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Hepatocellular carcinoma and nexavar
hello my Dad has recently started nexavar treatment. He is back at home with me now. I don't know what to expect after reading all of the horrific possibilities of side effects. Every day I'm asking him, what do you feel..how are you..does it hurt. I'm really afraid of how the side effects will progress. He's on 1 pill…
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sleeping after the loss of someone
well here goes. Mom passed away in August and of course i had my times and days earlier on but things got better as the time has gone on. The holidays were hard, but i managed had my times but i think because i was so busy shopping, wrapping, decorating etcc for my 4 boys that it was jusy easy busy not thinking so much.…
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My dad's side effects
Hello Caregivers, I am new to coming to this board. I am usually on the chat line or the esophageal board. My dad was dx with esophageal cancer in 11/08. He had 6 wks of radiation and chemo. He did well. Hardly had any side effects. Fast forward to december 09, he has severe pain in right side, is jaundice, has ultra sound…
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Not sure how to care for my husband
I posted this under Esophageal Cancer a few days ago, but hope that I get more ideas from the other caregivers out there... My husband has had a long battle with EC...was diagnosed at stage IVa; the original chemo- radiation knocked it back, but it came back with a vengeance and spread to his liver and then brain. We had…
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What All Caregivers Sing from their Hearts to those there Caring for
"He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother" {Sister}{Mother}{Father}{Friend}{Child}{Husband}{Wife} performed by Neil Diamond 1970 (written by the band "Hollies") url is below to see live show of the song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usZtSl8mX08&feature=related Lyrics The road is long With many a winding turn That leads us to who…
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Not sure what to think or feel
My wife has had stage four colon cancer and chemotherapy for two and half years. Her last CT scan showed increased cancer cell growth in her liver and lung. Her oncologist is now offering Cetuximab (Erbitux). The problem is that they no longer have her original biopsy so she will have to undergo another liver biopsy next…
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Waiting for offical Diagnosis
Well, okay. My mom injured herself at work in November of 09. The job sent her for X-Rays and the Doctor told her "I don't want to scare you, but this looks like bone cancer". This was of her Left arm. After seeing her regular Doctor who had a chest X-Ray from the year before we found out that it is bone cancer of some…
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I think my husband is angry/upset with me
We currently have hospice coming in to help with my husband - he has colon cancer and is deteriorating weekly. He's been in a lot of pain and we've been working to get it under control without success. His med's have been changed or increased six times in the last week. The cancer seems to be working faster than the med's!…
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Fear, anxiety, anger, guilt
I am Kellie. My Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer last November. I am the youngest of four children and I live close to Dad (thank heaven) but two brothers live out of state. One lives here in Florida, but he and his family have not spoken to my Dad for several years due to a falling out. My brothers just visited last…
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Scared 20yr old Girl-Doin my best to care for my boyfriend
ive been with him for almost 3 years.... between the 2 of us we have 5 kids... i work and i come home to find him lost in his own thoughts.... he is in so much pain usually that he gets mean... and i know its just him getting sicker... his doctors told him there is nothing else they can do... he has tumors on his spine...…
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The weight of the world - A son trying to make it "okay"
If you have a moment to spare a few words of wisdom encouragment for my situtation I would be very grateful. I am a 19 almost 20 oldest son of four children of a loving, passionate and devtoed father who is dieing of prostrate cancer. We have persued every known treatment for my Dad, all to no avail. I am looking for ways…
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How do you deal with Negative Nellys
My mom is surrounded by caring, loving friends and distant relatives who have been with us and helped her every step of the way since her cancer diagnosis two months ago. They have taken her to doctors' appointments, taken care of documents, brought her meals, etc... There is just one problem: They are poorly-informed and…
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Great Cook Book
(hope this is allowed) Last night I picked up 'What to Eat During Cancer', a cook book published by the American Cancer Society, from the library. I highly recommend it for patients/caregivers. The recipes are simple, sound delicious, and they are divided into categories for symptoms (i.e. Loss of Appetite, Sore Mouth,…
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Cancer is so cruel....
I've been coming to read the posts on this board for about a month, but haven't had the energy to post anything. Even now it's an effort. My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer Sept. 2003. H's never really been in remission but we've lived a fairly normal life. Of course in that time he's had four major…
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Need ideas for next steps
I'm a long-distance caregiver in a sense - my parents are a few states away, and my mom is fighting lung cancer. She and her husband were just fired from their jobs working as a team for a company that provided them on-site housing as well as a job & health insurance (she could no longer work, and he had to care for her…
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New .. Husband has CLL Leukemia
Hi.. My husband has stage 2 CLL.. Right now he is tired alot.. he can not be around alot of people because of his immune system.. we have a daughter in special ed.. I am worried about my future with my daughter.. paying the bills,paying the bills.. I am afraid .. I work part time at a school. It does not pay the bills.. I…
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A week and a half after my mom passed, its completely hitting me...i feel really terrible
Anyone out there have the same situation? its been a week+ since my mom passed, honestly seeing her take her last breath was the worst thing to see...i dont want to scare anyone out there and obviously every case is different. In regards to my mom, she passed away with advanced colorectal cancer with 20+ liver mets...it…
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stage 4 melanoma
my wife is just 40 yrs old and has stage 4 melanoma it is in every lymth node in all limbs and small spot in left lung, and in thyroid glands. Her right breast is 3 times bigger than the left. The doctor is looking to see if any trial studies are out there but it doesnt look good. Anyone out thier know of anything
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Planning
Something has been on my mind for awhile, and I thought I'd throw it out. Many of us have talked about the role of the caregiver and how difficult that is. I just wonder what, if anything, we should do to plan for the possible need for our care in the future. As we have learned, anyone can become ill and need care. How can…
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Having a hard time!!
My "other" mother has bone cancer..has been fighting it for 16 years. She is not doing well. I find myself constantly praying to god to spare her..give us a miracle and let her get better. I am so scared!! I have been having major anxiety attacks and cant sleep. I have been seeing a therapist..helps a little. I cant…
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What is the end like? I think my Dad is afraid
My Dad has been battling colon cancer for about 3 and half years. December 21st, he had some sort of "episode" in the oncologist’s office. We thought is was a stroke. The doctor had just told my Mother and I that he was putting Dad on hospice and that he thought he had 2-3 weeks to live. The doc went in to tell my dad that…
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What can my family do for mental health help ?
I dont know if this is the spot to place this but I need some help fast This was seemingly under controll for the first couple years , but I always knew that eventually it would take its toll . Now I'm getting in trouble and I dont know what to do . My depression is so bad that I cant leave the house . and my teenage son…
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Adult Child Living with Parents thru Treatment
Adult Child Living with Parents thru Treatment Submitted by JillyB on February 20, 2010 - 1:42am Hi, I am very grateful to have a home to come to with a mother who will do anything needed at the drop of a hat, so I hate to complain. Right now I am on Taxotere for 12, well 5 more weeks, and it is kicking my butt. I have…
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Need advice from granmafay
Good morning granmafay, I just wanted to ask your advice about my husband. I believe your husband also had colon cancer. I believe we are not far from my husband's passing. I just wondered if you would mind describing your last few weeks. If this is too hard for you or an inappropriate request please just let me know and I…
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new to all this with a twist
my daughter is a new hodgkins patient. it all started three weeks ago her husband noticed something on her neck. today she had bone marrow test don. she is in kanass i am in michigan i can not go there untill april she has help as she starts chemo but i am mom and i should be there, i should make it all better just like i…
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What to expect as I care for my Mother-In-Law
Last week the decision was made to not do Chemotherapy. My MIL has IV NSCLC that has spread to her lymph nodes, her brain and now her spine. This was all found a month ago when the tumor in her brain was found. She had brain surgery to remove it and the biopsy said it started in her lungs. She did not have any tumor on her…
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Cancer cookbooks
My son was wondering if there are any cookbooks with foods that are more recommended for cancer patients. He is 31 and was just diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer, so are just starting our research. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks Linda
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Where can I go for info about Labs
I am a caregiver but not always kept in the loop. My friend who has brain, liver, lung and bone cancer has a platelet count of 28. Is there a reason they are not giving her platelets? Her potassium is high also and have her on meds for that?
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Some Joy to Share
While I type here mindful of my fellow caregivers who have helped me through deep valleys in my wife's cancer journey, I wanted to share some news of hope to provide encouragement. My wife was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer with metastasis to her ovaries in May 09; Surgery and then 8 rounds of Chemo. During the chemo…
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Does anyone need to talk and just vent? I am here.
Hello-- If anyone needs to talk, vent, anything I am here. Trust me. I have been through this as a caregiver and I know it can tear you apart. But I am here. Lets share our stories.