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

Nutrition:

Using ProSure + EnsurePlusAdvance before starting chemo.
The idea is to try and get ahead of the game by fighting off catabolism and giving anabolism a bit of a boost.
There’s really no point in just sitting around waiting for the nausea, the vomiting, the weight loss, and all that other misery to hit...

Carol Price6 said:Here I am again...
The PET/CT scan results came back, and they’re showing some suspicious secondary activity at the T10 vertebra.
The right lung is basically nothing but secondary tumors at this point—it's all just spread. The doctors were pretty blunt about it, too. They said an operation would probably kill him because they’d have to remove the entire right lung just to get ahead of it.
I don't see any reason not to take their word for it. They’ve recommended chemotherapy—but before we get to that, they want to run a scintigraphy first.
It feels like we’ve all suddenly turned into these incredibly brave, wildly optimistic people—even though the doctors keep insisting we should maintain some level of "moderate optimism." Personally, after spending about two months spiraling into a total depressive pit, I’ve somehow flipped the script. Now, I’m feeling brave, calm, and actually pretty positive about myself and everything going on around me.
So, here’s what’s actually on my mind right now—does anyone here have any firsthand experience dealing with chemotherapy for bronchial adenocarcinoma? Also, if there's an existing thread or discussion on this, could you point me toward it? Basically, we're trying to figure out what the road ahead looks like and what exactly we should be expecting. My dad is pretty terrified, honestly. His only thought right now is just how miserable he's going to feel during the whole process. It's tough. 😁
His headaches are still absolutely unbearable—just brutal. We went through the PET/CT, and everything looks clear except for his lungs and that T10 vertebra, though nobody can say for certain yet if that spot on the spine is actually a metastasis. What’s really bothering me, though, is that nobody seems to be addressing whether a metastasis on the vertebra could even be the thing causing these agonizing headaches...
Does anyone have any actual dietary advice that’s actually easy to follow? Honestly, I’ve been reading everything under the sun lately—so much conflicting info—and now I’m just stuck in this loop where I don't feel certain about anything anymore.🙄

If you're dealing with nausea, just grab some Ondansetron tablets.$43 They usually come in packs of 10 tablets. For chemo, they typically suggest Reglan, but that didn't do a thing for my dad—it was useless. On the other hand, once we switched him over to Ondansetron, things smoothed out quite a bit. He still dealt with some nausea here and there, but he wasn't actually vomiting, which meant he could actually sit down and eat a decent meal like a normal person.
Just so you know, Ondansetron is basically just the generic version of Zofran—which, by the way, is way more expensive.

If you're dealing with nausea, ginger and honey can actually work wonders—honestly, they're solid go-tos. Some people swear by popcorn or even a Coca-Cola to settle their stomach, though, let's be real, you probably shouldn't be living off soda every single day if you want to stay healthy.
My dad used to get by just on Zofran—it was enough to keep him steady—and he could usually manage to eat some dry toast, maybe some salty crackers or those little pretzel sticks; that stuff always helped settle his stomach when the nausea kicked in.

When it comes to food, honestly, just let him eat normally. Of course, you can whip up plenty of healthy meals for him—especially if he hasn't been eating that way up until now—and it certainly won't hurt. But, I wouldn't suggest putting him on some strict diet right away. If the chemo really starts hitting him hard and he begins feeling nauseous, he could drop weight incredibly fast, and we definitely don't want that happening.

Let him eat whatever actually sits well with him—honestly, just swap out that white bread for some whole grain or maybe cornmeal if he’s into that. You should try to cut back on sugar as much as humanly possible, too. White meat and fish? Yeah, those are great options. And look, if he actually has an appetite, let him eat. He’s going to need every bit of strength he can muster to get through chemotherapy.

I don't have any firsthand experience with chemo for adenocarcinoma, so I honestly can't say exactly how he’s going to feel—but looking back at my dad's situation, things were rough. He was on the PE protocol (the one they use for small cell), and man, it hit him hard every single time. The nausea was constant. He lost all his hair—not just on his head, but body hair too. On top of that, he was perpetually immunosuppressed; we actually had to push his chemo sessions back by a week every single time because his neutrophil counts were too low. He also dealt with fungal issues on his scalp and those nasty mouth sores. Just a lot to deal with.

You can prepare yourself for all of it if you just stay brave—seriously. Just try to stay positive as much as you possibly can. If Dad keeps his head in a positive space, things are going to be a whole lot easier for everyone involved.

Once Dad starts his chemo, we really need to be careful about colds, the flu, and all those seasonal bugs going around. Since the treatment is going to tank his white blood cell count, even a basic case of the flu could turn into something seriously dangerous for him. So, if anyone comes by to visit and they’re feeling under the weather, please—just ask them to come back when they're feeling better. We also need to make sure Dad avoids crowds, especially in tight, enclosed spaces, just so he doesn't pick up anything nasty.
It wouldn't be a bad idea to pick up some masks just to have them on hand—you know, just in case we absolutely have to head into a clinic. Our oncologist gave us pretty clear instructions: if Dad hits a fever of 100.4, we need to get him straight to the ER without wasting any time.
Once, he just ran a slight fever during chemo—only slightly above 98.6°F, so thank God it wasn't anything serious.
Also, keep a close eye on his blood work, specifically the hemoglobin levels. It’s bound to drop because of the chemo, so you'll want to be ready to start him on some iron supplements ahead of time (there's plenty of stuff out there, both over-the-counter and prescription). To kick things off, have him eat plenty of spinach, berries, berry juices, and leafy greens—all of those are good sources of iron.

I'm not sure which specific chemo regimen they're going with, but definitely ask the doctor how the drugs are cleared from the body. My dad was on Cisplatin, which is processed through the kidneys, so he had to drink a massive amount of fluids—like, up to 3 liters a day—just to protect his kidneys. Honestly, though, after 12 cycles, they had to stop the chemo altogether because his kidneys took a hit; his creatinine is sitting at 150 now, and 125 is supposedly the upper limit.

Anyway, I'm rooting for you and wishing you all the best with the treatment. I truly know what you're going through right now.

Dear Rachel Wood27, many thanks for the detailed breakdown 🙂

Dietary approaches.
My father is currently battling pleural mesothelioma—an incurable diagnosis, as we all know—and he has just completed his first round of chemotherapy. Interestingly, the tumor has actually shrunk, and he seems to be holding up relatively well. He has completely cut out complex carbohydrates, significantly reduced his meat intake, and instead consumes massive amounts of raw fruits and vegetables via a blender; in essence, he drinks his nutrition. This is perhaps the most common alternative dietary strategy used against malignant diseases, based on the premise that such cells crave sugar for growth, while the fruit and vegetables provide a heavy dose of antioxidants to bolster the body's natural immune response. To support his blood health, he takes ten deciliters of blackberry oil daily.

Years ago, my grandfather dealt with small cell carcinoma in his throat. He underwent surgery, radiation, and chemo, though they eventually had to halt treatment because his kidneys were beginning to fail. After managing two years of remission, the cancer resurfaced on the other side of his throat, eventually leading to a fistula between his bronchus and esophagus. That required even more intense surgery and extensive radiation, yet he managed an incredible eighteen years of remission. During that time, he ate regular food, though he would blend everything thoroughly, and yet the disease returned. Once the cancer surfaced for the third time, there was simply no saving him. Still, he lived a remarkably long life after doctors had essentially given up on him. Between the top-tier specialists who did an exceptional job "clearing out" the cancer and the surrounding tissue, one cannot deny that luck played a significant role.

I have a Bullet express juicer at home—just wanted to ask if cancer patients can consume raw fruit and vegetable juices? Is that alright? The juicer completely removes the pulp... so you're left with pure juice. Right now, I'm making a beet and ginger blend. I read somewhere that citrus should be avoided? Forgive me if I'm asking too many questions; feel free to stop me if I'm overdoing it... and red meat—should we cut that out?

When dealing with a specific medical situation, the absolute best course of action is to consult directly with your oncologist.
In many cases, such additions are permitted. My father, for instance, mixes his supplements with pulp because it contains beneficial nutrients. My mother insists on adding lemon to the mix, but if you ask me—given that one of our primary objectives is to reduce the body's acidity—I wouldn't recommend lemon at all. Then there is this diet often championed by those favoring alternative medicine, which suggests avoiding red meat entirely. Yet, I have yet to find any substantial evidence explaining why red meat would be inherently harmful in this context. The primary difference between red meat and white meat lies in its iron content—which is higher, certainly not a negative thing—and its levels of fat and cholesterol, neither of which have any logical connection to the growth of an existing carcinoma. This is precisely the kind of thing one ought to pose to the experts: should we avoid it, and more importantly, what is the actual scientific justification? For me, the "why" is always the most critical question to pursue.

I get 🙂—honestly, I’m starting to lean into the alternative side because I find myself constantly questioning everything about nutrition 😁. We’ll pull through somehow... but lately, the panic at home has started setting in, and I feel myself beginning to surrender. I can only hope this phase passes... We are all providing him with immense support, and I have to admit one thing that I didn't believe until I experienced it firsthand... It is truly incredible how much a disease can unite people; we are more cohesive now than ever, showing an extraordinary level of tolerance toward one another... It’s tragic that such a tragedy and hardship had to occur, but unfortunately, illness finds everyone sooner or later—no one leaves this world in perfect health...

:hug:

It truly warms my heart to see you all standing together, offering such profound love and unwavering support to one another. While this unity is absolutely vital, shouldn't we also acknowledge the reality that there will inevitably come moments of intense tension, deep exhaustion, and those sudden breaking points triggered by the smallest of things? We must remember that a serious illness is never just an individual struggle; it is a trial that weighs upon the entire family, not merely the patient. Hang in there, and please know that I am rooting for your victory.

Carol Price6 said:I get it. 🙂 I realize now that I'm actually drifting into the realm of "alternative" territory because I'm constantly questioning everything about his diet. 😁 We’ll find a way through this... but honestly, the panic is starting to set in at home, and I feel myself starting to give up. I just have to hope this phase passes. We are all rallying around him, and I have to say one thing that I didn't believe until I experienced it firsthand: it is incredible how much a disease can unite people. We are more tight-knit now than ever, showing an extra level of tolerance toward one another. It’s tragic that such suffering and tragedy had to happen, but unfortunately, illness finds everyone sooner or later—nobody leaves this world in perfect health...

Dietary choices aren't part of the "alternative" sphere unless you start consuming unverified and potentially dangerous substances. That is what defines an alternative approach.

Understood, loud and clear. 😁 Anyway, an oncologist friend of mine suggested Emend might be useful if my dad’s condition takes a turn for the worse. I even looked into some online discussions—specifically on an alternative medicine forum where a woman mentioned her husband's bronchial adenocarcinoma was successfully managed.
Is Emend actually considered one of the better options? I asked her for a specific recommendation for the best medication available. To be honest, the real issue is that Dad is still being treated by Dr. Badovinac, who isn't an oncologist—we haven't even established contact with a specialist yet... I need to know: how many cycles of chemotherapy does it typically take before you start seeing actual results?

Carol Price6 said:Alright, message received. 😁 On another note, an oncologist friend recommended Emend in case my dad starts feeling absolutely miserable. I even stumbled upon some discussions about this on an alternative health forum where a user mentioned their wife’s bronchial adenocarcinoma was successfully managed using it.
Is Emend actually considered one of the better options? I asked her for her top recommendation. To be honest, what's really weighing on me is that Dad is still seeing Dr. Badovinac, who isn't even an oncologist—we haven't even been put in touch with a specialist yet... I'm wondering if anyone can tell me how many cycles of chemo typically pass before you start seeing real results?

The way things work here in the States is pretty ridiculous; they have pulmonologists handling all lung diseases, including lung cancer. It makes zero sense, but that's just how the system is set up.
You usually see the best indication of whether chemo worked after the full prescribed dose in the protocol is completed. Sometimes people show improvement after just a few doses, while for others, the real progress doesn't kick in until a couple of weeks after the final round... it really varies wildly from case to case and depending on the specific drug used.
Regardless, they'll be monitoring his markers, and once the first line of treatment is wrapped up, they should perform more extensive diagnostics to get a true picture of the situation.

Angela Wright said:It’s funny how things work here—pulmonologists handle all lung issues, including cancer. It seems a bit odd, but that's just the system.
Chemo results are usually clearest once the full prescribed dose is finished. Sometimes you see improvement after just a few rounds, while others might see progress even a couple of weeks after the final dose. It really varies depending on the patient and the specific medication.
Regardless, doctors will monitor markers and conduct more extensive diagnostics at the end of the first line of treatment to get a true picture of the situation.

Regarding the "division of labor," it mostly depends on the hospital. At the Mayo Clinic (similar to what happens in Miami), pulmonologists prescribe the chemo, while oncologists handle the radiation. Over at Vineyard, the oncologist manages the patient's care entirely, while the pulmonologist simply provides the diagnosis and symptom management (like inhalers and such).
Generally, guidelines suggest assessing the effectiveness of chemotherapy (or other systemic treatments, like targeted therapies) every two cycles using imaging and lab markers. For the first line of treatment, patients typically receive 4 to 6 cycles—four if the disease stabilizes, or six if there is significant regression—after which a decision is made regarding the next steps.

My mother's tumor markers have jumped significantly since her last checkup; they went from 29 up to 42. Her oncologist mentioned it wasn't cause for immediate panic, though.🤔
After seeking a second opinion (from Dr. Miller), she’s currently following his specific regimen—taking Bandronat and Nolvadex. For now, that is her entire course of treatment.

It has been exactly two years since the cancer was first diagnosed. She is still holding up relatively well and remains independent for the most part, but the physical pain is becoming more frequent. As I recall, the prognosis was roughly two years.😢
The real complication here is her refusal to discuss the future—specifically, what happens when she can no longer manage her own daily needs. My brother just landed a job over in Germany, and frankly, I am unable to take on the role of caregiver due to my own health issues.

If there is a silver lining, it's that she seems to be pulling herself out of that constant negativity lately. Or perhaps she's just putting on a brave face for my sake; she's eating healthy and staying active by walking the dog.

What is your take on such a sudden spike in those marker levels?

You're asking me?😁 I’m thinking along the same lines as her doctor... we really need to watch how this evolves. You know those markers aren't exactly the gold standard; even something as simple as a heavy flu could throw them out of whack...
Why don't you check in with the ladies over in the breast health section of the Women's Health forum? I’m not nearly as much of an expert on breast health as they are.
How are things with you?

Angela Wright said:Are you asking me?😁 I honestly think her doctor is onto something... we really need to keep a close eye on how this develops. You have to remember that those markers aren't always the most reliable indicators; even something as minor as a heavy flu could throw the numbers off.
Maybe try asking the ladies over in the women's health forum specifically about breast issues. I'm certainly not an expert on that subject compared to them.
How are things with you?

Thanks for getting back to me.
I'm doing alright. My next checkup isn't until May, and I've been dealing with some annoying ear stuff lately, but nothing major. Otherwise, I'm as fit as a fiddle. 😁

Anyway, I'm going to head over to the women's health section and see what they have to say.

Hey everyone,
I'm new here and could really use some advice.
I found out today that my Grandfather has cancer. It totally hit me hard because we are incredibly close. He’s basically raised me since I grew up without a dad.
Anyway, I won't ramble too much.
I’m looking for some input on whether I should tell him or not.
Basically, my mom, aunt, and grandma have decided they aren't going to tell him anything. They're actually heading to meet with his doctor tomorrow to decide whether he should go through with surgery or not.
Honestly, I feel like it's super unfair of them to keep him in the dark. I truly believe he has the right to decide for himself—it's his body, after all, and they don't own him! :-(
I know this is a heavy situation, I really do, but I just can't get past the feeling that they're wrong
to keep this from him...

Hello everyone, I’m sending my warmest greetings to you all. I am quite new to this forum and, honestly, feeling a little lost. I wasn't entirely sure where to start, but I felt I needed to reach out here. My mother underwent surgery 13 days ago for Stage 3 colon cancer. She was actually discharged after just five days, but she developed a fever of 104°F, so I had to call 911. She’s back in the hospital now because they suspect an infection and some fluid buildup in her abdomen. They’ve already drawn blood three times in the last three days and have been cleaning her surgical wound twice daily.
We are currently waiting on the latest blood work results. To give you some context, the cancer spread to her bladder, so they had to remove part of the bladder along with two lymph nodes and about 20 cm of her colon. On a brighter note, when the surgeons performed the exploratory procedure, they found liver cysts rather than metastatic tumors, which feels like a small mercy. Since I have her discharge papers and tumor marker results—which I spent last night copying onto a notepad after asking the nurses for help—I would be incredibly grateful if anyone could help me make sense of these diagnoses and the medical jargon. I won't even begin to describe how hard this is for me personally; I've dropped down to 105 pounds and haven't slept a wink. Thank you all so much in advance for your kindness.
tumor mass measuring 4.15 x 3.09 cm

tumor markers
CEA - 12.2
CA125 - 15.6
CA19-9 - 34.5

Treatment Plan
Following appropriate preparation, the patient underwent surgery. Exploratory surgery confirmed a neoplastic process in the sigmoid colon involving infiltration of the bladder fundus. Regarding the liver lesions, exploration determined they are cysts, which were then fenestrated. An en bloc resection of the descending colon along with the bladder fundus was performed using a transverto-sigmoidal anastomosis via a 33mm circular stapler. Lymphadenectomy of the para-aortic, paracaval, and inter-aortocaval nodes was completed. The remainder of the bladder was sutured. Inguinal lymph nodes showed reactive enlargement. A drain was placed in the Douglas pouch.

Therapy.
Laparoscopic exploratory surgery. Left hemicolectomy
and partial resection of the urinary bladder en bloc.
Lymphadenectomy.
Fenestration of hepatic cysts, abdominal drainage.

Discharge Diagnosis
Adenocarcinoma of the colon, Dukes C, ASTLER COLLER C2, pTNM pT4b. pN1b pMx
with bladder infiltration
Hepatic cysts
Chronic gastritis
Urinary tract infection, acute
Smoker

Read more: http://rak-nije-mrak.proboards.com/t...#ixzz3PpHpFZru

Hello there. It might seem a bit silly for me to be posting here since nothing has been officially diagnosed yet, but looking at the timestamps on this thread, I see people are active, so I was hoping someone could provide some insight regarding colon cancer.

My mother (63 years old) was referred to gastroenterology this week because her fecal occult blood test came back positive. Her appointment is set for February 25th, and she’ll likely undergo a colonoscopy after that, but we’re still in the dark about everything else. The thing is, she is incredibly private about these matters; she didn't even mention sending in a stool sample or experiencing any symptoms until she actually received the referral. I suspect she’s just trying not to scare me, but she is my only family, and I desperately want to be informed. To be honest, last week I happened to see some Preparation H ointment lying around and assumed she was just dealing with hemorrhoids, though she never said a word. I didn't press her because I figured maybe she was embarrassed, or perhaps she didn't want to burden me, or she simply forgot. However, now that I know the occult blood test was positive, the situation feels much more serious.
I am wondering what the actual connection is between hemorrhoids and colon cancer. Is it possible a doctor might assume it's just hemorrhoids only to find out later that isn't the case? Or is a stool sample automatically sent for testing regardless? My mom says she hasn't seen any visible blood, she feels fine, and she had some constipation for a couple of days (which coincidentally lined up with when she sent the samples), but that has passed. Her appetite is normal and she hasn't lost any weight. She undergoes annual occult blood testing and has never had a positive result before. I realize that given her age, she falls into a higher risk category, but obviously, we won't know anything for certain until the colonoscopy is done. If anyone could tell me what to expect from this process, I would be grateful. I am honestly terrified; ever since I heard there was a suspicion, I haven't been able to sleep or eat, and I can feel that Mom is holding things back from me. Thank you in advance.

My mother-in-law actually had a positive result too, and they ended up sending her in for a colonoscopy where they found some polyps, but they just burned them out and everything turned out fine after that. I'm really crossing my fingers and hoping that everything goes okay with your mom, too.

Hemorrhoids have absolutely nothing to do with what's happening in the large intestine. Since the occult blood test came back positive, the standard procedure is to go in for a colonoscopy just to rule out any polyps or—God forbid—something worse. There’s really no reason to spiral into a panic here. It’s entirely possible this is just a case of hemorrhoids, which clearly seems to be the case given how much Facta is being used.