Cured by Cancer

Cancer did not hurt me … cancer healed me, and God gets all the glory

Cancer is one of those “scary words” that nobody wants to hear. Some people think it may never affect them, but the truth of the matter is it touches almost everyone in some way, shape, or form.

For me, it all began with my late husband, Joe. His 4-year battle with small cell lung cancer was a rollercoaster ride of good days, bad days, doctor appointments, ER visits, pain medications, surgeries, and eventually, Hospice.

Then, there was my father’s diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Watching my dad’s health deteriorate and observing my mother go through what I had just gone through with Joe was heart-wrenching at times.

In October of 2021, this girl was told something she NEVER thought she’d hear …“Your endometrial biopsy came back positive for cancer". I was dumbfounded, and for the first time, I realized I was not immortal. Thankfully, the cancer was found early, and after successful surgery on 11/3/21, I was thrilled to be cancer free. The old saying, “You can’t take it with you," resonated. So, we bought a shiny, red Mustang convertible in celebration!

However, on 6/4/22, just 7 months later, this girl was once AGAIN told something that she NEVER thought she’d hear ...“The CT scan shows a 15 cm mass on your right side and a 5-6 cm mass on your left side". As the ER staff explained the findings, apologizing for the grim news, my husband, Craig, and I both sat there in disbelief. They recommended I contact my oncologist first thing on Monday morning (since it was Saturday) to have surgery scheduled.

There was no way of knowing exactly what it was until surgery. For the next 1 ½ weeks I spent countless hours on our front porch wondering how much longer I’d be able to sit in the sun and watch the birds. What a long, dreadful, dark couple of weeks that was! My entire life flashed before me.

I prayed and asked God to keep me here longer. I pleaded with Him, telling Him I was not ready to leave this world. I had more work to do, and I would be of no use to anyone laying in a grave. On 6/15/22, I woke from surgery and was told it was early-stage, and the pathology came back a few weeks later with a diagnosis of Ovarian cancer (stage 1). This was truly a miracle since only 10% of ovarian cancers are detected early. As I lay in the recovery room I thanked God for giving me more time to live.

Fast forward to today, I am completing my sixth and final chemotherapy treatment this month (December 2022). Positivity, staying active, and leaning completely on God have helped me heal from each of the toxic infusions. The blood of Jesus in my veins is more powerful than any poison.

Death knocked on my door, but victory answered! I am a two-time cancer survivor! There’s been a shedding of the old skin that once confined me. My spiritual eyes have been opened and I see things in this life through an entirely different lens. MOST importantly, I have drawn closer to God. Cancer did not hurt me … cancer healed me, and God gets all the glory.

It is important to mention here that during those two weeks preceding my surgery when I was pleading with God to keep me on this Earth, I concluded with, "But Your will be done". I stated my case to God and even argued with Him, but then I deferred it all to Him. As difficult as it was, I made the decision to be ok with WHATEVER the outcome was.

“If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Romans 14:8 (NIV)

Has cancer or some other health complication come in and tried to steal your joy? Are you facing challenges that are too heavy for you to bear? Eventually, we will all depart from this temporary place called Earth. We are all guaranteed our appointed time. I urge you, brothers and sisters, not to allow the trials and tribulations of this life steal your joy. I pray that the peace of the Lord consumes you, regardless of the circumstances or the outcome. Today I sit on my front porch and the birds are rejoicing with me as I ponder all that has happened. God has given me LIFE and LIFE more abundant. I trusted the Lord, and He directed my path (Proverbs 3:5-6). He who promised is faithful. His ways are far above our ways! How do I know this? Well, because something happened that THIS girl never thought would happen ... I was “cured by cancer".

Ms. Lady Lake