Cancer diagnosis - please help!

Let’s be perfectly clear: there is no such thing as some magical herb that miraculously cures cancer. All these herbal supplements can be quite beneficial when used for prevention or to bolster the body's immune system. However, one must exercise extreme caution; what serves as a remedy in small doses can easily become a toxin if you overdo it.

From my own personal observations, however, I am convinced that one of the most critical elements in this entire battle is the psychological factor. I have personally encountered patients facing devastating diagnoses where doctors were absolutely stunned—they couldn't believe their eyes when they looked at the test results compared to the person standing before them. These individuals possessed an incredible sense of spirit and unshakeable optimism.

Tragically, I have also met those who simply could not shoulder the crushing weight of their illness and chose to end their own lives, even when a path to recovery might have actually been within reach.

If someone is dealing with a much milder form of the disease than what is being discussed here on the forum, yet they "give up," retreating to bed and refusing to move even when they are physically capable... well, it is only natural that their physical health will decline as a result.

This is especially true regarding the exhaustion caused by chemotherapy, where the mental state plays such a vital role. It is startling how quickly you can feel weak just by thinking about a certain food, or even just glancing at those IV bottles or needles. That is why it is absolutely essential not to dwell constantly on your illness; if you do, you are merely feeding the sickness and making it stronger.

Elizabeth Miller8 said:There is no such thing as a miracle herb that magically cures cancer. These herbal supplements can be quite beneficial for prevention and for strengthening the body's immune system—but even then, one must exercise caution; what serves as medicine in small doses can easily become a poison in larger amounts.

However, speaking from my own experience, I believe one of the most critical elements here is the psychological factor. I have seen patients facing severe diagnoses whose physical condition was so unexpectedly strong that doctors could hardly believe the test results were actually theirs. Those individuals simply radiated spirit and optimism.

Regrettably, I have also encountered those who took their own lives because they simply could not bear the crushing weight of the illness—even when there might have been a genuine chance at recovery.

If someone is dealing with a much milder form of the disease than the case being discussed here on the forum, and they "fall into a coma-like state"—meaning they retreat to bed even when they are physically capable of moving—it is only natural that their health will decline.

Particularly when dealing with the frailty caused by chemotherapy, the mental state is paramount. It is enough to think about a specific food, or even just those vials or needles, and you suddenly feel weak; therefore, it is vital not to dwell constantly on the illness, as doing so only serves to weaken you further.

My father unfortunately passed away a month ago from lymphoma with bone metastases, so regarding this subject, I suppose I know a bit too much.
When a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, people often focus excessively on boosting the immune system, relying on it as a primary solution, while forgetting that it alone won't cure the cancer. Of course, it is very important to support the immunity and maintain weight, but again... how much that truly helps, I cannot say, because unfortunately, my experience has only been with the most aggressive, inoperable cases.
Of all the immune supporters we tried, the most visible effect came from BIOBRAN

NONI, from my perspective—having been by my father's side 24/7—had a much weaker impact...

The psychological factor is the most significant; sometimes, it is the only thing left: ensuring the patient does not descend into depression.
It varies from person to person based on how they react and the severity of the illness, but since several members of my immediate family have passed away from cancer in the last three months, I don't think there is anyone who can react "normally" to the realization of death.
I believe you can help a patient most effectively psychologically by:
Not avoiding the topic of CANCER.
Acting as if the illness is yours as well.

When you spend six months every single day in the oncology ward at a major hospital like the Mayo Clinic, seeing all that sorrow, you find yourself cursing this... system that pours money upon money into all sorts of useless nonsense.

And yes, I don't know if anyone else spent an extended period in the oncology unit at the Mayo Clinic, but I must say that 🙂 🙂 🙂
when I remember those arrogant doctors who, for instance, a) accept envelopes [bribes] when a person is terminal and can no longer receive chemo or radiation,
b) my father had to first drop down to 50kg just so the esteemed Dr. Davorin Herceg would take him seriously. He MENTIONED that there is supplemental liquid nutrition covered by Medicare, provided one has a referral from a primary care physician.
(If anyone ends up under the care of Herceg, please, move to another oncologist—that is the advice we received from the rest of the staff at the clinic, whom we otherwise know privately.)

dustypilot2 said:Yeah, liquid nutrition—Medicare actually covers Ensure.
200ml = 300kcal

They’ve got different flavors, they taste pretty good, kind of like a shake... anyway, I sent you a DM.

There's this total liquid meal replacement stuff at the pharmacy near $4.25. I used it to feed my grandpa when he was 84, right after a car accident (got hit while he was on his bike)
(Basically, after he went five days without eating anything, he caught pneumonia. The surgeon told me things weren't looking great, so I decided to give him a little boost. I thought about grabbing some high-end American food I'd seen brochures for—it was actually cat food, just judging by the flavor profile—but my grandpa got lucky because the pharmacy had this stuff instead. It's a bit lower quality, but it did the job.)

dustypilot2 said:Dr. Davorin Herceg actually mentioned that there’s nutritional liquid supplements covered by Medicare—you just need a referral from your primary care doctor.
(Honestly, if you end up under Herceg, just switch to another oncologist. That’s the advice we got from the rest of the staff at the oncology ward, and we actually know some of them personally.)

I found out they have that American canned liquid food available later on too, but my grandpa obviously didn't fit their treatment protocol. (Not sure if the doctors are to blame here; the system is just total crap. I feel like we're even getting treated better than we can actually afford.)

And those chemo drugs? Most of them don't actually cure anything (they don't kill the cancer); they just stretch out your life. It’s basically an endless battle against cancer until the end.

Douglas Doyle49 said:Man, I can't even remember, but there's something about bees too...

breast milk

Sarah Cruz2 said:p.s.
How do I actually get into MD Anderson Cancer Center? Do you need some kind of inside connection? Also, has anyone ever dealt with their family counseling services?

Mayo Clinic
they have dedicated spaces for the American NBA against cancer
info at 555-0199

The League has specific clubs—groups for people who had colostomies after colon cancer surgery.

And since you're a sister, you're technically high-risk (doesn't really matter right now, but the whole family should probably look into changing up their diet, maybe try macrobiotics or something).

northernskipper41 said:I have also learned that they serve processed American liquid food later on—but my grandfather clearly didn't fit the standard treatment protocol. I am not entirely certain if the doctors are at fault; the system itself is fundamentally broken—though, in my view, we might even be receiving care that is too advanced relative to our actual financial means.

And even regarding chemotherapy—most of those treatments don't actually "cure" cancer; rather, they simply extend life (the battle against cancer often continues for the duration of one's life)—though, of course, that depends heavily on the specific type of cancer and various other clinical details...

Look, the fault lies entirely with that doctor—because when he asked my father about his diet, Dad simply replied, "Well, I eat, but not enough." And frankly, they were weighing him every seven days, so they clearly saw the man was only 50 kg... anyway. Herceg told him, "There is nutritional supplement food available, we'll order some," and he kept telling him that for two whole months. TWO MONTHS. Out of sheer laziness, they waited, only for us to find out later that for that specific supplemental food, you actually need a prescription from a general practitioner just to prevent such drastic weight loss. To make matters worse, that doctor was incredibly rude in other areas as well... but regardless.

Based on my own understanding—and I say this with all due respect to medical professionals—chemotherapy doesn't actually cure cancer. In my view, it is typically administered when things have progressed beyond the point where surgery is an option, or perhaps very early on when it isn't strictly necessary. But once your doctor delivers that news—that says, "we can't operate"—well, you know exactly what follows next...

Of course—it all depends on whether it was galloping or... well, more importantly, how much it had metastasized by the time they discovered it.

James Newman4 :
The body needs proteins, carbohydrates, fats, essential acids, vitamins, and minerals.

Essential acids????
Come on... if you're going to put in the effort to write these massive posts, at least do a little homework on what you're actually saying.

James Newman4 :

People following the Cellular Diet don't even need doctors anymore. They aren't taking meds, they stopped napping in the afternoon, their headaches are gone, and they aren't moody or grumpy! It’s all thanks to proper Cellular Nutrition, not some other therapy.

All I can tell you is... even bread and bacon end up at the cellular level...
For anything else, go check out Guyton: Physiology

Or, to put it more simply, look here:

And please... don't come in here trying to sell me or advertise your products, because honestly, profiting off of someone else's misfortune is just plain tasteless.

dustypilot2 said:From what I know, chemo doesn't cure cancer. It’s used when there's nothing else left to try, or if it’s caught so early it isn't even needed. But once your doctor tells you surgery isn't an option, you know what comes next...

You’re only partially right.

Chemotherapy—cytostatic therapy—is also utilized in cases where surgeons can't be 100% certain that a physical procedure will remove everything.

And when it is "very early stage," surgery is the standard. That is when surgical outcomes are at their peak.
Of course, surgery doesn't apply to things like leukemia—which is essentially "blood cancer"—or certain brain tumors located in hard-to-reach areas, regardless of how small they might be.

By equating chemotherapy solely with hopeless cases, you aren't being accurate, nor are you being fair to those fighting cancer.

dustypilot2 said:Look, it’s all that doctor's fault. He asks my dad how he’s eating, and Dad just says, "Yeah, I eat, but not enough." Then they run a blood test every seven days and realize the guy is down to only 110 pounds. Basically... yeah. Herceg tells him, "Don't worry, we'll get you some nutritional supplements," and then drags that out for two whole months. TWO MONTHS. Pure laziness, honestly. And then, after all that, they have the nerve to tell us that to even get those supplements, you need a specific prescription from a GP—and even if he had it, he still wouldn't have lost that much weight. That doctor was being a total jerk about everything else, too... but whatever. Not worth the breath.

What can I even say? This is just a total disaster.

Jose Miller3 said:Look, any expert on cellular nutrition—no matter what specific niche they're into—would know that it’s basically impossible to have never heard of enteral nutrition before. I mean, seriously? Now I’m just sitting here feeling pretty let down, especially since I actually trusted your expertise and all that experience you claim to have. 😢

Hey, you got it.Here? Something about that, I guess... but if you actually care to know more, just go ahead and buzz around the internet looking for me. That's pretty much all you'll ever find anyway...

Thanks for the link!

Look, I didn't go to medical school or anything, so I'm definitely not an expert on all those fancy medical terms, but this whole "enteral nutrition" concept seems to have a ton of overlap with what people call "cellular nutrition." I’m just hoping that even the biggest haters and skeptics in this group will eventually start to get what I've been rambling about all this time. Anyway, I went ahead and pulled together some basic guidelines to lay it all out:

I mean, at the end of the day, you've gotta get enough food and water in your system to actually meet your energy needs and grab all those essential nutrients required for a normal metabolism, I guess. The whole driving idea—and really the main goal behind developing this stuff—is just to make life better for all the patients out there who desperately need high-quality supplemental nutrition. It’s pretty obvious that nutritional status ends up being a huge factor when it comes to how someone actually recovers or handles a disease. If a patient is malnourished, they're way more vulnerable to infections, and their recovery after therapy takes forever, which basically just means they end up stuck in the hospital for much longer. Even with everything we know now, I guess the whole issue of malnutrition is still just flying under the radar, both in everyday life and even within hospitals, which is pretty wild when you think about how much it actually affects people.I mean, let's be real, doctors rarely actually bother checking your nutritional status during a routine visit... it’s just not really part of the standard clinical routine most of the time. But honestly, having even a little bit of food moving through your intestinal lumen might actually be a big deal because it could stop the intestinal wall from thinning out or those tiny gut villi from atrophying. If that happens, it might help prevent bacteria from leaking out of the gut and into your systemic bloodstream. See, when bacteria cross that intestinal barrier—what they call bacterial translocation—it can trigger all sorts of nasty inflammatory complications, and I guess, in some cases, it can even lead to death.

What I'm really trying to get across here is that you shouldn't have to wait until things are hitting the absolute breaking point—you know, like waiting until it's "five minutes to midnight"—where enteral nutrition becomes your only real option left on the table. I guess what I mean is that you can actually step in and prevent all that chaos from happening in the first place if you just focus on... I guess it all comes down to having a steady, balanced diet, if you know what I mean. And honestly, it’s all about making sure you can actually feel a whole lot better and stay healthy too, I guess. 🙂

Casey Palmer5 said:Look, I’m asking you please... just don't come at me trying to sell or advertise your products, because honestly, it's incredibly tacky to try and make a buck off of someone else's misery.

If we were living back in the days before penicillin existed and someone actually stepped up to offer it just to save a life, they’d probably hear the exact same thing—that people would rather just die than let some poor soul make a buck off them... I mean, seriously, please, just think about what you're actually saying here.. 😢

I guess I should apologize if I actually went thinking the whole point of this forum was to help people sort out their health issues... maybe I just misread the room. 😉

I mean, let's be real here—this forum should actually be called HEALTH, not just some commentary on the healthcare system run by the federal government... 😁

Gary Jones10 said:You’re only halfway right.

Chemotherapy—or cytotoxic therapy, if you want to get technical—is used even when doctors can't say with 100% certainty that surgery cleared everything out.

And when it's caught in that "very early stage," they go straight for surgery. That's when the results are actually the best.
Obviously, surgery doesn't apply to things like leukemia—which is basically just "blood cancer" in plain English—or certain brain tumors in hard-to-reach spots, no matter how small they are.

You're equating chemo with hopeless cases, which isn't accurate or fair to the people actually fighting cancer.

I hear you, but if we start digging into how much certain immunotherapies—and most treatments, really—depend on the immune system doing its job after the drugs flag the tumor cells... (by the way, you'll realize some of them aren't even covered by Medicare yet, even though plenty are), there’s so much
chemo out there that hits similar but totally different targets. (
The immune system is a massive factor here. Honestly, trying to explain exactly how tumors bypass those mechanisms might be more than this forum can handle.
The realization that your life is on the line, that crushing stress that just shuts down your immunity...
you have to fight.
Relying solely on chemo and looking at statistics? You can only afford to ignore mental and nutritional support if you aren't seriously ill.

James Newman4
If we were living in an era before penicillin was discovered, and someone offered it here with the genuine intent to save a life, would you really say you'd rather die than let someone make a profit off a poor soul? ... Please, think about what you're actually saying.. 😢>

I assume you mastered that particular line of reasoning at those seminars where everyone breaks into euphoric applause? You’re giving demagoguery a whole new meaning as a professional discipline.

Fine, you've provided your input, your info, and your links. Now, do us all a favor and stop cluttering this thread with those massive copy-paste posts. Show a little empathy. A little decency. Some restraint. The bare minimum.

Gary Jones10 said:You are only partially correct here.

Chemotherapy—or cytostatic therapy—is also utilized in cases where doctors cannot say with 100% certainty that surgery has removed everything.

And when a case is caught in its "very early stages"—surgery is performed. That is because the outcomes are at their absolute best then.
Of course, surgical intervention doesn't apply to things like leukemia—which is essentially "blood cancer," to put it simply—or certain brain tumors located in hard-to-reach areas, regardless of how small they might be.

By equating chemotherapy solely with hopeless cases, you aren't being accurate, nor is it fair to those currently fighting cancer.

Fine, that is true. Either I misunderstood you or I didn't express myself clearly enough—I really don't have the energy for a deep analysis right now:
but in the event of metastasis where surgery isn't an option, chemotherapy cannot provide a cure; though, thank God, one can still live for many years with it.
Bravo, I am aware that it is also used after surgery just to be safe.

In the case of metastasis without the possibility of surgery, chemotherapy is indeed a hopeless situation—meaning it cannot cure the disease. Naturally, if it is an early stage, even without surgery, it is a completely different story.

Gary Jones10 said:I assume you mastered that particular way of quoting during one of those seminars where everyone just claps along in pure euphoria? Man, you're giving demagoguery a whole new meaning—like it's its own specialized discipline...

Fine, you've given your input, shared your info, dropped your links, now do us all a favor and back off with the massive, soul-crushing copy-paste walls of text cluttering up the thread. Show at least a shred of empathy. Or decency. Some level of restraint. The bare minimum, really.

Exactly.

The title of this forum is HEALTH, after all.

Yeah, sure—except your posts seem more suited for the Economics sub-forum.

Sarah Cruz2 said:Hey everyone,

My younger sister was diagnosed with colon cancer a few days ago, and it’s already spread quite a bit. They had to remove her colon, but there's still a lot left to deal with. We're all in complete shock and honestly don't know where to turn.

With colon and rectal cancer, abnormal cells multiply and create ulcerated areas that bleed easily, or cause narrowings that block stool passage. If left untreated, the disease spreads along the intestinal wall and can invade nearby organs in the abdomen; cancer cells can eventually migrate to other parts of the body. While the exact cause of colon malignancy isn't fully understood, a low-fiber diet is often cited as a possible contributing factor.

Since most types of colon cancer develop and metastasize relatively slowly, there's an 80% chance of a full recovery if caught early. However, if the malignant process has already spread beyond the intestine, the outlook becomes much more difficult.

The best "cure" for this type of cancer, provided it hasn't progressed too far, is surgery. If the cancer is in the colon, doctors remove the cancerous tissue along with a margin of healthy tissue on both sides, then sew the ends back together—this is known as a bowel resection. If the cancer is located in the rectum, a colostomy is usually required. When the cancer has advanced to a point where surgery isn't an option, progression is often managed through radiation and/or chemotherapy.

If colon cancer is detected early enough to allow for surgical removal, the prognosis is very good. Success rates drop significantly for patients who can only be treated with radiation and chemo alone.

Thank you all for the responses and for the private messages. As soon as I manage to calm down a bit and collect my thoughts, I will get back to everyone.
THANK YOU

My sister might be coming home today (following her surgery). By Monday, we should have more clarity regarding where she is headed and how the schedule for radiation and chemotherapy will look. I suppose I am just terrified of the passing time; every single day and every weekend feels like it lasts for years...

I suppose I’m starting to get the impression that everyone is sick. It seems that once people hear about an illness, they all start reaching out, and you suddenly realize just how many people are battling serious conditions without you even knowing it.

I want to thank everyone for their help. I can see that some of you have gone through incredibly difficult experiences. To me, it feels as though cancer has just spread all over Washington, D.C. In my own street alone, I know of two ladies who were battling breast cancer! They live within 100 meters of each other. I can only imagine how much else is happening that remains unseen.

Even at work—several people, and I wasn't even aware. It honestly feels like an epidemic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What troubles me most is that I am unsure of how to carry myself. Should I speak about it or not? Or rather, in what manner? I cannot simply pretend it doesn't exist, yet discussing the specifics seems futile—I worry that talking too much might just drain her spirit entirely.

Talking about mundane things like work or the weather feels completely pointless and trivial to me now. I suspect it gets on her nerves as well. On the other hand, if I just sit there in silence next to her, it feels far too depressing, and I fear I might push her even deeper into a state of depression.

I feel quite desperate. The elderly can be exhausting to the point of pain, and my mother is playing the "martyr." One day she actually claimed that she is the one going through the hardest time. My father thought I was going to start suffocating her because of how I had apparently started acting. As if it isn't hardest for my sister. It’s awful.

The elderly have such a profoundly negative influence, and it frightens me. She might be going home today, and I am terrified that my mother will break her down psychologically. I called her to ask if she would come to my place, but she won't. Perhaps she thinks she is being a burden, or maybe she fears that I wouldn't be able to take care of her properly. Even though I would.

How can I bring some sense to my mother? She is being foolish, selfish, and unkind. How can I neutralize her influence? I am scared she will crush her. My theory is that my sister fell ill precisely because she lived in that house, living under her. That is what I feared. It seems to me that people fall ill with cancer when they are under constant repression—whether from a husband, family, or parents...

Sarah Cruz2 said:I am at my wit's end. Dealing with elderly parents is absolutely exhausting, and my mother has taken to playing the "martyr" role. Just the other day, she had the nerve to claim that everything is hardest on her. My father actually thought I was going to start suffocating her because of how I was acting—as if it isn't my sister who is carrying the heaviest burden here. It is just unbearable.

That is exactly what I was trying to tell you before. At the end of the day, it often turns out that the environment surrounding the patient is a much bigger issue than the illness itself.

It is truly vital that you remain a steady, rational presence right now—someone your sister can actually lean on when things get chaotic.

I spent a significant amount of time hospitalized, surrounded by patients facing circumstances almost identical to what your sister is enduring.

Patients frequently reach a breaking point where they think, 'I might as well just die,' simply because they see how much everyone around them is 'suffering.' But let’s be honest: that perceived 'suffering' is usually just pure selfishness; most people are really just preoccupied with their own stress.

Don't let your sister fall into that kind of mindset.

Hang in there.👍