Let’s Turn CANCER Into cancer

The word cancer has too much power, all negative power. It is a power of fear, pain, and death. Therefore, I have come to the realization that it is a tool of Satan and we should fight against it.

Do not forget that there is a battle going on. The enemy wants you to forget, and when you forget he leaves you alone, for the most part. It is when you start to draw close to God that Satan starts throwing those fiery darts. We hate cancer, yet we have given this word so much control over us. It causes so much damage. I would not be surprised if the damage to the families, and friends, afflicted is often more from the word than from the cancer itself.

I seem to have found myself surrounded by this word lately. This past Aug 10th marked 2 years since my diagnosis. My sister-in-law was hospitalized in Dec with pancreatitis, in my opinion the doctors did a lot of dragging their feet, they did a few biopsies, etc.…. the whole time she was very ill. Finally, in Feb she had surgery, they removed 40% of her pancreas, told her on the way out of the hospital that she had sage 4 pancreatic cancer. She has had a hard battle, and still has a few months of fighting left. In her home is her husband, 3 young boys, and her grown daughter.

Then I recently found out that my sister in Texas has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung and bone cancer, that has spread to her brain. She also has young children, her youngest is 5 and she is caring for her grandfather. I am not very close her, we didn’t meet until I was about 18. However, she is still my sister, I still love her and this breaks my heart.

I know what the word “cancer” does

The worst part is that I know what this word does. I know how it hurts those you love and how powerless you are to help, to comfort.  For a mom that is heart wrenching. It will be worse than all the physical pain the cancer will put you through. To see the word cancer written on the face of everyone you love. This word is in their hearts and minds like shrapnel that is ricocheting though out. When does the damage end, when can healing begin. You want to protect your children, your family, and there is nothing you can do. Then the doctors tell you to put all you have into healing your body,that you must be selfish. Not so easy for a mom, but you want to live right? So, you hope and you pray. Yet you don’t understand and you often find yourself crying out, “why me?”

“Therefore, being justified by faith, we have piece with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. By whom we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed a broad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ dies for the ungodly.” Romans 5”1-6

My Diagnoses

I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, it was hormonal feed and HER2 negative. In a nutshell stage 1 breast cancer. My grandmother had breast cancer so I have been getting mammograms every year from the time I was 35. They caught it before it was even a tumor, they called it calcification when they recommended a biopsy. So, I had one of the most beatable cancers there is. It had been caught early, and yet I can tell you about the power of that word and the damage it did to my family, my marriage. I’m telling you Satan loves this word and the incredible destructive power we have given it.

You might be surprised by some of the things I encountered after I was first diagnosed.

First off, everyone makes it about them, and everyone treats you differently. They do, even if they are not trying to or trying not to, it is just our sinful human nature.

Telling people, you have cancer, is hard, and some people don’t make it any easier.

I had people cry and there I was consoling them, now my family I can understand and I expected but I got this from friends even not so close friends.

Some people take a step back. Believe it or not some people are not 100% sure that it is not contagious and just in case they would rather not get too close.

I had a close friends defriend me from face book. Yes really, but it’s okay!

Here’s the thing, we can only react to things from our past experiences. Cancer is not something everyone can deal with, and some can deal with it better than others.

I also had people come out of the woodwork that were very helpful. They offered help, and where such a great support even if I didn’t need their help, it was just nice to know someone would be there for me if I got in a situation where I did need it. It still is nice, and very comforting to know this.

 

God is good, God is faithful

God did work out good in my dire situation. Cancer had wreaked havoc in my life, Satan used it as a tool and tried to destroy my marriage, at one point we separated, and I really thought this was it. Yet, God in His goodness used this to make our marriage better, and it was I think the first step to bringing my husband to faith. As crazy as it sounds, I would do it all over again if it would save my children, even just one of them. God is bigger, God is greater, God is mightier, than any cancer.

You can read more of my story, in my Testimony Page

We have allowed Satan to give this word more power than we ever should have. A quick google search shows that the leading cause of death in the US is Heart Disease. However, Heart Disease doesn’t have the same effect as cancer, the word doesn’t carry the same weight. I know many people who have had a heart attack it’s not the same as surviving cancer. WHY?

Let me tell you a little of what this word brings into your home. It’s like a cancer in and of itself. It fill your home with fear and despair that hang in the air like a thick dark fog. No one who lives there or visits regularly is fully immune. It’s depressing and oppressive in nature. Remember, I was not dying- stage 1 breast cancer very beatable! I can’t tell you how my prayers of tears for the homes of my sisters. I pray for God’s great power to fight against this oppression, I pray that each family member will know the great gift of each day and celebrate it with a gentle heart and gladness, to fight against this fog of despair with the light and life of Jesus.

In so many ways being in a home with cancer is a lot like walking through the Valley of the Shadow of death. And the strength and comfort of God is a requirement. I have no idea how you would get through any other way.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou are with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

 

Please, pray for my sisters, their families, and over their homes! Pray for all those with cancer. Please pray Romans 8:28 I know God is working in these situations. And let’s pray against the power of this word, let’s turn CANCER into cancer and take away the added fear, pain, and hurt that no word should have in and of itself, except for eternal hell.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

For those fighting cancer my heart cries out to you, please know that while you are fighting a physical battle, your enemy is fighting a spiritual battle within your home. Speak to your spouse and other members of your family, they can battle this darkness while you battle the physical battle, by keeping joy, peace, hope, and love alive in your home and your relationships. All darkness flees from the light of Jesus. God Bless you!

I would absolutely love to hear the victories that came out of your battle with cancer. The Romans 8:28 in real life. Thank you!