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Redefining My Life After Cancer
How having cancer challenged my body and my views as a Christian
Many articles have been written by cancer survivors who endured chemo, surgery, radiation, and drug treatment. They also took an emotional journey as they struggled to accept their condition and get on with life. Their stories usually end with a happily everafter of some sort — they beat the disease, are physically well, and learn many spiritual lessons on the way.
These brave people are rightly called survivors, but in many ways, their stories are just beginning. I know that because I aam one of them.
The Beginning of my Cancer Journey
My oncologist told me that he could not predict how long I would live after my treatment because many cancer patients are now living longer. That was good news, but little did I know that a real journey was going to take me into the unknown both physically and emotionally.
In early 2011, I had the dreaded news from my family doctor that I had breast cancer. An MRI showed a suspicious mass on my lower back that might be terminal and untreatable bone cancer. I confess that I was surprised at how I reacted to the diagnosis. I accepted it.
As a Christian for many years, I felt I was ready to go if God wanted to call me home. I did not believe I had…
