Cancer Research Articles

"You have cancer." Millions of people hear these dreaded words each year. A huge wave of fear often follows. There are many forms of this life-threatening disease. Cancer can be a death sentence. I certainly understand what it's like. I have been there.

However, instead of thinking about writing your will, have the will, to live. Have the will, to fight! Don't allow fear to paralyze you. Fear can actually do more harm than the cancer itself. Replace your fear, with faith!

In October of 1997, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The tumor was near my heart and lungs. At the time, I was 27 years old. My family was stunned and heartbroken. They were also scared. Tears and prayers were virtually endless. I remained calm. Many could not understand why.

Was I going to die? Reality is, we are all going to die. One day. You don't have to be ill. One can be healthy and young, and still die. There are many people who die, every day, who don't have cancer, or a life-threatening illness. Death can be around the corner for any of us. Life is precious. No one knows when they are going to die. Life isn't in the hands of man, it's in the hands of our Maker. God. I knew that God was my life support. God made this body, therefore, I knew that He could fix it. He could heal me, or allow me, to continue to live.

I underwent six months of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation treatments. I lost all of my hair, but I never lost my faith in God. Nor did I ever lose hope. Faith does wonders. It is what brought me through one of the biggest storms of my life. Without faith in God, I would have fallen apart. I would have been living, as if I were going to die. Instead, I lived, like I was going to live. Yes, I had cancer, but it did not have me.

Become your own advocate! The doctor that you choose is very important. Choose a doctor who gives hope. Not one who stamps out hope. Choose a doctor who treats you, the human being, first and foremost. The disease needs no hope or encouragement. The person does. If you treat the person, you will automatically treat the disease. You cannot separate the two. The results are often better as well.

Don't allow anyone to tell you how to grieve. However, never harm yourself. If you lack faith, ask God. If you are scared, tell God. Talk to Him. Honesty is always best.

Surround yourself with positive people. Do not allow negative people to be around you, including doctors. Don't let negative thoughts enter your mind either.

Look up! Always look in the direction where you want to go. If you look down, you will be down. Depressed. Scared. Hopeless.

The unknown can hinder us. Hold on to what you know, activate that. God knows our outcome. All things are in His hands. Not ours. Not the doctor's. Only His. Knowing that, can make a huge difference, when we face any storm in life. And there are many.

Jacqueline Kennedy had the same form of cancer. She died within five months after being diagnosed. Money can buy you the best doctors, but it can't buy you good health. Nor can it buy you life. Life, is God-given. Life is a gift from God; we should never take life for granted.

It's 12 years later. I thank God for sparing my life.

Never bring fear to a cancer fight, bring faith! You will find that you have increased your chances for survival.