lost. dont know what to do or how to think

tiffanyt
tiffanyt Member Posts: 6
in Lung Cancer #1
My mothers best friend who I grew up calling my "other mother", was just told yesterday that she has a form of cancer which is on her left lung as well as both sides of the brain. It was thought that this past Friday she had a stroke because she lost control of her left eye and is unable to stand/walk by herself, after going for cat scans there were lesions found on her brain and her brain is swollen, she was then sent for chest xrays and ultra sounds as well as mammogram, those test results are what told the dr that she has cancer in the lung and brain, they are not saying what type or what stage, they are trying to schedule an appointment with a specialist to do a biopsy, this is difficult because she does not have insurance but has applied for medical assistance.
I am lost as I do not know what to think rite now or how to react, I have been on the computer for the past day trying to research lung cancer, and I am just lost.
If anyone has any insight or can tell me what to expect please help me

Comments

  • mrsptsu2012
    mrsptsu2012 Member Posts: 63
    #2
    I was at the same place you are now with my husband's cancer. Trying to find answers on the internet ever since I was told in May of this year that he has lung cancer which has spread to his brain. Due to the fact my husband is incarcerated, I am offered very little information about his condition. I turned here for answers just as u have. I can only share with you that my husband only had one spot on his lung and one on his brain at the time of the diagnosis. It is my understanding if it spreads anywhere outside of the lung to other organs or body parts, this is known as stage IV. I haven't found out much more about his situation as it was in it's original state as it relates to what could have been done or prognosis at that time. He received no treatment therefore; his situation is totally different. He now has multiple liesons (12 or more) on the brain and it has spread to his other lung as well as he has a fungus infection in his lung. Please remember my husband had NO KIND of treatment for his until now. Your case is much different. Although she has no insurance, she is in the free world where she can get the help she needs. Depending on what state you are in, we call it TNCARE in Tennessee, cancer patients are eligible for insurance and SS disability. I would begin there as well as the county hospital until insurance can be obtained. Hope this helps a little. God be with you and your family.
  • dennycee
    dennycee Member Posts: 857 Member
    #3
    Tiffany-take care of you..
    ..so that you can be there when she needs you. Start at your local hospital, they can guide you to a support group for family and friends of cancer patients. They can help you understand many of the physical and emotional changes "2d Mom" is going through and supply you with info you may need especially food, exercise and well being. Since she is not a blood relative, HIPPA laws will prevent you from getting information about her condition. If you will be one of her primary care givers, ask her to put you on the list of people who can receive that info.
  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    #4
    Your other mom
    I'm so sorry to hear that your friend is going through this but she will do well with someone like you helping her through this.

    PLEASE DO NOT research cancer on the internet. That was one of the first things my oncologists told me, most of the info is outdated and all it does is scare people. It is also impossible for you to do much research until you know what type of cancer she has and what stage. Once you have this information we will be able to help you through this.

    Do not look at this as a death sentence, I know that is everyone's first reaction but a cancer diagnosis is not an automatic death sentence. There are others here who have lung cancer and brain lesions who have been posting here for a few years.

    Please stay calm and let us know what the biopsy results are.

    Check into Medicaid and Social Security Disability for your friend, if the hospital where she is being treated has a finacial assistance department they should be able to help her with all the forms and get her approved much quicker.

    Wishing you all the best,
    Glenna
  • tiffanyt
    tiffanyt Member Posts: 6
    #5
    mrsptsu2012 said:

    I was at the same place you are now with my husband's cancer. Trying to find answers on the internet ever since I was told in May of this year that he has lung cancer which has spread to his brain. Due to the fact my husband is incarcerated, I am offered very little information about his condition. I turned here for answers just as u have. I can only share with you that my husband only had one spot on his lung and one on his brain at the time of the diagnosis. It is my understanding if it spreads anywhere outside of the lung to other organs or body parts, this is known as stage IV. I haven't found out much more about his situation as it was in it's original state as it relates to what could have been done or prognosis at that time. He received no treatment therefore; his situation is totally different. He now has multiple liesons (12 or more) on the brain and it has spread to his other lung as well as he has a fungus infection in his lung. Please remember my husband had NO KIND of treatment for his until now. Your case is much different. Although she has no insurance, she is in the free world where she can get the help she needs. Depending on what state you are in, we call it TNCARE in Tennessee, cancer patients are eligible for insurance and SS disability. I would begin there as well as the county hospital until insurance can be obtained. Hope this helps a little. God be with you and your family.

    Thank you for sharing your
    Thank you for sharing your story, we have applied for state health insurance, and I got a phone call today and we have a consultation with a dr next Friday and a Biopsy scheduled for next Wednesday, again thank you and I wish your husband the best he will also be in my thoughts and prayers
  • tiffanyt
    tiffanyt Member Posts: 6
    #6
    dennycee said:

    Tiffany-take care of you..
    ..so that you can be there when she needs you. Start at your local hospital, they can guide you to a support group for family and friends of cancer patients. They can help you understand many of the physical and emotional changes "2d Mom" is going through and supply you with info you may need especially food, exercise and well being. Since she is not a blood relative, HIPPA laws will prevent you from getting information about her condition. If you will be one of her primary care givers, ask her to put you on the list of people who can receive that info.

    Thank you, yes she has put
    Thank you, yes she has put me on her list of primary people, with my career I am very familiar with the HIPPA law as I got mad at her dr the other day for talking to her neighbor who is not on any list :-) I am taking care of me, as this is very difficult because I also take care of MY mom who resides with me and is on oxygen 24/7 due to COPD,
  • tiffanyt
    tiffanyt Member Posts: 6
    #7
    Glenna M said:

    Your other mom
    I'm so sorry to hear that your friend is going through this but she will do well with someone like you helping her through this.

    PLEASE DO NOT research cancer on the internet. That was one of the first things my oncologists told me, most of the info is outdated and all it does is scare people. It is also impossible for you to do much research until you know what type of cancer she has and what stage. Once you have this information we will be able to help you through this.

    Do not look at this as a death sentence, I know that is everyone's first reaction but a cancer diagnosis is not an automatic death sentence. There are others here who have lung cancer and brain lesions who have been posting here for a few years.

    Please stay calm and let us know what the biopsy results are.

    Check into Medicaid and Social Security Disability for your friend, if the hospital where she is being treated has a finacial assistance department they should be able to help her with all the forms and get her approved much quicker.

    Wishing you all the best,
    Glenna

    Thank you, we have a
    Thank you, we have a consultation with a dr next Friday so hopefully we will know more and scheduled for a biopsy next Wednesday.
  • tiffanyt
    tiffanyt Member Posts: 6
    #8
    Glenna M said:

    Your other mom
    I'm so sorry to hear that your friend is going through this but she will do well with someone like you helping her through this.

    PLEASE DO NOT research cancer on the internet. That was one of the first things my oncologists told me, most of the info is outdated and all it does is scare people. It is also impossible for you to do much research until you know what type of cancer she has and what stage. Once you have this information we will be able to help you through this.

    Do not look at this as a death sentence, I know that is everyone's first reaction but a cancer diagnosis is not an automatic death sentence. There are others here who have lung cancer and brain lesions who have been posting here for a few years.

    Please stay calm and let us know what the biopsy results are.

    Check into Medicaid and Social Security Disability for your friend, if the hospital where she is being treated has a finacial assistance department they should be able to help her with all the forms and get her approved much quicker.

    Wishing you all the best,
    Glenna

    Thank you, we have a
    Thank you, we have a consultation with a dr next Friday so hopefully we will know more and scheduled for a biopsy next Wednesday. We applied for Medicaid and are in the process of applying for SSDI
  • NayPaul
    NayPaul Member Posts: 230 Member
    #9
    Glenna M said:

    Your other mom
    I'm so sorry to hear that your friend is going through this but she will do well with someone like you helping her through this.

    PLEASE DO NOT research cancer on the internet. That was one of the first things my oncologists told me, most of the info is outdated and all it does is scare people. It is also impossible for you to do much research until you know what type of cancer she has and what stage. Once you have this information we will be able to help you through this.

    Do not look at this as a death sentence, I know that is everyone's first reaction but a cancer diagnosis is not an automatic death sentence. There are others here who have lung cancer and brain lesions who have been posting here for a few years.

    Please stay calm and let us know what the biopsy results are.

    Check into Medicaid and Social Security Disability for your friend, if the hospital where she is being treated has a finacial assistance department they should be able to help her with all the forms and get her approved much quicker.

    Wishing you all the best,
    Glenna

    i agree except....
    Glenna knows how much I respect her.... and everything she saies is spot on. But.... for the internet part... I wll agree u have to be very careful, but there is great info out there. I first heard of grape seed extract on the internet.... yeah right. But I also first heard of crizotinib on the internet. After pushing for testng, then retesting, my wife has the mutation and is on the drug. And trust me... glenna is right on this, don't do any research till u get initial reslts back. Waste of time.

    Now glenna on the other hand is smarter than I and analyzes everything.... ;) so one thing I learned from her is print stuff off and take it to the onc so they can tell you the difference between the grape seed folklores, and the real crizotinibs. .:)

    Enjoy the weekend folks!
  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    #10
    NayPaul said:

    i agree except....
    Glenna knows how much I respect her.... and everything she saies is spot on. But.... for the internet part... I wll agree u have to be very careful, but there is great info out there. I first heard of grape seed extract on the internet.... yeah right. But I also first heard of crizotinib on the internet. After pushing for testng, then retesting, my wife has the mutation and is on the drug. And trust me... glenna is right on this, don't do any research till u get initial reslts back. Waste of time.

    Now glenna on the other hand is smarter than I and analyzes everything.... ;) so one thing I learned from her is print stuff off and take it to the onc so they can tell you the difference between the grape seed folklores, and the real crizotinibs. .:)

    Enjoy the weekend folks!

    Sorry NayPaul
    Sorry, I come across as being quite adamant about not researching on the internet because I scared myself silly doing this when I was first diagnosed. I researched every word I could remember...adenocarcinoma, squamous cell, etc and I had myself dying before the sun set that day :) Too many people research for statistics of survival rates and I have to admit those are scary to say the least.

    I agree, I also research new drugs and treatments I read about I just make sure to check this info out somewhere else also to verify it. It's hard to tell which websites are reliable and which ones are trying to sell you a miracle cure.

    You're right, the internet can be a wonderful research tool if you know where to look :)

    Hope you and your wife have a wonderful holiday weekend!!
  • NayPaul
    NayPaul Member Posts: 230 Member
    #11
    Glenna M said:

    Sorry NayPaul
    Sorry, I come across as being quite adamant about not researching on the internet because I scared myself silly doing this when I was first diagnosed. I researched every word I could remember...adenocarcinoma, squamous cell, etc and I had myself dying before the sun set that day :) Too many people research for statistics of survival rates and I have to admit those are scary to say the least.

    I agree, I also research new drugs and treatments I read about I just make sure to check this info out somewhere else also to verify it. It's hard to tell which websites are reliable and which ones are trying to sell you a miracle cure.

    You're right, the internet can be a wonderful research tool if you know where to look :)

    Hope you and your wife have a wonderful holiday weekend!!

    u remind me of somone!
    Ah yes, my wife. She has had a number of diseases that she has learned about on the internet! She actually was quite the hypochondriac until two years ago. Now, she rarely looks up medical info. Probably better that way. She wants info..... but not too much at te wrong time.
  • tiffanyt
    tiffanyt Member Posts: 6
    #12
    NayPaul said:

    u remind me of somone!
    Ah yes, my wife. She has had a number of diseases that she has learned about on the internet! She actually was quite the hypochondriac until two years ago. Now, she rarely looks up medical info. Probably better that way. She wants info..... but not too much at te wrong time.

    The bad news keeps coming in
    after meeting with the oncologist we found out that it is stage 4 brain cancer we are going Wednesday for the biospy of the lung, they were unable to tellus what type of cancer until the biposy comes back, the immediately started radiation today and during radiation found a lyphnoid swelled around her neck area so did a biospy on that today. I;m lost she is going down hill very very fast and I do not know what to do
  • rawvegansurvivor
    rawvegansurvivor Member Posts: 1
    #13
    Lost
    Cancer loves sugar and hates oxygen. Therefore, make sure you look into websites that have the promise of helping your mom's friend, not overwhelming you with dire information but relying on science to say, hey, this is why cancer starts, why it lives, and what you CAN do about it! Check out the International Wellness Directory and the Wellness Directory of Minnesota for really informative, empowering information on things she can do to take control of her health and reverse her conditiom. Know that health and healing is real and possible, but you have to be brave and go for it.

    Cancer cannot survive if the cells are oxygenated. Cancer cells cannot survive in an alkaline environment. Changing one's diet to include only or mostly foods that are full of oxygen and are alkaline (i.e. uncooked, organic vegetables, seeds, nuts and some fruits that are low in sugar) will ensure that tumors shrink and cancer cells die. It can be done. This is based on Dr. Warberg's Nobel Prize in Physiology when he discovered this in the 1930s. As long as you can buy or grow healthy greens and other foods, you can recover.

    Everyone is lost because the medical system does not support us. They confuse, scare, and overwhelm us, even unintentionally, but they do. My dad is totally worn out and lost in the Dana Faber monstrosity, going from one appointment to the other, one end of Boston to another for this test, that test, this doctor, that doctor, only to get weaker and sicker and need surgery. He's 81. I find it cruel and inhumane.

    Finally he is drinking wheatgrass juice, taking Raw Meal drinks (lots of superfoods in it), and having organic green juice that I make from organic parsley, cilantro, swiss chard, celery, cucumber and lemon. He feels so much better because these foods are giving him OXYGEN and keeping him more ALKALINE. My mom is getting on board, making him salads with lots of sprouts, avocados, and things like garlic and organic cold pressed apple cider vinegar. Really, it's good stuff and he feels better.

    God bless, Tiffany. Hang in there. Do what you can but don't feel overwhelmed, take a deep breath. Most people don't want to know about nutrition and won't believe you. They'd rather go to the doctor for unhealthy xrays and procedures that won't cure anything. But the body is strong and health can be obtained if we stop poisoning ourselves and stop feeding the cancer.

    I'll pray for you, Tiffany, for strength, staying calm, and even peaceful. Things always work out. It may be that you will get stronger even if your other mom doesn't. She will appreciate you being there for her. It may be that you will bond through this even more as you work together to help her make the juices and get the advice she needs. But if she doesn't want to hear it, introduce one or two things and see how she feels.
  • stayingcalm
    stayingcalm Member Posts: 650 Member
    #14
    rawvegansurvivor said:

    Lost
    Cancer loves sugar and hates oxygen. Therefore, make sure you look into websites that have the promise of helping your mom's friend, not overwhelming you with dire information but relying on science to say, hey, this is why cancer starts, why it lives, and what you CAN do about it! Check out the International Wellness Directory and the Wellness Directory of Minnesota for really informative, empowering information on things she can do to take control of her health and reverse her conditiom. Know that health and healing is real and possible, but you have to be brave and go for it.

    Cancer cannot survive if the cells are oxygenated. Cancer cells cannot survive in an alkaline environment. Changing one's diet to include only or mostly foods that are full of oxygen and are alkaline (i.e. uncooked, organic vegetables, seeds, nuts and some fruits that are low in sugar) will ensure that tumors shrink and cancer cells die. It can be done. This is based on Dr. Warberg's Nobel Prize in Physiology when he discovered this in the 1930s. As long as you can buy or grow healthy greens and other foods, you can recover.

    Everyone is lost because the medical system does not support us. They confuse, scare, and overwhelm us, even unintentionally, but they do. My dad is totally worn out and lost in the Dana Faber monstrosity, going from one appointment to the other, one end of Boston to another for this test, that test, this doctor, that doctor, only to get weaker and sicker and need surgery. He's 81. I find it cruel and inhumane.

    Finally he is drinking wheatgrass juice, taking Raw Meal drinks (lots of superfoods in it), and having organic green juice that I make from organic parsley, cilantro, swiss chard, celery, cucumber and lemon. He feels so much better because these foods are giving him OXYGEN and keeping him more ALKALINE. My mom is getting on board, making him salads with lots of sprouts, avocados, and things like garlic and organic cold pressed apple cider vinegar. Really, it's good stuff and he feels better.

    God bless, Tiffany. Hang in there. Do what you can but don't feel overwhelmed, take a deep breath. Most people don't want to know about nutrition and won't believe you. They'd rather go to the doctor for unhealthy xrays and procedures that won't cure anything. But the body is strong and health can be obtained if we stop poisoning ourselves and stop feeding the cancer.

    I'll pray for you, Tiffany, for strength, staying calm, and even peaceful. Things always work out. It may be that you will get stronger even if your other mom doesn't. She will appreciate you being there for her. It may be that you will bond through this even more as you work together to help her make the juices and get the advice she needs. But if she doesn't want to hear it, introduce one or two things and see how she feels.

    oxygen and alkalinity
    Well, I wish your dad only the best of luck, rawvegansurvivor :)
  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    #15
    stayingcalm said:

    oxygen and alkalinity
    Well, I wish your dad only the best of luck, rawvegansurvivor :)

    I should just keep my mouth shut....
    I know I should just keep my mouth shut but today I can't. I am not slamming anyone for their beliefs but I find it odd that there have been so many posts lately claiming supplements and certain foods/diets practically cure cancer. Has anyone else noticed that these posts are all made by a new member who joined the day they posted and have not posted again? Maybe I'm too suspicious but I don't want anyone getting info that could potentially harm the cancer patient or intefere with their treatment.

    There, I've run my mouth and got that off my chest and now I feel better!! This was just my opinion and this is the end of the subject for me.

    Take care all.
  • AlanRinHBG
    AlanRinHBG Member Posts: 121
    #16
    Glenna M said:

    I should just keep my mouth shut....
    I know I should just keep my mouth shut but today I can't. I am not slamming anyone for their beliefs but I find it odd that there have been so many posts lately claiming supplements and certain foods/diets practically cure cancer. Has anyone else noticed that these posts are all made by a new member who joined the day they posted and have not posted again? Maybe I'm too suspicious but I don't want anyone getting info that could potentially harm the cancer patient or intefere with their treatment.

    There, I've run my mouth and got that off my chest and now I feel better!! This was just my opinion and this is the end of the subject for me.

    Take care all.

    supplements
    There certainly are supplements that are very helpful in fighting cancer. I'm not the expert, but I do follow an experts' advice. Green tea extract, vitamin D, Omega 3 and a host of others are proven to aid in slowing recurrence rates. There should be a naturopath on your Oncology team to help figure out what combination is right for you. Glenna, never keep your mouth shut.,without the "experts", we'd have nothing to get off our chests.

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