Cancer,
Now What?
Have you or a loved one been told they have cancer? It is
one of the worst things to go through. You know the saying “been there, done
that” I have not only been there, but have been there and done it twice. I HATE
CANCER! It is devastating, to the one going through it but also their family
and friends.
In April of 2003, I was told I had stage 4 Ovarian
cancer. A lot of folks first thoughts may be “why me, “am I going to die?”,
“what about surgery, chemo and radiation”, “how much it is going to cost”, and “what
are we going to do?”
After our initial shock, crying, and praying together
when everyone left my room, I grabbed my Bible. I began looking up verses on
faith and healing. I knew I was going to need some strength from the Lord. The
third verse I found was II Kings 20:5 “…I
have heard thy prayers, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee:…”
Immediately the peace of God flooded my soul. I called Scott and shared this
verse with him. In my heart I knew I was going to be OK. I never asked the
question “Why me?” but “why not me” was my thought. I never thought I was going
to die. My heavenly Father was there and was going to take care of me. I
continued to look up verses. I laid there in my hospital bed praying and
thinking about the verse He gave me. I remember laying there with tears running
down my cheeks while knowing and feeling such peace. My Father, the Great
Physician was going to go with us through this great trail in our lives.
Several other verses that helped me were I Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he
careth for you.” I Peter 1:7 “That
the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth,
though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory
at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” Psalm 57:1 “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth
in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these
calamities be overpast.” Isaiah 41:10 “Fear
thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will
strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right
hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:13 “For
I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will
help thee.” This verse was always on
my mind when going through tests and surgery. I would hold onto His hand. I
have shared these verses with other cancer patients more times than I care to
remember.
So I went six years cancer free and in December of 2009
during a yearly checkup was told that the cancer was back. I again immediately
got into my Bible again and the Lord gave me this verse John 11:4 “…This sickness is not unto death, but for
the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” So in
January 2010 I had surgery and chemo again. Both times having chemo, I lost my
hair. The first time was rough but not so bad the second time. I tell people
about losing their hair, “at least there is not any bad hair days.” As of May
2019 I have been cancer free the second time for nine years.
What to do when you are told you have cancer. DON’T
PANIC!! It is NOT necessarily a death sentence. Get treatment as soon as
possible. Keep focused, stay close to
the Lord! Don’t start researching your cancer on the internet. Scott came home
one day and I was sitting in front of the computer crying. He told me to stop
looking up things about my type of cancer. I decided to keep looking up verses
in my Bible, pray, and continue to ask others to pray. Don’t go through it alone.
I am thankful for all my doctors and nurses at MD
Anderson but I know it was my “Great Physician” who healed me. I give Him all
the glory.
Every year in January I go for my yearly checkup. Once
you have had cancer you are never the same. You have the anxiousness of going
to the doctor, having tests, and then waiting for the results. “Is it back?”
“Am I OK for another year?”
Cancer is everywhere; it affects the young and the old.
Most of us have been there or have known someone who has had it or is going
through it. I think the main thing is to stay focused on the Lord. He can and
will get you through it.
Some people want to isolate themselves and not share with
others. I immediately wanted to share I had cancer so others could be praying.
If you know someone going through this awful disease, pray for them and their
family. Maybe you can reach out to them, call them, send a card, go with them
to doctor appointments, go with them to pick out a wig, (that is fun), spend
time with them is major. A person if left to himself, may not be good.
So the question “cancer, now what?” Continue on, stay
strong, stay focused, let others help and share in your trial. Somewhere down
the line you will be able to help others going through cancer. I can’t count
how many cancer patients we have met while traveling. We immediately connect
with them, because we have been there. So we may not know why we go through the
trials in our lives, but we sure can be a help to others going through the same
trials we have traveled. Look for a need
and fill it!
