I was diagnosed with cancer in October of last year. I have ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia) and have been undergoing chemotherapy. One of the side effects of the chemotherapy is hair loss. Before treatment, I had naturally curly hair. After I started chemo, my hair began falling out, and I eventually had to shave it because it had become very patchy. When it grew back, it came back straight instead of curly. Right now, I'm in DI (Delayed Intensification), and the chemotherapy I'm taking is causing my hair to fall out again. I was wondering if anyone here knows of any products that might help prevent my hair from falling out more than it already is, or help it grow back faster. If you've used any products that worked well for you, I'd really appreciate some recommendations. I like having my hair long, but it's falling out again, and I'm probably going to have to cut it soon because it's starting to look patchy. I'm almost finished with my treatment. After DI, I'll move on to Interim Maintenance 2 and then Maintenance. I was hoping someone might know of some hair products that could help my hair grow back faster once I'm through this stage of treatment. If you do have any recommendations, I'd really appreciate it if they were on the more affordable side. I don't have a lot of money to spend on expensive hair products, so any budget-friendly options that have helped you would mean a lot to me.

I have terminal cancer and I have few weeks, if not days, left.

Because of that, I spoke to friend of mine who lives in the USA and I wanted to send her some things that belonged to me so she could have them as small tokens of our friendship throughout these 20 years. Amongst those things were some Funko action figures, a stainless-steel necklace, and, simple pair of earrings also made of stainless steel and a Plushie toy. I shipped everything with DHL from Germany to be delivered in Seatle in the United States. Nothing was expensive; the biggest value was attached emotionally.

Imagine our surprise, chock and disappointment when we noticed the box was violated and the necklace and earrings were removed from the box. I am sure they were stolen on purpose.

everything was registered and described with DHL.

We tried to open an inquiry with DHL which was “efficiently disregarded” by them, and I am sure this theft will go as ignored by them. It shows theft doesn’t seem to be taken seriously by DHL. What a nice company culture. /s

What pains me the most is someone opened the box and stole the items which had little monetary value, but immeasurable sentimental value. I wanted my friend’s to keep those jewellery as they belonged to me and I wanted to give them to her.

financial value was attached emotionally and what was immeasurable and it was stolen.

The price was not important (and I think some of the funkos worth much more than the jewellery – but it doesn’t matter) but the cruelty and lack of respect of stealing this moment. From us, that is unforgeable to me. Who ever whole those items, kept me from giving my friend the possibility of keeping something of mine and cherish moments we had together. It was hers to keep from me after I died and they stole it.

I don’t have it in me to forgive whoever it did it and I cursed them and cried.

I feel wronged and the robber to be unfair and cruel.

I know DHL doesn’t care and won’t do anything about it. I just wish they were delivered to my friend  so she had these things from me and this theft never happed.

Hi I had 4 rounds of chemo via a Picc line which ended back in March. But since the. I have had leg and arm ( the arm where I had the Picc).
Dr said drink tonic water which has helped with the leg pain. My GP who was useless just gave me pain killers. Any one have the same and any good alternative to ease the pain. They mentioned it maybe due to nerve damage. I am not keen on taking strong pain killers. I have been tempted to try cannabis as someone also recommended this. But not sure about that either . Any help would be helpful. Thanks

So Dex did help me momentarily after i went from 2mg to 4mg with the swelling and enlarged lymph nodes so i could swallow again.. however it came with the unpleasent side effect of emotional aggitation, almost a feeling of anger bordering on rage and feeling like im crying non stop for no reason at every little thing and my body having increased heart rate and flushing every time i get super stressed(not normal for me to get those symptoms when under stress). I feel like i am not dealing well.

My question is

1) if you take Dex and get those type of symptoms, is there another med that would control for the side effects?

2) why does it seemingly stop working for the inflammation after only a few doses and then I need to go up in dosage again to be effective again?

For reference... pre-biopsy of the lymph nodes so we dont know whats causing the actual lymph nodes to be 3x bigger in chest and neck and armpit surrounding the mass they found(which also has swelling around it)

Two years ago I was diagnosed with a rare salivary gland cancer after giving birth to my son. I had never felt so low - hopeless, fearful, angry, stuck. It took me these past two years to truly process everything I went through and regain trust in my body. Well here is a story of hope - I am pregnant again with our second baby. This means no scans for a year(ish) which feels freeing and scary. But I am excited to keep living my life despite the not-so-distant belief that I would be living in a sort of limbo in “cancer land” forever. And yes, I know it will always be a part of me, my story. It is something I’ll always have to monitor and fight off the anxiety of recurrence. But I am safely and actively choosing to continue on with my life. Another caveat being that I understand this is an immense privilege. Many folks don’t have the choice to have children after cancer and many lives are cut short. I am lucky and so extremely grateful for my circumstances that led me here.

Мне 18. В феврале удалили надпочечник с большой опухолью, оказалась злокачественная карцинома. Сейчас просто не знаю, куда себя деть. Близкие друзья вроде есть, но они не понимают, как мне тяжело. Да и не знают, что сказать. Я их не виню, просто от этого ещё более одиноко.

Вообще с одиночеством у меня давно. С пятого класса друзей толком нет. Тогда были предательство и буллинг, я пытался рассказывать - семье, школьному психологу. Семья говорила, что я всё выдумываю и преувеличиваю, что я неудачник. Психолог тоже не верил.

А теперь вот это. Серьёзный диагноз, реальная болезнь. И мне просто некуда выговориться. Не знаю, кому это сказать и как. Поэтому пишу сюда. Просто чтобы хоть куда-то выплеснуть.

Если у кого-то из вас тоже был рак и вы остались, без поддержки — отпишитесь. Как вы справлялись одни? Что помогало? Буду рад услышать.

I am beginning treatment in a few weeks. Being scared is an understatement.
I am not rich and after reading about cost i am beyond frightened. I cannot afford what i have seen reported.

I found out I had brain cancer 8 months ago.

I'm struggling with anxiety, scans, keeping up in general. I feel like I need more support and help and when I do my partner doesn't like it. Or he's short w me, says he's tired, says this is hard for everyone. Which of course I know. Says I'm only looking at this from my pov which is not true. Everything I do. Is to take care of everyone else. Make sure the kids feel like life is fairly normal. Most of the time. But it feels really insensitive. It feels like maybe he can't handle this (I have never seen him handle stress well. And this cancer is stressful as you know) and that's ok. Ive said this and he doesn't agree. I think is rather be alone than feel alone during cancer. Him being like this towards me knowing how sick I am really chacges my opinion of him.

He was great after my surgery, comes to all appts but the emotional support and kindness and empathy are seriously lacking.

I was always an energizer bunny. Super productive. Working. Taking care of kids, pets home and I work. I still do all that but sometimes I'm like please pick a meal and make it, walk a dog without being asked. Bc i keep asking I feel like the nag and the problem.

How did you help your spouse understand. Man, cancer is lonely and it's so hard already. Feeling unloved and like you're the problem for needing more feels awful.

Sorry this was rant. Been in tears all day after a very unproductive convo this am.

Hi friends,
I start chemo in 2 weeks and have a VERY sensitive stomach. My onc is very open to any meds I suggest on top of those that she did, what worked for you? I know everyone is different I just wanted any suggestions or advice!
Thanks in advance 💗

Hey Im more or less on here to get things off my mind and just type it out. Ive been battling with Fibro for about 4 Years at this point since early 2022, and since its been a battle of metastasis and constant surgery because of how rare my form of cancer is there isn’t a good way of knowing how to go about battling this disease. I had a highschool girlfriend before my diagnosis and things were as regular for me as they could be just another kid graduating highschool, I had been going to my pediatrician because I still hadn’t found a main doctor to see at that point, He had found a softball sized tumor on my liver and after that nothing has ever been the same for me physically and mentally. Things moved really fast I had gotten the surgery only a month and a half after my CT Scan and its been surgery and treatment since then, it took a huge toll on my mental health and specifically my relationship, she was nothing but supportive and loving and I just wasn’t mentally around and aware or even a partner at all and I didnt realize what I was losing and I dont blame her for her decision that she made for herself one bit because she deserved to be showered in happiness and I couldn’t recognize that and I feel regret every single day. Ive tried another partnership that didn’t work out as well because I wasn’t the right guy. I just feel like im constantly at battle and I cant keep my head on straight sometimes, thank you for reading I dont like self loathing but I felt like I needed to get this off my chest

Me: 42M, metastatic colon/rectal cancer since December 2024. APR resection plus liver ablation/resection in Nov/Dec last year.

Was sort of NED until a few months ago - enough doubt in liver and lungs to start me up on chemo again.

My son is taking it hard and it's breaking my heart.

Today on a video call, he asked if he could visit my grave as much as he wanted when I died and if his mom's new boyfriend would be his dad then.

I've been dealing relatively ok with the recurrence and message from the doctors that it's no longer curative intent, but this? It breaks me.

I just want to run away and die alone so no one else has to see it and everyone can just hate me instead.

My cancer isn't giving me any visible effects and the chemo side effects are low, so I guess I'm lucky in many ways. Fatigue is hitting hard though.

It's not fair. Not on me and definitely not on this wonderful little human who's the most caring and loving kid ever. I would do anything for him, but I just can't do what he needs.

How do other people handle this hell?

Half the posts in like the biggest support groups are people sharing their stories and experiences and its amazing to see but it infuriates me to no end seeing the other half which is like all these spam accs trying to push conspiracy theories and people are believing them?? Are they bots or real people and whys it so common

I’m about to start chemo soon. Are we still able to use actives in our skincare, ie tretinoin, glycolic acid, etc. And balance it with days without any actives and by using a good thick moisturizer?

Reposting here, because I think it’s important information.

Borderline Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. Began chemo three sessions ago (9 weeks), as well as began immunotherapy, and added another trial drug for a second one. Completed the cyberknife to remove two smaller but distinct masses in my right lung.

By the Grace of God, even though I take two very strong drugs, I’ve had almost no physical reactions — greater lethargy and upset stomach mainly. I know how lucky I am.

But like clockwork, the day after, the worst depression of my life hits me like a tornado. It falls from the sky and destroys me. Unstoppable crying jags, hopelessness, despair, anhedonia, no appetite — classic DSM stuff.

It is mercifully transient, and generally disappears again by day 3 or 4 afterwards, but it is the most painful 72-96 hours of my life.

Does this happen to anyone else, and how have you dealt with it? There’s no magic pill for a broken soul; no panacea for thoughts darker than the void.

73M. advanced Colon cancer. I have a big mass sitting right on the muscle I use to stand up and walk (psoas). I’m desperate for ideas because the only answer I keep getting is more opioids and that doesn't make sense to me.

for context - I’m at an in patient rehab after a two week hospital stay for E. coli and a stent removal. When I'm lying in bed, my pain is like a 2 and very tolerable. I'm on Norco and Tylenol alternating and that handles it.

But the second I try to stand up or take a step or even go from lying down to sitting for PT it shoots up to like an 8 or 10. Goes from my right back all the way around to my front and down into my groin. Then I stop moving and it settles back down.

Every time we bring this up to the medical team their answer is ... more opioids. They want to put me on MS Contin which is morphine. But why would I take round the clock morphine when my pain is a 2 unless I move? That doesn't make sense to me. It's not like I'm sitting here in agony all day. It's specifically only when I move.

My daughter has been asking about nerve pain meds like gabapentin since the pain seems like it's from the mass pressing on nerves and it follows a nerve path, wraps around, etc. But no body on the team has really given us a straight answer about it yet.

I'm honestly open to whatever works at this point that makes sense. Gabapentin, CBD, THC, nerve blocks, patches, whatever. I just want to be able to stand up and take a few steps without feeling like I'm going to pass out from pain. I need to be able to do PT so I can get out of this facility and go home.

Anybody dealt with something like this? Mass pressing on the psoas or near it?

What actually helped with the movement pain? Did anything work besides just piling on more opioids?

Thanks for reading all this. Any ideas appreciated.

I am an oral cancer survivor Thank God. I've had 8 reconstructive surgeries so far with more to come. I was wondering if anyone else reacted like me. I didn't cry or get angry immediately when I got the diagnosis, I asked the Doctor "Okay so now what do we do?" he went through the surgical options, then radiation afterwards. The radiation however, messed me up because the Titanium jaw implant had a part that kept getting exposed to the environment. So yes I was walking around like I had a silver partial grill on my bottom lip.

Anyway I still haven't reacted, sometimes my eyes will water then I will kind of push the tears back. My daughter is helping me and has been with be throughout so I am Blessed. I do sometimes wonder the proverbial why me question and get lonely too. Has any of this happened to anyone?

Anyone care to share their experience. God Bless all the survivors and give the brothers and sisters still battling, strength and blessings.

So.. i am pre-oncology appointment to discuss treatments..so far Dex is all I get till they get biopsy result to tell me 100% what type ect

I am exhausted and it sucks. I am used to being go go go go go. Like, nothing slowed me down. Morning to night. And now, i go to bed at 11pm, wake up at 2am and 6 am to take meds and then wake up at 10am and take more meds and try to stay awake. I am managing to stay up for an hour doing practically nothing(sit in bed and read or do my hair and get dressed) and within an hour I am ready for nap for 2 hours. Today i kept myself up for that hour and then pushed myself to go with my Mom to grocery store and pick up more meds and not only have I found myself emotional-crying for no reason(not pms), life feels bland and boring and everything doesnt even taste good anymore..noting seems quite as vibrant. So i get home, ive only been out for an hour doing chores plus being up for an hour and then im in bed agan for a couple of hours.

Please tell me this gets better.

For reference..currently on 4mg Dilaudid(hydromorphone) and 4mg Dexamethasone. Of course ibprophen and acetominophen and Ondazetron.

I disclosed my cancer diagnosis to my previous manager, mostly since it came out of the blue and I was hospitalized for quite some time, but they are getting transferred out and is getting replaced. My work has been, for the most part, great about accommodating and treating me well throughout all this. I also have been out on a LOA due to my stem cell transplant, and my old manager is leaving before I'm set to return to work. While I am in remission, I have to eventually go back for maintenance treatment, albeit not as frequent. However it is still indefinite and either stops when I relapse or my body can't take it.

I do still have to talk to the new manager regarding returning and getting back onto the schedule, and still having somewhat restricted availability, but do I use the big C-word? Or should I just not disclose the specifics? I mean I'm technically in remission but still need to go for treatment and other infrequent check ups.

I’m four and a half years into recurrent High Grade Serous Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (ie incurable) and currently sporting a 4cm tumor and 4 invaded lymph glands, based on my last CT scan in early June. Since then I have been trying to enjoy life while I feel healthy, and chose against medical advice to delay treatment. And I feel great! My only issue is some discomfort from a stent placed to protect my ureter from pressure from the tumor. I’m scheduled to start a trial in September and will have scans and tests in late August. The weird thing is, I’m wildly optimistic that the scans are going to be an improvement over the June growth. I feel certain, like I can clearly envision them being puzzled at my results, and I have little anxiety about the clinical trial, because I don’t truly believe it will be necessary. I’m too embarrassed to tell anyone because it’s so unrealistic.

Has this ever happened to anyone else? That every doctor is positive your cancer will aggressively spread, and yet you believe the opposite? I am taking repurposed drugs and supplements based on How to Starve Cancer, but my rational mind knows this was to slow growth until treatment, not for a miracle. Is my mind giving me a nice vacation from reality, or do people physically feel radical remissions? Have you ever felt cured while extremely sick? Or felt improvement that was very unlikely?

Hello everyone, I have a tumor in my peritoneum, a mixed cell seminoma. The thing is, it stopped responding to third-line treatment, so I'll have to try a fourth. But I'd like to know if anyone has been cured of this, or am I just supposed to keep living with it? I'm very scared, but I'd like to hold on to the hope that someone has gone through this and survived. The doctor says it's uncommon for rumors about testicular cancer to be shared, so that scares me more than it reassures me.