03.13.06
My Testimony _ A Journey Through Cancer
http://creativeladiesministry.com/juliasgrabngo.com
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
It all began for me in April 1989, when my doctor felt a lump in my right breast. A subsequent mammogram seemed to confirm his fears that I had breast cancer. I had a lumpectomy or removal of the cancerous tumor from the breast. Thank God there was no spreading. I had six weeks of radiation treatment.
In February 2000, a CT scan picked up a portion of what appeared to be a mass in the right breast. After a mammogram and ultrasound it was confirmed that I had breast cancer again. In the earlier part of March, I met with doctor that would be my oncologist. He stated that this was a large tumor. Under his directive, I underwent a stomach ultrasound and a bone scan to see if there was any spreading. The tests came back negative. At the end of March, I underwent a mastectomy and the removal of some of the lymph nodes. There had been no spreading.
I began chemo in April 2000. I started on three drugs, Adrimyiacin, Cytoxan and 5FU which were administered through a port in my upper left chest. These treatments were administered every three weeks. I had 18 weeks of these drugs. The only major side effect I had during this time was hair loss and beginning fatigue. I finished these drugs in August 2000.
In September 2000, I began a chemo drug called Taxotere. This drug was administered once a week for 18 weeks. Because of one of the medications I had to take with this drug, my glucose level starting elevating more than usual (Type 11 Diabetic). I was subsequently put on diabetic medication. I began to feel side effects of nausea (which I had medication for) and fatigue (taking Centrum Silver). I finished chemo treatments in December 2000. The biggest side effect was the fatigue. I would be so tired and so give out. I am still feeling the effects of the fatigue. I understand it takes a while for your body to get back normal.
FAITH AT WORK
Getting A Grip On Wayward Emotions
Going through cancer the first time, was not as traumatic. Don’t get me wrong, I was nervous and upset but the surgery and treatment seemed to breeze by. I had no major side effects. I went to the hospital for radiation instead of a Cancer Center. I did not see people getting sick from treatment or the paramedics coming to get them out of the treatment room or the doctor’s office. However, this time when I realized I had cancer again, it was different. There was panic, anger, fear and questions. Why did this have to happen again? I had been through it once. Wasn’t that enough? Why me? What if it comes back after this. At that moment I realized I needed a reality check. Where was all of this faith I was supposed to have. While thumbing through my Bible, I came across a scripture that would be my lifeline:
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthened you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
That night, as I prayed, I laid all my fears upon the Lord. There was so much I had to say. So much I had to ask him. Lord my mother will be 80 in August 2001. I will be 50 in February 2002. I learned how to pray all over again. I learned to pray that His will for my life be done, not my will. I ask him not to be just my Savior but also to be my Chief Physician. I realize when you pray His will be done; He will make a way for. I was and am blessed with a wonderful and caring oncologist that goes the extra mile for his patients. A doctor that knows the value of faith in God. I was blessed even though when I would get sick or so tired I felt like I could not put another step forward, if was as if I felt a gentle presence easing me along. It is not easy to cope with cancer. It takes a strong faith in the Lord. You have to put your hope, trust and all faith in Him. I would see some come in for the first time and see the fear in their eyes and the tears near the surface. Some times I would see patients come in so weak that they would meet them at the door with wheelchairs, or so sick the paramedics would have to come get them or see them throwing up in the treatment rooms. I would just momentarily bow my head and say thank you Lord for that could have been me.
Approximately a week after I finished chemo. I felt like my world had come crashing down. I know that I should have been happy treatments were over. However, I felt abandoned. I felt that my security to fighting cancer was gone. I felt like my defense was gone and that I was all alone in my fight against cancer. Again, I had to call upon the power of of prayer and also Isaiah 41:10. I know that was just a reaction to losing something that had been a part of my life for six months. After I prayed, I realized that my faith and trust in my Savior was my real strength against cancer.
Six Years Later
I have been out of remission almost six years. The LORD is so good and faithful. There have been scares but no sign of the cancer returning. What an awesome GOD we serve.
Am I through with cancer or will it come back the third time, I don’t know. Only the Lord knows the answer. I do know this one thing, if it does come back, I will be ready, because I will have my faith and my Chief Physician with me. I have learned that if you put your hand in the Savior’s Hand, HE will never let go.
