has shrunk significantly—but strangely, the discharge papers don't mention it at all, and we haven't seen the actual CT report.
However, after the 4th round of chemo, things took a turn for the worse: he’s dealing with limb pain, difficulty moving, constipation, and for the last couple of days, a temperature of 99°F and constant dizziness whenever he moves his head or shifts position.
I’m wondering who we should reach out to for help—and honestly, are these all just typical side effects?
For the past few weeks, he’s basically spent the entire day either lying down or sitting still.
When we went to the ER at VŽ Hospital, they told us to come back once the COVID situation settles down—believe it or not.

Chris Mitchell4 said:....
I'm wondering who to reach out to for help and whether these side effects are actually typical.
He’s spent literal days just lying down or sitting around like this for a couple of weeks now.
The ER at VŽ Hospital basically told us to come back once his COVID situation stabilizes (believe it or not).

Regarding that last part, I unfortunately believe them. Look, I know COVID is dangerous, but it's equally dangerous how chronic and critically ill patients—who can barely even make it to their treatments—are being caught in the crossfire because of it.
As for the side effects, honestly, I can't tell you if they're "standard" or not. With my dad, he experienced the whole damn spectrum; after every single cycle, it was something new (nausea, swollen joints, fevers hitting 102, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, mouth sores, fungal issues, massive appetite spikes, loss of appetite... well, everything). I don't know who your oncologist is, but my dad's doctor was incredibly approachable and always willing to step up. As soon as any symptom popped up, she’d provide prescriptions. We treated every single issue individually; he was even put on antidepressants for a while.

Robin Diaz4 said:I fear the latter might be true—I believe COVID is dangerous, certainly, but there’s an equal danger in what’s happening to chronic and critically ill patients who can barely even access treatment. They’re suffering indirectly because of the pandemic.

...
I don't know who your Lead Physician is—our dad's doctor was incredibly approachable and always ready to help; as soon as any symptom popped up, she’d provide prescriptions. We treated every single symptom individually—he was even prescribed antidepressants.

Dad was sent for a COVID test because of a fever—it hit 100.2°F yesterday.
After that, the Lead Physician will decide on the next steps.
Because of the former Lead Physician (who changed roles) and the rest of the staff at Varaždin OB, he ended up being diagnosed at Stage 4. Time was slipping away—surgeries and exams kept getting pushed back—and due to a suspicion of a tumor, they actually removed his completely healthy thyroid before they had even confirmed thyroid cancer through an exam. There were so many mistakes in the approach to treatment—really a textbook case of how *not* to handle lung cancer. After more than six months of delays, he finally got a diagnosis in Chicago because he gave up on the Varaždin OB team. His experience there has been truly terrible.
It seems to me that even the new Lead Physician isn't particularly interested or simply doesn't know how to help. He claims the symptoms are likely just side effects from the chemo. Regardless, I feel something needs to be done to alleviate the symptoms, but everyone just brushes it off...

Chris Mitchell4 said:Dad was sent for a COVID test because his fever spiked—it actually hit 37.9 yesterday.
After that, the Lead Oncology Manager (LOM) will decide on the next steps.
Because of the former LOM (who moved positions) and the rest of the teams at the Varaždin OB, he ended up with a Stage 4 diagnosis. Time just slipped away; surgeries and screenings kept getting pushed back. Because they suspected a tumor, they actually removed his entire healthy thyroid before they had even confirmed it was thyroid cancer through an exam. It was a textbook example of how *not* to handle lung cancer treatment. After more than six months of waiting, he finally got his diagnosis in Chicago after deciding to walk away from the Varaždin OB. His experience there has been nothing short of terrible.
It feels like even the new LOM isn't particularly interested or simply doesn't know how to help. He claims the symptoms are likely just side effects from the chemo. Regardless, I feel like something needs to be done to ease these symptoms, but everyone just seems to be brushing it off...

You really need to go directly to his oncologist. These LOMs often don't have enough specialized knowledge, and frankly, they don't want to get too deeply involved with oncology patients—even when they have the power to prescribe something to help, they often don't bother. At the end of the day, the oncologist is the only real point of contact for concrete assistance. Good luck!

crimsoncanyon3 said:He really needs to see his oncologist—general practitioners just don't have the specialized knowledge, nor do they want to get too deep into oncological cases. Even when they could prescribe something helpful, they often choose not to. His oncologist is truly the only reliable source for specific help here. Good luck.

Thank you for the advice.
I completely agree.
Unfortunately, my dad isn't scheduled to see his oncologist until late December—but honestly, waiting that long feels pointless given how bad these dizzy spells have been.

hello,

Does anyone have any insight into how palliative care actually works here in the States?

My grandmother is an oncology patient in the terminal stage of breast cancer—it’s metastasized to her lungs and other organs. She was just discharged from the hospital today after spending a week in pulmonology, where they drained about 7 liters of fluid from her lungs (she’s currently using a drain).
The situation is pretty dire, honestly. She’s in massive pain and moaning constantly... it’s just heartbreaking to watch and listen to. They even brought home an oxygen tank for her.

Her doctor "arranged" for a home health nurse to come by once a day to manage the drain and whatever else she needs, I guess..
On top of all that, she has a colostomy bag from when she beat colon cancer twenty years ago, which needs changing every single day.

We’re all in a bit of a fog right now. Since she lives alone, we're feeling the pressure—luckily my mom (her daughter) lives nearby, so she’s been with her almost all day, but what are we going to do about the nights?

To be honest, I’m not entirely sure what her current treatment plan is. I know she’s been doing chemo all year, but she hasn't had radiation.

What can we do for pain management? Is it possible to get morphine through a local pharmacy?
/we haven't dealt with anything like this in our family before, so we're pretty much flying blind)

Noble thanks to everyone for the helpful advice.

shadowtinker742 said:Hello,

Does anyone have info on how palliative care works here in the States?

My grandmother is an oncology patient in the terminal stage of breast cancer that has metastasized to her lungs and other organs. She was discharged from the hospital today after a week (she was in pulmonology), where they drained 7L of "fluid" from her lungs (she has a drain).
The situation is critical; she’s in immense pain and moaning constantly—it is devastating to watch and hear.. They brought her an oxygen tank as well..

Her primary doctor "arranged" home health visits once a day to manage the drain and whatever else..
On top of that, grandma has a stoma (from colon cancer twenty years ago) that needs daily changing.

We are all in a state of shock because she lives alone; luckily, my mother (her daughter) lives nearby and was practically with her all day today, but what about at night?

To be honest, I don't even know what kind of therapy she's on now; I just know she had some chemo throughout this year, though she didn't go for radiation.

What can we do for pain management? Can morphine be obtained through a primary physician?
/we haven't dealt with anything like this in our family before, so we're lost)

Thank you all for any constructive answers.

Hello,
I completely understand you because I went through the exact same thing with my husband recently. Unfortunately, the disease was stronger. Basically, grandma needs to be registered in the system as a palliative patient, and based on that, she is entitled to a mobile palliative team (there is such a team in Chicago, though I'm not sure how it works in other cities). The primary physician issues the order. While I was busy arranging all of this, my husband passed away; it would have meant so much to us if they had come, as it prevents those constant trips to the ER, and I believe they could recognize the signs (since they deal with this constantly) when the end is truly near, which we couldn't. That said, they won't be with you 24/7. The team includes a doctor who can administer IVs for pain and things like that. My husband used pain patches (Durogesic)—they come in different strengths, prescribed by the doctor, applied to the skin (rotating locations each time), and they last about 3 days. They were honestly great for him.
I'm also familiar with the stoma situation. A home health nurse can handle all of that for you. Just have her show you how it's done. It isn't rocket science, but unfortunately, you are forced into being the caregiver, which involves 24-hour supervision. For us, the nights were the hardest part.
Generally, a home health nurse can also give an IV if she's trained, but regarding the fluid in the lungs—since we went through that too, including the drain—everyone tends to pass on it; they don't want to take the risk in that specific scenario. Hospital conditions are just more controlled compared to home.
I recommend investing in a used medical bed (you can find them for $2500-$1167). You can always resell it, and it's priceless.
In any case, nowadays, no one should have to suffer in their final days; medicine has progressed far enough for that.
Anyway, I hope this helps.
Best, Noble

Betty Rodriguez5 said:Hello,
I totally get where you're coming from—I went through this exact thing with my husband recently. Unfortunately, the illness was just too much for him. Basically, the patient needs to be officially registered in the system as a palliative patient, and based on that, they have access to a mobile palliative team (there's one in Chicago, though I'm not sure how it works in other cities); the primary care doctor issues the order. While I was busy getting all that sorted out, my husband passed away. It really would have helped us if they had started coming by, mostly because it saves those constant trips to the ER, and I honestly believe they might spot the signs that the end is nearing—since they deal with this every day—which we definitely didn't catch. Just keep in mind they won't be at your house 24/7. There’s a doctor on that team too, so they can handle IVs for pain management and things like that. My husband used pain patches (Durogesic)—they come in different strengths, prescribed by the doctor, and you just stick them on the skin (you rotate the spot each time) and they last about three days. They worked pretty well for him.
The feeding tube part is also familiar to me. A home health nurse can handle most of that for you. You should ask her to show you how it's done. It’s not rocket science, but unfortunately, you end up having to act as the caregiver, which means 24-hour supervision. For us, the nights were the absolute worst.
Also, a home health nurse can administer an IV if she knows how, but given the fluid in the lungs—since we dealt with that too, including the drain—most people tend to pass on that. They don't want to take the risk in that specific situation. Hospital conditions are just more controlled compared to being at home.
I’d suggest investing in a used medical bed (you can usually find them for $2500-$1167). You can always sell it later, and man, is it worth it.
Regardless, in this day and age, nobody should have to suffer in their final days; medicine has advanced far too much for that.
Anyway, I hope this helps.
Best, Betty Rodriguez5

Thank you for such a detailed response.
I am so sorry you had to go through that.

My grandmother passed away yesterday.

I’ve been lurking here for years, mostly following the stories of several cancer cases within my own family and various pre-cancerous scares.
Unfortunately, this time, I’m the one stepping into the spotlight. I noticed the cervical cancer thread has gone pretty stale, so I’m hoping it’s okay if I pop in from time to time to vent or maybe hunt for some actual decent advice or just a kind word.
I’m only 38—well, maybe a little older now—and last month I was hit with stage 3b squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. It’s infiltrated the left side near the ureter, so they actually had to install a nephrostomy tube because of the obstruction and kidney dilation.
They mentioned there might be lymph nodes involved on the left, and potentially the right too, though the right side is only suspicious for now.
The silver lining here is that I haven't been in America for a while; this whole mess caught me while I was in the Netherlands, where the healthcare has been top-tier so far—though that might just be my bias talking since I’m comparing it to how things work back home.
As soon as things went south, after the usual runaround of ultrasounds, Pap smears, biopsies, MRIs, and CT scans, they sent me straight for a PET scan. Honestly, I feel like I caught a break because I didn't have to spend an eternity waiting for answers.
Now comes the hell part, or at least that’s how it feels after everything I’ve read, heard, and seen.
On December 28th, the fight against the beast begins: 25 radiation sessions from Monday to Friday, plus 6 cycles of 40mg Cisplatin administered via a 4-hour infusion on Mondays (plus the standard two hours before and after chemo, obviously)—so we're looking at eight hours of pure madness at the hospital. To top it all off, there’s brachytherapy, which I am absolutely dreading because I know how brutal it can be when they pull those applicators out. Luckily, they told me they’ll probably sedate me like a baby during the placement so I don't have to deal with the pain.
To make matters worse, the PET scan flagged a node in my lung. It’s not considered highly suspicious yet, but they want to keep a close eye on it. I’m just crossing my fingers that it’s just some leftover inflammation from the lung issues or asthma I dealt with since my teenage years.
There are also these tiny little nodules they say aren't active, but of course, the paranoia is already setting in, even though I know PET scans can throw false positives.

Specifically, I wanted to ask if anyone has experience with Cisplatin—what exactly should I be expecting? My oncologist insists my hair won't fall out, but every time I Google it, I find completely different stories.
I’m also wondering how much fatigue and nausea the Cisplatin actually hits you with, because I honestly can't wrap my head around what that's going to feel like. Are we talking "I might be bedridden and wanting to scream because I have zero strength" levels of exhaustion, or is it more like a really heavy flu?
They handed me a massive pile of pills to take during treatment, supposedly to ward off the nausea and other side effects, but the nagging thought in my head is: "God, what if these pills don't work and I'm still stuck screaming?"

They also let me know that if my blood counts tank during the process, they’ll go straight to a transfusion so they don't have to pause the treatment. That’s news to me; usually, I hear they just delay things if the labs look bad.🤔>

If anyone has any practical advice on how to survive all of this at once—besides just bracing myself with patience and grit—I would be incredibly grateful.

And most importantly, people, what on earth should I be eating?! 🙂🙂 I’m already a picky eater even without this whole ordeal making things complicated.

Thank you all, and if this post belongs somewhere else, I get it... but you guys have been my rock.