Cancer, Now What? - January 2020

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!