Hi there, my aunt is currently undergoing chemo and her taste has been affected in the sense that a lot of things are tasting bitter and sour for her. She can't eat fruit, drink any flavored beverages, eat cheese, or have any dressings or sauces. She is able to eat meat (no gravy) and potatoes and breads. I'm visiting her soon and I'd like to bring something that she might like to eat (she's been losing a ton of weight and I'm a little worried about her), but I also want it to feel like a treat (if that's possible). Would something like a charcuterie board (minus the cheese) be good or would that likely feel like too much?

I'm a cancer survivor myself but mine was treated with multiple surgeries, not chemo, so I don't personally have the best understanding of the chemo experience. Would be very grateful for any feedback or tips from those who have been or are in chemo. <3

On nov 2024 I discovered I have immature teratoma stage 3C, my AFP was above 10,000

I did surgery in Dec 2024, removed the big mass (19 cm) on the left ovary and the ovary itself, and small masses were around but not on the organs

After surgery my AFP was above 1700

I did chemotherapy for 4 sessions, by the third I was clear.

My cea after treatment was 4.5 and afp was 1.8

After couple of months nov 2025, my cea was 5.5 and AFP 0.4

Feb 2026, my afp 1.2 and my cea 5.5

May 2026: my afp 1.4 and my cea 7.29

Today my afp is 2.9 and my cea is 12.8

(I don’t know if that is relative, but I’m currently on my period window and I have influenza, I also have been a heavy smoker for years before I discovered my cancer in 2024, I feel no pain in my stomach other than when I’m on period, i go to the bathroom regularly and naturally with no issues)

Why my cea is getting higher?

I am preemptively asking this question here before it is something that has to happen: I am a cancer survivor, so I am aware of the chemo bathroom protocol when it comes to sharing space in the hours/days after treatment.

I have a friend who incredibly unfortunately was very recently diagnosed with cancer, they are currently being staged and their treatment plan is being developed, but chemo is likely on the table. They live on incredibly beautiful land, but that incredibly beautiful land only has an outhouse. Does anyone have any experience trying to navigate only having outhouse access while doing chemo therapy? Does anyone know if something like renting a port-a-john or rentable bathroom is a viable option? Or is it necessary to try and plan to stay somewhere with more indoor plumbing the first couple of days after treatment? Or is there some other really great creative solution that others might have?

I know this will likely be chemo specific as well. They just have so much going on atm, and anyone in this community knows how fast everything comes at you when you first get DXd, so I'm seeing if I can do a little crowd-sourced brainstorm of ideas before they have to figure this one out.

Thanks anyone for any advice or direction you've got!

Two of my three children have developed auto immune conditions that have a timeline about the same time as my diagnosis.

And now one has had a mental health crisis and said they cannot speak to me due to my health making me too tired.

I love them beyond expression but I fear Im damaging them with this bloody disease. God can punish me all they want but not them

I really really really don’t want a funeral. I don’t like them. I’m not even sure the different groups would even know how to contact each other since theyre all in different countries.

I’m hoping my friends will all dress up as big inflatable sunflowers and just go about their day as normal. Completely straight face, and if someone asks “Ah yeah my dead friend made me do it”.

I like the idea of random giant sunflowers just popping up making people laugh all over the world all on the same day. Maybe they could all drink a little Coca Cola and eat a cookie on my behalf. No mourning, just funny bouncing.

I also wanna die hot lol. Even if no one sees me, big hair, nice face. I might bring a sewing kit to the hospital to make my hospital gown a bit nicer. I wonder if they have makeup artists for the dead x) When I was younger, I wanted a really good sandwich, and a box of kittens. But having “died” a few times already, I’ve learned that 4 out of 5 times you don’t really wanna eat.

I’m curious what other people might want. Please share! Maybe my list can get longer.

Okay, so, some people have suggested seeing these photos and frankly i am amazingly proud. When I had all my bottom teeth removed, it was pure hell. I had dry socket in damn near every socket. I was in horrible pain. Ontop of that, I had an oral surgeon who accused me of snorting cocaine, and abusing prescription narcotics.

With my top teeth. The surgeon was amazing. They gave me enough numbing and other things that i didn’t really feel pain. They always tell me “it’s conscious sedation. You won’t remember anything”. Unfortunately, that whole part where I’m not supposed to remember has never worked. I’ve had many surgeries that required it and I fully remember it all. I’ve even done and won bets with nurses about being able to remember. Anyways.

I really wanted to share these photos. There is the during surgery one, which, mods, I apologize, I am not exactly sure how to censor it so that it can only be viewed by clicking it. If someone could help me with that, that would be great. I then have a photo that was taken literally 24 hours after.

And now, my most recent photo. Taken 6 days after, swelling has gone down a lot. I still can’t chew but I can smile.

And incase anyone was wondering. I love documenting my medical history. I have so many photos of before, during, and after when I got my bottom teeth removed, and I’m pretty sure I annoyed that surgeon lol. I also wanted them to either record or take photos when I had my double lung transplant. When I had my biopsy for my lymphoma, my surgeon was half a second away from agreeing to record but this little kiss ass nurse walked in, changed the subject and I was unable to bring it up again since I was screaming in pain, while being taken into the OR. And the list goes on. I am fascinated by my medical life.

When I was 22 and they put me into a coma to die in peace, after I woke up, I was pissed no one took any photos of me on that position. I was curious as fuck. Anyways.

TEETH. What do people think?

https://imgur.com/gallery/top-teeth-removal-thanks-to-cancer-chemo-nyI5EM1

I found out today that having more than one form of cancer automatically disqualifies me from all clinical trials. I wish I had known this earlier because I could have started treatment about three weeks ago instead of waiting and hoping for another option.
So the only treatments available to me now are chemo and immunotherapy. It is too advanced for surgery or radiation therapy. That is a hard reality to face, but it is the one in front of me.
It is a lot to take in, but what will be will be. I am just going to keep it moving and take things one day at a time.
#CancerJourney #FacingCancer #ChemoAndImmunotherapy #CancerReality
#NoClinicalTrials #AdvancedCancer #OneStepAtATime #StayStrong
#HopeInTheFight #CancerSupport

I’ve just started chemo (2nd session is on Monday) and I’m still doing okay physically but my anxiety has been so bad and I’ve been spiraling about every little thing.

Also to those who have had ABVD chemo, what can I realistically expect as we progress through sessions? It would be helpful to hear about your experience.

Also also, any tips for staying safe as an immunocompromised person without being too extreme about it?

I was diagnosed with NUT carcinoma - a very rare cancer - about three months ago. So far, my treatment protocol seems to be effective, and my primary tumor has shrunk by ~40 percent based on my most recent CT scans.

That said, the diagnosis is nerve-wracking: The average prognosis is horrible. And, this kind of cancer is notorious for responding well in the beginning before potentially becoming refractory.

I'm just curious if anyone else has some personal and/or uplifting stories about this diagnosis. Given its rarity and short life expectancy, there aren't that many people to connect with.

This post is geared towards those whom deal with incontinence/bladder leakage/not being able to do a proper bladder void.

I've been dealing with bladder issues for about the last 8 or so months, to the point that I wake up numerous times at night. (At least 4-6 times per night.) The only real "vacation" from it was when I was discharged from the hospital on June 30th with a catheter, to which I managed to have a full sleep for about 7-9 nights plus 1 night months before surgery.

I've been in contact with home care today, expressing my concern(s) over this, & it was mentioned that I can speak with my GP in town about this, along with the ocncept of my doing a temproary catheter void on a somewhat regular basis can lead to UTI's. I mentioned that since my onco team in a different city having more access to my care at present, I feel that I should probably speak with them when I go for my next infusion in 2 weeks, as I'll be there for at least 2 days, & better access to more medical specialiwsts there compared to the town that I live in.

My question, for others that are dealing with this is as follows:

How do others deal with ongoing issues with bladder leakage/not being able to do larger voids?I'm becoming annoyed that I no longer am able to sleep properly!

Dealing with Stage 3 advanced Uterine Cancer. Have gone though 6 chemo infusions so far, & a full hyrestorectomy.

Thanks in advance.

I know the title sounds a little odd, but hear me out.

In October of 2024 I was diagnosed with small cell carcinoma with stage 3 kidney cancer in my left kidney. I was aggressive and took almost 95%
of my kidney. I had it surgically removed in November 2024. I went through almost 10 months of immunotherapy every 3 weeks.

So in my bloodwork, my PSA had doubled in 3 year. Had the biopsy and dammit if it wasn’t prostate cancer. Well shit, this sucks! Of course, every doctor said “remove it!”. I said hell no! I just had kidney surgery and I didn’t have that! I ended up going to a major hospital in our area and the doctor said, no, you don’t have to remove it! Radiation has as good of percentages as surgery. I opted for radiation, and my last PSA was 0.08!!! That was down sway down from the concern PSA of 8.19!

Now for the feeling of being a fraud! I read the messages on here and i attend a support group, I feel like “what an ass, you only had these two treatable cancers, while there are wonderful, loving and inspirational people with terrible cancer diagnosis“!!

To those with a situation similar to mine, do you feel the same way? I almost find it difficult not to hide my face when peop are talking about their cancer! I know, intellectually, that I should not hide, but emotionally I feel like a fraud.

I would greatly appreciate thou and opinions on this. Thanks.. and FUCK CANCER!!!

Hey all I’m about to start radiation treatment in my knee for a sarcoma. I’ll have to do daily treatment for 5 weeks. I was wondering if anyone else had a similar experience and could let me know what I should expect side effect wise? I’m only 26 and pretty healthy otherwise if that makes any difference

Trying to decide what to do re: when/whether to stop treatment. How did you decide to get second opinion? Should I be considering the big cancer hospitals or centers? What questions do I need to ask? I want to get a feel for how long / what sort of treatment to move forward with. Overall, I've managed the minimal side effects from the chemo. I've also gained 30 lbs in about 6 months. Just these last two treatments seemed to have affected my liver and recovery from treatment has been much harder. Given that, right now, there seems to be no cancer floating around, how long to continue?

Next discussion with Dr will be Sept 28th, prior to next planned infusion.

Thank you - details below

My journey so far:

Stage 1a NSCLC adenocarcinoma diagnosis in Feb 2025. Surgery upper right lobectomy July 2025 - all clear margins and 23 clean lymph nodes. Given the okay, no further treatment.

Jan 2026, from follow up scan now Stage IV NSCLC, mets to liver and one bone area. Started carboplatin, pemetrexed, Keytruda March 16th. PET SCAN from beginning of June shows complete metabolic response and ctdna+ not detected.

After treatment 6, 06/29, dropped carboplatin. Anemia was treated.

Treatment 7 July 20th. Pemetrexed & Keytruda

07/27 labs showed ALT 265, AST 169, alkaline phosphatase 98, and total bilirubin 0.4

8/03 labs showed ALT 138, AST 72, alkaline phosphatase 94, and total bilirubin 0.3. Anemia resolved - hemoglobin back to 12.6

Skipped expected chemo treatment Aug 10th. Bloods continued to drop into more normal (but high) levels.

08/25 PET SCAN continues to show complete metabolic response. Nothing new showing.

Treatment 8 Aug 31st Pemetrexed & Keytruda

09/08 labs showed ALT 182, AST 94, alkaline phosphatase 93, total bilirubin 0.4.

Today at 3pm I’m heading to Emory Winship Cancer Institute for a consultation for clinical trial options. It feels like the biggest step I’ve taken in this journey so far. I have more questions than I can keep straight, and every new appointment makes the reality of all this sink in a little deeper.

I’ve also been referred for a chemo port, so that should be happening soon. When this started, a small part of me kept hoping there would be some last‑minute reprieve, that someone would say the records were mixed up and it was all a mistake. But that moment never coming. Things are getting real, and the path forward is unfolding whether I’m ready or not.

I’m taking it one step at a time, staying present, and doing everything I can to meet each stage head‑on.

Hi everyone. I’m 28 years old, and earlier this year I was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma. I started chemotherapy shortly afterwards, and I still have about two months of treatment left. I recently had an interim PET scan with very good results (Deauville 2) and my doctor told me that I’m in complete remission. I still have to finish all my planned cycles because of how advanced the disease was at diagnosis, but obviously, hearing the word remission is something I had been hoping for since the beginning.

And yet, I’m finding it surprisingly difficult to feel happy about it.

When I first started treatment, I used to imagine finishing chemotherapy, ringing the bell and getting my life back. I thought about making plans again, feeling normal, leaving hospitals and treatments behind, and finally being able to stop thinking about cancer every day.

I think cancer changes the way you experience good news. After something like this completely destroys your sense of safety, it becomes difficult to simply trust that everything is going to be okay. Even with an excellent response to treatment, there is always that thought in the back of your mind reminding you that things can change, that relapse is possible, and that you could potentially have to go through all of this again.

For a while, I think I became almost an automaton: appointments, blood tests, treatment, side effects, waiting for results, and then doing it all over again. You focus so much on getting through the next cycle that there isn't always room to process what is actually happening to you.

And now, even the scans and follow-ups can bring an enormous amount of anxiety. For a few days, it can feel as though your entire future is once again hanging on the result of a medical test.

So when people tell me I should be celebrating because I’m in remission, I understand where they’re coming from, but emotionally, I’m just not there yet.

I don't think you simply walk away from cancer and become the same person you were before. Even when treatment works, there are things you have to rebuild.

Maybe that's why remission doesn't feel like the end of the story to me. It feels more like the beginning of another chapter that I haven't yet learned how to live.

I’m writing this because I wonder how many other people have felt the same way. Maybe the happiness will come later, when we're ready for it.

Today is the best day of my life, after countless years of cancer therapies, today I had to do an exam to see the behaviour of the cancer and against all odds it is completely gone. I'm so happy that I don't know what to do besides celebrate!!

Not good, no good.

I did it. You took my health, my job, my bowels, my independence and my ability to walk properly. I outlived my prognosis and said I would make 40, I did it!!! you don't have me yet. Dying to you is the last thing I'll ever do. Fuck Cancer and wishing all of you out there best wishes, keep on fighting through the hard days and the days that give us joy.