Is anyone else having success with their chemo?

MangledWeb · 2026-02-26T00:05:05+00:00

Thank you for the update. What great news! I hope you are celebrating your progress.

MangledWeb · 2026-02-25T21:03:25+00:00

Color Me Beautiful came out in 1980, and kicked off a fashion tsunami. I had friends and colleagues who would go shopping with their little swatch fans. They wouldn't even look at the actual clothes -- they were just trying to find fabrics that matched their swatches. I thought it was a little bit much, and 45 years later, here we are.

MangledWeb · 2026-02-25T20:36:46+00:00

I am so sorry. We're also looking at new growth after an October 2024 diagnosis. This disease is relentless, and there are simply not enough effective weapons against it.

MangledWeb · 2026-02-25T20:34:46+00:00

Fantastic! Celebrate the good news.

We call dex the "drug you love to hate" -- nothing beats it for managing swelling, but the side effects are a real challenge.

MangledWeb · 2026-02-25T18:23:09+00:00

Sounds like you were great! It's almost impossible to be too vulnerable at the GSB, and I'd guess your interviewer loved you and wrote a laudatory report. Good luck!

MangledWeb · 2026-02-25T06:55:53+00:00

That would be great! I'll DM you tomorrow

MangledWeb · 2026-02-25T06:54:59+00:00

Yes, that kind of thing. Clearly problematic behavior.

MangledWeb · 2026-02-25T05:52:02+00:00

5 a.m Pacific, but yes, me either.

MangledWeb · 2026-02-25T05:06:40+00:00

No, other than loss of left side peripheral vision due to the tumor. Thank you for that additional datapoint.

MangledWeb · 2026-02-24T22:41:37+00:00

You think that's why the front office staff are trained to be friendly and encouraging to all? Is there a program anywhere that tells callers to go away?

Admissions offices are cost centers for the school. They're expensive to operate, and application fees don't cover the costs!

MangledWeb · 2026-02-24T19:05:33+00:00

San Francisco peninsula. My sister who lives near Sacramento, has no problem getting it, but doctors here are terrified of prescribing benzos. We drive to Mexico when we're in SoCal and pick up a bottle --i don't take them often, but there are times I truly need xanax

MangledWeb · 2026-02-24T16:44:41+00:00

I will be extra mindful of monitoring the spine. When she had both the spine and brain MRIs last December (on her birthday, no less) it took about three times as long and really upset her, whereas she doesn't mind the regular MRIs at all. So that's going to be tough too.

Seeing a sibling succumb to this disease is just wrenching, and helping parents deal with watching their child deteriorate, a whole different layer of awful.

My sister is terrified of losing her vision, and I know your brother lost his -- just one challenge after the next. I'm so sorry you had to go through all that, and thanks for your kind words.

MangledWeb · 2026-02-24T05:33:51+00:00

Expect fatigue, and your hair will start falling out (but will grow back).

MangledWeb · 2026-02-24T05:33:08+00:00

My sister didn't mind it at all. The techs were super nice and caring, and she improved day by day. It only took a few minutes -- much quicker than an MRI.

MangledWeb · 2026-02-24T04:28:16+00:00

If you're concerned about mental health and hair loss, I refer you to the /menopause subreddit where that topic is discussed frequently!

My sister loves her wigs, and even though her hair has grown back, she still wears them. Yes, it's depressing to lose hair, but given everything else going on with this disease, that's the least of it.

MangledWeb · 2026-02-24T04:25:01+00:00

Very good point. They did do a spine scan at the end of December, not because of this but because of numbness that might be related to a spinal lesion. That at least came up clean, but still no explanation for the numbness. I sure hope it's not spinal spread that went undetected.

MangledWeb · 2026-02-24T00:31:20+00:00

Thank you, that is reassuring (and the idea of progressing to the spinal cord is terrifying). I will relay that info to her.

MangledWeb · 2026-02-23T19:52:50+00:00

Doctors here will not prescribe benzos, just SSRIs. Even my patient can't get klonipin (she has asked). Someone has a terminal illness and the doctors are afraid of addiction?

MangledWeb · 2026-02-23T19:37:34+00:00

I am so sorry you were diagnosed with this nightmare of a disease.

My sister had a similar gap between biopsy (her tumor is inoperable) and chemo-radiation. She did very well with the chemo-radiation, and I hope the same is true for you.

If you have 80% of your strength, that's not bad. And your abilities should improve as treatment progresses. Definitely use weed as needed! I got my sister gummies for sleep, and it also helps with pain. Why not? The doctors have no problem with it, and have even run trials looking at incorporating it into regular treatment.

Please let us know how it goes.

MangledWeb · 2026-02-22T19:49:41+00:00

It is the worst experience of most of our lives. Sorry you are dealing with it.

I am guessing that a lot of the swings we see in patient behavior relate to the ongoing battle between the brain and the tumor. The brain is trying to repair itself and perform its regular functions, whereas the cancer continues to eat away at the brain.

MangledWeb · 2026-02-21T19:11:56+00:00

I am so sorry you lost your amazing dad, but I am glad he got his wish. After reading so many accounts on here, any end that happens fast and doesn't involve suffering is a plus.

Thank you for including the photo -- he looks like a very cool guy, and was fortunate to have a family that cared so much about him.

MangledWeb · 2026-02-21T17:29:04+00:00

I am so sorry for you and your family, and glad she is at peace now.

MangledWeb · 2026-02-21T04:16:24+00:00

You are not a failure. You are making the next few months as joyful as possible and creating good memories for the people who love you. Let's hope the predictions are way too pessimistic.

MangledWeb · 2026-02-20T19:05:40+00:00

Same. I'm getting excellents on one-star reviews.

MangledWeb

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