ArtsieSteph's dad's cancer superthread

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
P

pottersclay

Guest
#81
#81
Hey Steph have dad look for chaga powder it's a growth that grows on white birch trees.
You can make a tea from it and drink twice a day.
You can purchase it on Amazon but get the stuff from Siberia, Russia, it's most potent.
I drink it and my oncology doc says she heard of it. She cannot endorse it but let's just say she like hearing I was using.
Now with out a lot of detail found out about this by a born again believer who offered me some at Wal-Mart of all places. How we ment and why was by the Lord. He drinks it to stay healthy I told him of my cancer experience he said now I know why I needed to talk to you.
What a experience.....anyway that's what I drink as getting back to a more healthier me but it is known to eat cancer cells and tumors fast.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#82
#82
pottersclay said:
Hey Steph have dad look for chaga powder it's a growth that grows on white birch trees.
You can make a tea from it and drink twice a day.
You can purchase it on Amazon but get the stuff from Siberia, Russia, it's most potent.
I drink it and my oncology doc says she heard of it. She cannot endorse it but let's just say she like hearing I was using.
Now with out a lot of detail found out about this by a born again believer who offered me some at Wal-Mart of all places. How we ment and why was by the Lord. He drinks it to stay healthy I told him of my cancer experience he said now I know why I needed to talk to you.
What a experience.....anyway that's what I drink as getting back to a more healthier me but it is known to eat cancer cells and tumors fast.
Click to expand...
The first question I'd ask if someone told me about that drink is, "Does it taste good?" (I'm figuring Steph's Dad will ask.)
 
P

pottersclay

Guest
#83
#83
Depleted said:
The first question I'd ask if someone told me about that drink is, "Does it taste good?" (I'm figuring Steph's Dad will ask.)
Click to expand...
Good question lynn. It's not bad at all almost like a weak coffee. In fact that's how I make mine is put a few scoops of the powder in the coffee filter and run it like to make coffee in my coffee maker. The difference is to let set for 30 min or so before drinking.
Put a little honey or lemon or both for taste. It's never been adverse on my stomach or digestion system. It's recommended to drink 2 cups a day for 3weeks skip a week start again. It's gets a little bitter when it cools so better to drink while warm.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
D

DrawMeClose

Guest
#84
#84
Nothing impossible with God. Will be praying for your Dad, ArtsieSteph. God bless you & your family.
 
ArtsieSteph

ArtsieSteph

Senior Member
#85
Apr 1, 2014
6,194
1,319
113
33
Arizona
#85
Hey guys,

could you guys pray for dad? He's feeling super overwhelmed with trying to feel better, but then he's trying to fix up our boat as well as look for a new house. I don't know how to tell him to chill, but at the same time if he's not doing something he tends to feel very melancholy. It's like a catch 22 here.
 
ArtsieSteph

ArtsieSteph

Senior Member
#86
Apr 1, 2014
6,194
1,319
113
33
Arizona
#86
And now he's getting the run around from the insurance for his long term disability, so that makes him extra stressed
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#87
#87
ArtsieSteph said:
Hey guys,

could you guys pray for dad? He's feeling super overwhelmed with trying to feel better, but then he's trying to fix up our boat as well as look for a new house. I don't know how to tell him to chill, but at the same time if he's not doing something he tends to feel very melancholy. It's like a catch 22 here.
Click to expand...
Too bad he's not like me. The only thing hubby has to do to calm me down is make me look at something else. I call it "the shiny thing" Once I'm paying attention to the shiny thing, I forget I was trying to do everything else.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#88
#88
ArtsieSteph said:
And now he's getting the run around from the insurance for his long term disability, so that makes him extra stressed
Click to expand...
Do any of you know a lawyer? I mean as a friend. Usually a phone call from a lawyer, (and they don't need to know what kind of law the lawyer practices), helps make insurance companies remember they are supposed to do what they are contracted to do, and then they get quiet again and do their job.
 
M

Miri

Guest
#89
#89
ArtsieSteph said:
And now he's getting the run around from the insurance for his long term disability, so that makes him extra stressed
Click to expand...

I get the running around like a headless chicken thingy.
Its like pack in as much as you can while you still have the strength
and energy to do it. :)

Maybe some of you can offer to do some of the tasks, see what he says.
If he would rather do things himself, then let him, but give him a gentle reminder
to put his feet up every now and then.
 
P

pottersclay

Guest
#90
#90
Usefulness that's the name of the game usefulness. Your dad's stress level is coming out in being physically active. Just a guess but he's trying to separate himself from being with a considered fatal disease. Look I'm normal and productive. Inside he feels if he keeps his mind occupied the thoughts will go away. I threw my blue bracelets out they give you for surviving the cancer I had. Deep down it was a denial thing, not me never happened etc. Was constantly doing something or looking for something to do to escape reality. I had cancer, could come back, it can kill me.
All normal sis let him come to his terms on the reality. You might want to talk with his oncology doctor they will explain the phases you go through. Just be aware of depression that might come when he finds out something's he can't do or can't do as well anymore.
Unfortunately cancer does take its toll due to treatment or what not. I still raise him up and am still dancing the dance.
Nice to here from you steph.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
ArtsieSteph

ArtsieSteph

Senior Member
#91
Apr 1, 2014
6,194
1,319
113
33
Arizona
#91
So I hadn't posted much at all in the last few months because it was kind of the same thing every week in and out. Until last week.

According to CTCA you need to not only tell them how you feel every week, you are also expected to work while being treated. That's the standard. The unwritten standard.

Dad tried to get long term disability but because he was doing so "well" on the chemo the doctor suggested he work. Mentally, emotionally, and physically he cannot. And they may even lessen his chemo dose which may have the cancer grow back. Dad worked with written contracts and sent emails to the insurance, doctor, and advocates on every point he disagreed.

Today they basically said "if you don't like this standard of care then go somewhere else."

Dad seems to treat it as a death sentence and I just don't know what to do.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#92
#92
ArtsieSteph said:
So I hadn't posted much at all in the last few months because it was kind of the same thing every week in and out. Until last week.

According to CTCA you need to not only tell them how you feel every week, you are also expected to work while being treated. That's the standard. The unwritten standard.

Dad tried to get long term disability but because he was doing so "well" on the chemo the doctor suggested he work. Mentally, emotionally, and physically he cannot. And they may even lessen his chemo dose which may have the cancer grow back. Dad worked with written contracts and sent emails to the insurance, doctor, and advocates on every point he disagreed.

Today they basically said "if you don't like this standard of care then go somewhere else."

Dad seems to treat it as a death sentence and I just don't know what to do.
Click to expand...
From CTCA site:

[h=2]Coordinated care[/h]Cancer is a complex disease. Aside from the physical and emotional toll, patients may also find themselves juggling the many logistics involved in managing such a complicated journey. Keeping track of doctor appointments and treatment visits, collecting medical records, filling and refilling prescriptions, filing disability and other paperwork—the to-do list can seem endless. CTCA care managers play an important role in helping patients handle those responsibilities.
Click to expand...


Seems to me, if his care manager doesn't want to help him get disability, he needs a new care manager.

On the other hand, since he's been working on getting ready to move, are you sure he can't work? (I don't know what he does for a living, so I don't know. But I am wondering if he just fears he might not be able, or if he has tried to see if he is able. Fear freezes us sometimes.)
 
ArtsieSteph

ArtsieSteph

Senior Member
#93
Apr 1, 2014
6,194
1,319
113
33
Arizona
#93
Sadly we're not even ready to move. He can work physically like 8 days every 2 weeks but mentally and physically he is less acute which is part of his job.
 
M

Miri

Guest
#94
#94
Why do they expect him to work? Is it something to do with the medical
bills? What sort of work do they think he can do?

Just wondered as you are not expected to work while on cancer
treatment in the Uk. I do however know of people who have continued work
when they could as it made them feel normal and was a sort of therapy
for them.
 
M

Miri

Guest
#95
#95
ArtsieSteph said:
Sadly we're not even ready to move. He can work physically like 8 days every 2 weeks but mentally and physically he is less acute which is part of his job.
Click to expand...
Maybe his place of work will understand and let him go at his pace if he
speaks to them.
 
ArtsieSteph

ArtsieSteph

Senior Member
#96
Apr 1, 2014
6,194
1,319
113
33
Arizona
#96
Basically it's set up so that he had benefits so that basically his job. They can't fire him for attendance until January. He was shown to physically be able to perform small tasks that you would do say in a part time retail job. But they never did much as far as concentration, calculation, more of the thought stuff.

He works basically in the legal area of a power company as a contract drafted and analyst. He wouldn't be able to do his job according to him, but he may have no voice.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#97
#97
ArtsieSteph said:
Basically it's set up so that he had benefits so that basically his job. They can't fire him for attendance until January. He was shown to physically be able to perform small tasks that you would do say in a part time retail job. But they never did much as far as concentration, calculation, more of the thought stuff.

He works basically in the legal area of a power company as a contract drafted and analyst. He wouldn't be able to do his job according to him, but he may have no voice.
Click to expand...
Can he do his job at home? (Contracts and analyst can be done networking from home nowadays. I'm thinking confidentiality may make that something the company doesn't want to consider though.) If he can, then that's that much less struggle to get the energy to go to work, and it also solves the problem with when his energy comes along. When I telecommuted, (which wasn't that long a time), I didn't have to work the same hours. I just had to get the hours in. Have an appointment in the morning? Not a problem. I could catch up at night. I could also work on Saturdays and Sundays, if I was sick on Monday. (Half days, since weekends are supposed to be family time.)

Eight days in two weeks? What could happen if he could also include those four days off during that two weeks? And would his boss accept part-time for a bit? If I had a good employee and he could only work 30 hours, I'd rather have him then find a mediocre employee who works fulltime. Also, at home, there is less interruption so I could get the work done a bit faster.
 
ArtsieSteph

ArtsieSteph

Senior Member
#98
Apr 1, 2014
6,194
1,319
113
33
Arizona
#98
Ok I'm gonna try and answer as many questions as possible. No, dad can't work from home. Unfortunately he has very secure documents and data, so he needs a computer that is super duper protected. Ours is just a basic desktop. It's like government city stuff.

He has just gone back to work today, and hopefully right now is resting. I know he's probably had a crazy day already. I have to go and pick him up by like 4, or rather I need to leave at 4 so I can get him. He didn't sleep last night, so I'm gonna try and make his bed early so he can just jump right into bed.

Anyhow. So so far, the insurance denied his longterm disability. He works now, and has a chemo treatment on Wednesday. That's probably gonna be his new schedule: doctors and chemo on Wednesday, work Thursday and Friday, get his pump off Saturday, no work Sunday, and then work Monday-Friday the following week.

Please pray for him, they're gonna have to make the chemo doses TINY to facilitate this.
 
P

pottersclay

Guest
#99
#99
Steph, have dad go to work and do what he can. Tell him not to stress, do what he can do, in others words let his employer say ya or nay.
When he needs to rest.....rest. when he zones hey let them determine if it's worth it.
You have every right to be concerned but we put Jesus in charge sis and he will over see all on this journey. Trust him.
 
P

pottersclay

Guest
#100
#100
I haven't worked in about 14 months but I have work that the lords blessed me with. My boss is a born again believer and keeps me busy. Best job I have is right now. Let go let God.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.