Resources and support for families dealing with cancer and serious illness

Angela Wright · 2007-01-17T15:24:08+00:00

Watching loved ones battle serious illnesses is an absolute nightmare, and it’s not just them suffering—it's the family members and everyone close to them who …

Harold Richardson4 Member

16 messages
joined Nov 2007

#1761 · Nov 22, 2007

This forum holds an immense amount of significance for me. Now that it has been nearly three months since my mother passed away, I’ve realized that you all simply understand. I can come here, let my guard down, and weep, knowing that at least one person among you—all of you wonderful, resilient souls—will be there to offer some semblance of comfort. Only those who have walked this same dark path truly grasp the weight of it... though, unfortunately, that is also a fundamental part of what this community is built upon. Keep fighting, everyone. Sending love.

casualpanther1 Member

37 messages
joined Feb 2007

#1762 · Nov 22, 2007

Carol Ramirez;11385834 said:Today we laid my Grandfather to rest—he was a second father to me and my biggest rock.

Carol Ramirez,
I am so incredibly sorry for the loss of your Grandfather.

Benjamin Grant6 Member

36 messages
joined Aug 2008

#1763 · Nov 22, 2007

Hannah Thomas28 said:How is your father doing?

My father? We spoke just this morning... He went to have his balance checked out at the clinic and the scans came back clear. For now, he’s staying home, which is quite a complication since he just returned from medical leave and his work is suffering, but health has to come first...

We’re holding onto hope that everything will turn out fine, especially since nothing specific has been identified yet...

Thank you for asking...

casualpanther1 Member

37 messages
joined Feb 2007

#1764 · Nov 22, 2007

A little bit of good news,

Despite my wife's diagnosis, we aren't letting it break us. If anything, we’re working harder than ever to maintain some sense of normalcy, and so far, we’re actually pulling it off. We refuse to let life just stop because of a medical label. Before she was diagnosed, she had already crushed all her exams at the university; the only thing left on her plate was her final thesis. Yesterday—fifteen months after the diagnosis hit us—she defended that thesis and officially graduated.
Maybe this little victory can serve as a reminder to someone else out there: don't throw in the towel, no matter what kind of diagnosis you're facing or how brutal the illness gets.

Best regards to everyone,

Benjamin Grant6 Member

36 messages
joined Aug 2008

#1765 · Nov 22, 2007

Linda Campbell said:This forum means just as much to me as it does to you, and now that it’s been nearly three months since my mother passed, I find that you all truly understand... I can simply come here and let the tears fall, knowing there will be at least one person among all you wonderful, brilliant souls to offer some comfort... unfortunately, that kind of grief is just an inherent part of this community... keep fighting, everyone, sending love...

I find myself signing my name to this sentiment as well, because through the heat of the struggle and even now in its aftermath—this remains the sanctuary I retreat to at least three or four times a day... quite simply, I couldn't manage without all of you.

Angela Wright RegularOP

731 messages
joined Feb 2007

#1766 · Nov 22, 2007

casualpanther1 said:A little bit of good news,

Despite my wife's diagnosis, we aren't letting it break us. If anything, we're pushing harder to live a normal life, and so far, we’re actually pulling it off. We haven't let the illness stall our progress. Before everything hit the fan, she had already passed all her exams at the university; she just had her final thesis left to write. Yesterday—fifteen months after the diagnosis—she successfully defended that thesis and graduated.
Maybe this little victory can serve as a reminder to someone else out there: don't throw in the towel, no matter what kind of diagnosis you're facing or how brutal the struggle gets.

Best wishes to everyone,

👍 🎉

Roger Hall15 Active Member

107 messages
joined Jul 2003

#1767 · Nov 22, 2007

Angela Wright said:Have you guys thought about doing a PET-CT scan? I feel like that might provide some much clearer answers.

I’ve been reading up on it, and apparently, that's an option available here in the States now too. She's scheduled for one more round of chemo in December—and after that, there'll be a period focused solely on recovery. If her electrolyte levels stabilize and we don't see any more imbalances, then we'll just wait and see how things settle for a while.
She really just needs a break from everything; she's absolutely exhausted.
If those imbalances persist, we might look into that PET-CT scan to see if it uncovers anything useful, but honestly, I'm not making any definitive plans right now.
It’ll happen as God wills. It rarely ever goes any other way, anyway.

I really want to echo what you said for all the newcomers and even for those who just follow along silently.
Like you mentioned, we can't win against death, but we certainly can fight. And it's in that struggle that we discover truly miraculous things. That fight never actually stops, not even when we eventually say goodbye. Because, fundamentally, we never truly part ways. 🙂

There is so much experience, advice, and wisdom shared here. Personally, I think this is one of the best threads on the entire forum—maybe even the best. I can't even put into words how much it has helped me.

Robert Ruiz9 Newcomer

5 messages
joined Mar 2006

#1768 · Nov 22, 2007

casualpanther1 said:I have some wonderful news to share,

Even with everything my wife has been facing since her diagnosis, we aren't letting it get us down—if anything, we're working harder than ever to just live life normally, and honestly, it’s actually working out pretty well so far! We haven't let the illness stop our momentum at all. Before she was diagnosed, she had already crushed all her exams at her university and just had her final thesis left to write. Well, yesterday—fifteen months after receiving her diagnosis—she officially defended her thesis and graduated!
I really hope this little bit of good news serves as a reminder to anyone else out there that you shouldn't give up, no matter what kind of diagnosis you're dealing with or how tough things get during the fight.

Sending my best to everyone,

This is such incredible news!
A huge, heartfelt congratulations to you both—please, just keep going exactly like this!

Hey guys, does anyone happen to know how things went with Diana? She was supposed to get her results this past Tuesday...
I'm really crossing my fingers that it's good news.

Robert Ruiz9 Newcomer

5 messages
joined Mar 2006

#1769 · Nov 22, 2007

Carol Ramirez said:....
It honestly breaks my heart to feel like I’m weighing you all down with these stories—they feel so incredibly heavy and raw—but somehow, just letting it all out here makes me feel a little lighter. I find myself needing to relive every single memory of him, from his silly little blunders to those tiny quirks he had. I just want to capture the way he moved, the specific way his eyes used to crinkle when he laughed, or how he’d gently brush my hair back... I feel this overwhelming urge to let all of it pour out of me, because maybe then, eventually, the edge will soften and I'll finally find some peace and silence. I can't really talk about this with my family, though, because seeing them struggle is just too much to bear.
Thank you all so much again for being so selfless and supportive. I know I'll keep coming back here; I just can't break the habit, and I certainly can't just close the Tab in Firefox that leads straight to this thread. I may have lost this battle, but the experience has left such a profound mark on me. If anyone ever needs advice regarding small cell lung cancer or anything that might help ease the suffering, please don't hesitate to reach out—it would truly be my pleasure to help if I can.
Stay strong!!!

Sweetie, please don't feel like you're bothering us; just share everything you're feeling—all the thoughts, the pain, the sadness, and the beautiful memories... don't keep it bottled up inside...
Hang in there, sending love!

Benjamin Grant6 Member

36 messages
joined Aug 2008

#1770 · Nov 22, 2007

casualpanther1 said:A bit of good news,

Despite my wife's diagnosis, we aren't letting it get us down; if anything, we are working harder than ever to maintain some semblance of normalcy, and so far, we're actually managing... We’ve decided to pick up right where we left off before everything changed. Before her diagnosis, she had cleared all her exams at the university, leaving only her final thesis to be completed. Yesterday, in the fifteenth month since her diagnosis, she successfully defended that thesis and officially graduated.
Perhaps this little bit of light might serve as an incentive for someone else to keep pushing forward, regardless of what kind of diagnosis they are facing or how difficult the journey becomes...

Best regards to everyone,

What a wonderful encouragement, and if I could say just one thing: BRAVO!🙂

Cancer is the kind of illness that forces us to find strength we didn't know we possessed, revealing a new level of resilience as we fight through it... Your wife has truly proven just how much fighter is in her. Keep moving forward just like that...

kisses

Jason Miller71 Newcomer

3 messages
joined Nov 2007

#1771 · Nov 22, 2007

I’ve been lurking here for months now. I’ve felt your grief and shared your joys. My sister has been fighting Hodgkin for three years. She’s currently on some medication that is absolutely wrecking her stomach. She hasn't been able to eat for ten days, she’s vomiting, and the pain is unbearable. Please, if anyone has advice, a specific medicine, or even just a tea recommendation, let me know. Thanks.

ruggednomad182 Newcomer

4 messages
joined Mar 2007

#1772 · Nov 22, 2007

Carol Ramirez said:We laid my Grandfather to rest today. He was like a second father to me, my rock.
I honestly don't know how to move forward. Everywhere I look, there’s just evidence of our fight—the meds he took, everything I used to prep for him, the prescriptions, his test results, those little notes, even his glasses. If I could, I’d just run away to Mars.

My heart goes out to you. Your Grandfather had such a brave and caring angel by his side, and I truly believe he passed peacefully knowing he had that kind of support.

ruggednomad182 Newcomer

4 messages
joined Mar 2007

#1773 · Nov 22, 2007

Carol Ramirez said:We buried my Grandfather today—my second father and my absolute rock.
I honestly don't know how to face things right now. Everywhere I look, there's just evidence of our fight: his meds, everything I used to prep for him, the prescriptions, the test results, his glasses. If I could, I’d just run away to Mars.

My heart goes out to you. With a caring angel like you by his side, he went peacefully.

slyseal28 Member

11 messages
joined Mar 2007

#1774 · Nov 22, 2007

@Carol Ramirez/">@@Carol Ramirez, please accept my sincerest condolences...

Angela Wright RegularOP

731 messages
joined Feb 2007

#1775 · Nov 23, 2007

Jason Miller71 said:I’ve been reading your posts for months now. I’ve cried along with you all and celebrated with you too. My sister has been fighting Hodgkin for three years. Right now, she’s on some pills that are absolutely wrecking her stomach. She hasn't eaten anything in ten days, she's vomiting, and the pain is just brutal. Please, if anyone has advice, a medication, or maybe a tea, let me know. Thank you.

Try peppermint tea or some air-popped popcorn. You really need one of those specialized machines for the best results. They cost about $33.
Also, crushing flaxseeds—you can buy them pre-ground—and letting a spoonful sit in a glass of lukewarm water for an hour or two works wonders. The seeds release a mucilage that is incredibly soothing for the stomach. I also don't think they should be avoiding Peptoran or Ranital; those help protect the stomach lining. My mom took Ranital through her entire chemo course on her doctor's recommendation. Ask a doctor.
Tell your Sekica to just keep fighting. Hodgkin is a beast, but it’s treated quite successfully, especially in women. I have a friend who was diagnosed at 16 and beat it. She’s 28 now and expecting a baby, even though everyone told her she’d never be able to.
One more thing I'm not sure if you guys are aware of: as part of her treatment, she underwent an autologous stem cell transplant. Before the chemo, they harvest the stem cells, and then when her blood counts drop suddenly, they infuse the purified cells back in to speed up recovery. However, because this involves certain machinery—I assume dialysis-type equipment—she contracted Hepatitis B because the machine wasn't sterile enough. I don't know if they did the same procedure for your sister, but if they haven't done it yet, it would be wise to get vaccinated against Hepatitis. For my friend, that Hepatitis is making life miserable and complicating her pregnancy. Definitely ask the oncologist about this and what steps to take.

brightgardener8 Active Member

157 messages
joined Jul 2007

#1776 · Nov 23, 2007

casualpanther1 said:A little bit of good news for once,

Even with my wife’s diagnosis, we aren't letting it break us. If anything, we're pushing harder to just live life normally, and honestly, it’s working for us so far. We haven't let the illness derail our plans. Before she got sick, she had crushed all her exams at the university; the only thing left was her final thesis. Well, yesterday—fifteen months after the diagnosis—she finally defended that thesis and graduated.
Maybe this bit of good news can serve as a reminder to someone out there: don't you dare give up, no matter what kind of diagnosis you're facing or how brutal the fight gets.

Best to everyone,

Huge congrats to you both! We seriously need more positive stories like this in here. Keep fighting that curse until the very end. 🙂

Carol Sanchez2 Active Member

85 messages
joined Apr 2007

#1777 · Nov 23, 2007

casualpanther1 said:I've got some lovely news to share,

Even with my wife's diagnosis, we aren't letting it get us down; if anything, we're working harder than ever to just live our lives normally, and so far, we're actually pulling it off! We haven't let things change much since she was diagnosed. Before everything happened, she had already passed all her exams at the university, leaving only her final thesis left to write. Well, yesterday—fifteen months after the diagnosis—she successfully defended her thesis and officially graduated!
Maybe this little bit of good news can serve as a reminder to someone out there not to give up, no matter what kind of diagnosis you're facing or how tough the battle gets.

Sending love to everyone,

Oh, that is just wonderful! Way to go! Such absolutely beautiful news!!!!👍

Jason Miller71 Newcomer

3 messages
joined Nov 2007

#1778 · Nov 23, 2007

Dear Ivanica, we’re going to try tea, popcorn, and flaxseeds. Sekica is fighting hard, and we’re right there with her. She went through an autotransplant, but it didn't help at all. Now she needs to start a third cycle of pills, but her stomach won't tolerate them. Thanks for the advice.

Christian Wilson16 Newcomer

6 messages
joined Jan 2007

#1779 · Nov 23, 2007

Angela Wright put it beautifully when she said, "...to everyone joining us today seeking hope and strength: please don't take everything too personally or view it as the inevitable conclusion when our loved ones lose their battle."

Reflecting on the difficult experiences I had with my Grandfather, I feel an immense sense of pride in my mother, who successfully beat uterine and ovarian cancer. You have to hold onto hope; I held onto it with my Grandfather until the very end, and I know he did the same. There is a certain dignity in that approach, and I believe we should all strive for it. It’s because of that relentless spirit that things feel easier later on, regardless of how the fight actually concludes.
Every single person's journey is unique. Even if you encounter someone here with the exact same diagnosis whose story ends in loss, please don't mistake their outcome for a universal rule.
That is why I would STRONGLY PROHIBIT using statistics when discussing those facing serious illnesses, because focusing on numbers is nothing more than a dangerous distraction!

slyseal28 Member

11 messages
joined Mar 2007

#1780 · Nov 23, 2007

Carol Ramirez said:Every single person is an individual. Even if you run into someone on this forum with the exact same diagnosis, just because their story ends in a permanent goodbye, don't go assuming that’s your rule to follow.
That’s why I would STRICTLY FORBID using statistics when dealing with serious illnesses; it's nothing but a dangerous distraction!

I couldn't agree more... A year ago, they were predicting very little time left for my Pigeon (my wife)...
Today—well, maybe "little time" is still a factor, but it doesn't matter—he is doing fantastic. Back in the ninth month, things were looking great... Now we're just waiting on some new results, and they better be good. We aren't giving up.

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