Hope in the face of Cancer

I am currently re-reading a book of the above title that I bought in 2005. It was written by Amy Givler, a medical doctor, who was struck with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer originating from white blood cells with symptoms of painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin. She chronicled her journey from receiving the news of having cancer to undergoing treatments until her remission. She mentioned that no one really gets "cured" of cancer; doctor usually tells a patient that he is a "survival" or under "remission". This was a kind of book she wanted to have as she went to the library searching for answers when she knew she had the dreaded illness. One that would point HOPE to those who think that cancer sounds the death knell of those who have been struck with it.

Two incidents happened yesterday that prompted me to pick up this book from my shelf again. One sister in church shared with me that her recent regular check up had revealed a growth in her intestine with other nodules around it. She went for an MRI and is awaiting result - could this be a relapse of what she had gone through last year? I prayed for her and told her not to confess negatively, even though relatives had suffered similar fate. Breaking generational curses is so vital in this instance. The other incident was an email from a colleague who shared that her doctor had told her she is most likely to have cancer. Again, she's also awaiting confirmation of report. I've not heard my colleague complaining of anything untowards where health is concerned, so this news comes as a surprise to me. I mentioned that I would be praying for her even though she's not a believer.

And yesterday, I was also reading Isaiah 38 as part of my Scripture reading for the day. Verse 1 tells us that King Hezekiah became mortally ill, so much so that God had to send Isaiah with this message, "Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live." Talk about a death sentence when one hears the word cancer in today's context; that was probably the Old Testament equivalent of receiving a death sentence. But noticed what Hezekiah did; he didn't submit to the word spoken by the prophet. He began to weep and supplicate before the LORD. God answered his prayer by adding 15 years to his life (v 5). Now that's like a remission of the death sentence given earlier.

In her book, Amy said that cancer is conquerable in our day and age, when diagnosed early. In the past, nine out of ten physicians favoured not telling patients they had cancer, as the chances of a cure is very slim. Nowadays, life-prolonging treatments are available for nearly every type of cancer. The trend in cancer is very good news indeed. In the 1950s, only 35% of people with cancer lived for at least 5 years. By 1974, the rate has improved to 50% and in 1998, it was 62%. Many of the 62% will go on to live their expected number of years, with the cancer under remission. What's more, as believers in the LORD, we can pray to God as Hezekiah did and expect Him to answer us graciously.

Do read this book if you want to know how to go about ministering to those stricken with cancer.