COPING WITH CANCER

We have had too many experiences over the years helping friends cope with various forms of cancer. We have offered various degrees of support and assistance as opportunity and closeness allowed and have always been diligent about maintaining serious prayer support. In turn we have received a bit of education and learned much both about the power of faith and about a strong, positive attitude in dealing with this demon of a disease. That is now becoming useful.

It is now our turn to cope with cancer in a much more personal way. You may have noticed (if any of you are still checking) that I have not posted on this blog for quite a while. I have not been sure when would be the right time and what would be exactly the right message to share. To complicate the decision, the situation has been developing rapidly from week to week ever since last fall, or earlier.

Betty has cancer. The symptoms began in a typical way, and before we were aware of what the cause or degree of seriousness might be. After fifteen years of being post-menopausal, signs of irregularities caused us to consult our primary provider which led to tests which eventually led to cat-scans, etc. etc. and to a complete hysterectomy. The pathology indicated uterine/endometrial cancer which had spread to everything which was removed.

A subsequent biopsy on a location in the upper sternum has been confirmed today as a spread of the cancer, and the doctor has called for some additional tests to be done tomorrow. He explanation is that cancer cells could be located in a number of additional places including organs and bones. We have shared this news with our children and are beginning to bring our "insiders" into the circle of information.

At this time Betty is electing to forego chemotherapy, explaining that she would rather take her chances with cancer than die in a prolonged way from the Parkinson's disease she has battled for over twenty years. She is, however, consenting to radiation on the spot in her upper chest and will be prepared for that therapy tomorrow. We do not have further details to share at this time.

More than anything, Betty does not want misinformation to be spread about her condition and does not want anyone to fear, whatever the outcome. She is safely and permanently in God's hands and seems to have good medical caregivers for the immediate future.

Already, over the past month or so, the most encouraging support has come from all points of the compass (and past) in the form of precious letters and cards expressing well-wishes and prayers. The wonderful memories recalled and treasured in these notes are a daily source of strength, of wonder, and of joy. Please keep up this show of your love and concern, for they are truly refreshing, and please do not despair.

This is a good time for all of us to recall the "spot-on" words of David's Psalm Twenty-three. Indeed, God is our Shepherd and He is with us.