Support resources for families dealing with cancer and other serious illnesses

Arthur Wells97 said:Please, I need help... my mom has already finished two rounds of chemo using Avastin and platinum-based drugs. She’s actually feeling better, but I’m desperate for any shared experiences or advice you can give me...

And has anyone heard anything about that Budwig Center over in Spain?

Everyone reacts differently. You won't know the true status or if the medication actually worked until the end of the treatment when they run a follow-up PET scan.

As for Budwig, check the alternative medicine forums. It’s essentially just a specific dietary regimen.

crimsongull20 said:Some people swear by this stuff from http://www.healthandwellness.com/mushrooms/supplements&sp=index.

Others say it did absolutely nothing for them, but I haven't heard a single person claim they actually helped.

We bought those mushrooms for my mom first. She took them for about a month, but after that first month, she’d just throw them right back up every single time. It’s been over two months now, and I keep trying to convince her to give it another shot, but she’s just too traumatized. She felt so sick last time that she’s terrified she’ll start vomiting the second she swallows them. Plus, she’s finally eating a bit better lately, and we don't want to mess with that progress. We actually got the recommendation for these from a nurse who’s been keeping her own cancer under control for about ten years using periodic mushroom treatments. I really wish my mom could handle them like she does; I had such high hopes, and man, those things aren't cheap.

http://tianshi.savjeti.com/
Read up, check them out, and get some advice. It’s free, they're incredibly polite, and they explain everything clearly... They're located at 219 Main Street (I think that's the number) near the downtown area. The center is called Natura.
You can even snag a 25% discount if you join, and membership costs $23.
I personally called the mobile number on their site and spoke with Ms. Xenia; she told me to mention her name (since it was my first time calling) and I got the 25% discount.
I use their supplements for GI issues, but there's no harm in sharing... right?😉
I take an anti-lipid tea which is decent, plus Chitozan and Cordyceps capsules. The capsules smell pretty bad and cause quite a bit of reflux after taking them, but hey, anything for health...👋

Hey everyone 😘
Since my mom passed, I haven't really felt like posting here—though I still read through this thread constantly...

I had this sinking feeling recently. I went to see a pulmonologist and laid out my mother's entire medical history. He ran some lung scans and a spirometry test, and everything came back fine.
But, just to be safe, he sent me over to Springfield General to get bloodwork done for tumor markers.
I haven't gone yet—planning to head there in the next few days.

Just when I was finally starting to feel okay again, a close friend dropped a bombshell on me. Stomach cancer. They operated immediately—removed a third of her stomach and 17 lymph nodes because the tumor had already metastasized.
She’s finished 9 rounds of chemo and 9 rounds of radiation.

I'm at her place all the time now. If I ever need to be there for someone, it's her. 🙂

In your experience, what are the actual chances of recovery here?

Susan Diaz91 said:Hey everyone, 😘
ever since my mom passed away, I’ve had zero desire to actually post here, even though I find myself scrolling through this thread constantly...

I just got hit with this wave of pure anxiety after visiting my pulmonologist. I laid out my mother's entire medical history, we did the lung scans and the spirometry, and everything came back perfectly fine.
But, just to be safe, he sent me over to Springfield General to get bloodwork done for tumor markers...
I haven't gone yet, but I'm planning to head there in the next few days...

Just when I felt like I was finally getting my footing again, a very close friend of mine dropped a bombshell on me. Stomach cancer. They operated immediately, removed a third of her stomach, and had to take out 17 lymph nodes because the tumor had already started spreading...
She’s gone through 9 rounds of chemo and 9 rounds of radiation.

I'm spending a lot of time with her lately. If I ever need to be there for someone in my life, it’s her right now... 🙂

Can anyone give me an honest idea of what the survival odds look like for something like this??

Look, you know there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but think about it like this: a friend of mine has a dad who went through the exact same thing. They had to remove his entire stomach—I don't know if he had any underlying issues—but after finishing all the chemo and radiation, it’s been 6 or 7 years now, and the guy is absolutely rock solid.

My mom got a call today from a friend she met while they were both recovering in the hospital together.
The woman had been battling colon cancer, going through all the rounds of chemo and radiation... and well...
It seems like her older daughter just completely snapped under the pressure of it all. She’s totally withdrawn now, won't talk to anyone, and is actively avoiding both her younger sister and her mother.
Does anyone know if there’s an actual organization or maybe a counseling center out there that offers psychological support specifically for families dealing with someone facing a cancer diagnosis? Aside from this PDF and the forums run by Zane, of course.. 🙂

Kimberly Wright said:My mom got a call today from a friend she met while they were both stuck in the hospital together.
The woman had colon cancer and just finished going through chemo and radiation... but...
it looks like her older daughter finally hit a breaking point. She’s completely shut down—won't talk to anyone, avoids her younger sister, and won't even face her mother.
Does anyone know of an organization or a counseling center that offers psychological support specifically for families dealing with cancer patients? Aside from this PDF and Zane's forum... 🙂

If you actually pay attention to the headlines in the New York Post, you'll see there's help out there.😉
There's a banner for the Spark on the front page advertising psychological assistance.

Angela Wright said:Anyone who actually takes the time to read the New York Post knows it's out there.😉
There's a banner on the Spark website mentioning psychological support.

😁
I caught that section on the Spark site myself, though I was under the impression it was specifically intended for parents dealing with children facing serious illnesses.🤷

Kimberly Wright said:😁
I caught that part about the spark. Honestly, I was under the impression they were specifically targeting parents dealing with kids fighting cancer.🤷

The reality is they extend a hand to everyone—whether it’s the kids themselves, the adults, parents, or anyone navigating the fallout of a cancer diagnosis or losing a loved one to the disease.

Casey Palmer5 said:If we're talking about accumulated mucus, there's quite a bit I can achieve with certain physiotherapy techniques—things like postural drainage, specific coughing techniques, and positioning. If those don't cut it, then we move to endotracheal aspiration (mostly when the patient isn't conscious). That means suctioning, which a doctor doesn't necessarily have to specifically order; depending on the facility—at least where I was trained, it isn't required, you just do it based on clinical indication—a technician, nurse, or physical therapist can get it done in a minute. Doing that at home is incredibly difficult.

I am so sorry you’re going through this.

Thank you so much for the response!

It seems like the issue is mucus that builds up constantly because Dad just can't clear it himself. Since he had another terrible coughing fit on Friday followed by vomiting (honestly, my stomach turns just thinking about him coughing like that), we had to take him back to Mayo Clinic. I asked the nurses there if the same thing happens in the hospital and they said no... but yesterday I was visiting Dad right when he started coughing like that again. A nurse came in with a suction machine and cleared all that phlegm out, and everything was sorted in three minutes. We tried to do the same thing at home, but they push that tube way deeper into the throat than I would ever dare to, so they managed to get everything out instantly... at home, it took six agonizing hours and he suffered terribly. The nurse told me that the mucus stays stuck in his throat, and he's choking because he can't get it out.😢
To be honest, that nurse yesterday went a bit too far; she pushed the tube in so deep that his eyes were bloodshot by the end and he didn't even want to open his mouth anymore... the head nurse told me that isn't allowed—meaning they are only supposed to insert the tube as far as the patient permits.

It is just devastatingly sad to watch your own father suffer like this, even though he is so brave and never once complains about being in pain. 😢😢😢

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Back again with another question

Mostly looking for deodorant advice. Does anyone know of a good brand that doesn't use aluminum chlorohydrate? I read some stuff about Sebamed saying it isn't actually very effective. I’ve always loved Dove, but since it contains aluminum, I'm getting increasingly worried about the link to breast cancer.

Thanks in advance for any help

The doctors over at Mayo Clinic told us today that Dad can’t stay in the hospital anymore. Now we’re stuck making this huge decision: do we bring him home, or do we find a long-term care facility that can actually take him in permanently?😢

None of us have the heart to just let him go, so it’s looking like he’ll be coming home... Mom heard somewhere that you can actually rent one of those medical beds with the adjustable headrest. I wanted to see if anyone here knows where we could possibly score one of those, and if that's even a realistic option?

On a brighter note, Dad was actually doing much better this afternoon, so I’m feeling pretty happy about that. 🙂

Melissa Morgan67 said:I'm checking back in with another question.

It’s mostly about deodorants. Which brands are aluminum chlorohydrate-free? I looked into Sebamed, but apparently, it doesn't hold up very well. I absolutely love Dove, but since it contains aluminum, I'm getting increasingly paranoid about breast cancer risks.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Check out the ones at Disney that use Japanese minerals, or try Biogen.

Hey everyone.

My dad is 58, and about three months ago, everything just fell apart. He was diagnosed with a 2cm tumor in his pancreas, plus it’s spread to his liver. He’s doing chemo right now—I think it’s Gemcitabine? He’s currently in his second cycle, and honestly, I’m just sitting here waiting for my mom to call and tell me how he actually handled it...
Last time he had the treatment, he felt absolutely terrible. He ran a fever, and then the pain started hitting him hard..
I read on some website that if the pain gets really intense, it means the end is near.
I am so incredibly close to my dad and I'm terrified of the worst happening, even though I know deep down this disease is just brutal and unforgiving.
What has your experience been like surviving this?
Is there anything I should even be hoping for?

brisksurfer said:The folks at the hospital told us Dad can't stay much longer. We have to decide: bring him home or find a long-term care facility.😢

None of us have the heart to let him go, so he’ll probably come home... Mom heard somewhere you can actually rent a hospital bed with an adjustable headrest. I wanted to ask if anyone knows where we could score one and if that's even doable?

Anyway, Dad was doing a lot better this afternoon, so I'm happy. 🙂

My father had lung cancer too. He dealt with that same choking on phlegm, but nobody even tried to clear it out for him.
It also spreads to other organs fast. They say smoking plays a role—if you smoked even when you were young, it stays with you, even if you quit later. You can still die from it. It's a heavy thing to carry. I'd say it's the nastiest tumor out there.
When they send you home, it usually means you need to prepare for the worst.
Short bursts of improvement happen with this disease, but ultimately...
What can I say... brace yourself for the inevitable. 😢
We basically had to "force our way in" and paid out of pocket for both doctors and placement because they were trying to discharge us. For those who have patients like this at home, I can only imagine. It's incredibly, incredibly draining—mentally and physically.

Since this thread seems pretty active, I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction.
Where can I find a wig and a prosthetic breast in a city like Chicago!?
My mother is covered for both through Medicare—we just aren't sure where to actually go to pick them up.
Thanks so much 🙂

Donna Garcia13 said:It felt like we were basically being "shoved out the door." We ended up paying out of pocket for both the doctor and the lodging just because they were trying to send us home. For people who have a patient like that at home, I can only imagine... honestly, it sounds absolutely soul-crushing, both mentally and physically.

Yeah, it’s exhausting as hell, both ways. But hey, I guess that "joy of sacrifice" is just immeasurable, right?

brisksurfer said:The staff at the local hospital told us Dad can't stay much longer, so we have to decide between bringing him home or finding a long-term care facility.😢

None of us have the heart to let him go, so he’ll likely come home... Mom heard you might be able to borrow a hospital bed with an adjustable headrest, so I wanted to see if anyone knows where we could score one and if that's even a realistic option.

On a brighter note, Dad seemed a lot better this afternoon, so I'm feeling a bit relieved 🙂

We actually borrowed a bed from Hospice. I read that some people here have already received assistance from them, so it might be worth reaching out to them about the bed too...

brisksurfer said:So, they finally gave us the news over at Mercy Hospital. They told us Dad can't stay in the hospital anymore. It’s one of those "make a choice or we make it for you" situations. Now we're stuck deciding whether to bring him back home or find him a spot in a long-term care facility that can actually handle him full-time. It's a lot.😢

None of us have the heart to just let him go, so he'll probably end up heading back home. My mom heard somewhere that you can actually rent a hospital bed—the kind where you can prop the head part up—so I wanted to see if anyone knows where we could score one of those? Is that even a thing people do?

So, Dad was actually doing a lot better this afternoon, which is huge. Honestly, I’m feeling pretty stoked about it. 🙂

About five months ago, my husband got hit with a lung cancer diagnosis. Honestly? The prognosis was pretty grim. Nobody in the family was bracing for anything more than a few months, let alone what we've been dealing with. It was brutal. Just... heavy. He was constantly struggling to breathe, choking on phlegm, but the blood was even worse. I don't even want to think about those moments. We went through the whole gauntlet—chemo, radiation, all of it. At home, we were just doing everything possible to boost his immune system and fight off the coughing fits and that constant suffocating feeling.
Yep, still kicking today. And honestly? Life’s good. Some days are absolute trash and others are alright, but you just get used to the rhythm of it. You learn how to roll with the punches.
Don't just sit there praying for things to get better. Get out there and fight. You can't predict how this whole thing is gonna shake out, but giving up? That's never an option.
Hang in there. Just stay strong and stick by your old man's side.
🙂