This is my own personal story about my journey of being a breast cancer survivor and learning how to thrive after healing. Actually it is truly God’s story.
Surviving Breast Cancer
I can still remember the day I found the lump in my right breast. It’s a moment that completely catches you off guard. It’s one of those moments you don’t ever expect to happen in your life, yet when it does you can’t believe it’s real. That was how I felt that day. I thought there’s no way there’s a lump here, I’ll check it again in a couple days because I know it’ll be gone. It wasn’t. It wasn’t going to disappear. So I did what every other person would hopefully do and made an appointment with my gynecologist. She was able to get me in within a week. That week was long. Wondering about the what if’s and could be’s. Annoying how our mind works at times like this.
Before I got into the doctor’s appointment, Holy Spirit had already been speaking to me about what was going on in my body. He had done this before when I knew I had a brain tumor but I didn’t want to truly acknowledge it until the doctor said it to me. It’s very enlightening how Holy Spirit works if we will just listen and acknowledge when He is speaking. The day finally arrived to see the doctor and she got me in quickly to get the ultrasound and biopsy done. I knew by the technician taking extra pictures and taking time that I had a lump that was cancerous. I wasn’t scared, just worried about how my family was going to react. My children were grown, but my grandchildren were young and I worried about them. I also worried about my parents who were waiting in the waiting room for me. I knew in my heart I was going to be okay because I had the Great Healer in my life.
The next moment I remember is getting the call from the doctor that the biopsy showed the tumor was cancerous. I literally slid down the wall I was standing next to, to the floor in tears. I was all alone and this was news I didn’t want to hear. I quickly called my parents and told them I needed them to come to my home. They eventually made it and then they prayed over me. My next step was to call my children and grandchildren and tell them. I remember when I was told by my mother that my grandmother had breast cancer in 1980. It was a very sad and scary day for me. I didn’t want to lose her. She eventually died from it after being so ill.
The surgeon called me the next day to schedule the appointment and surgery. Within 3 weeks of finding out, I was having the lumpectomy surgery and then I would be doing radiation once it had healed some. The stage of the cancer was low enough and had been caught in time I wasn’t going to need any chemo treatments. So thankful to God Almighty for that. The radiation part didn’t bother me because I had already been through that with my brain tumor and I was eager to go back and see my favorite radiologist and my nurses there. I knew I was going to be in good hands. However the surgery was not what I expected at all. Oh my goodness it was so painful. It consisted of removing the tumor and some of the breast tissue for more biopsies. And the worst part was removing the lymph nodes from the arm pit area. Oh that my friends, is a pain that goes deep. You don’t realize how tender these areas are until someone goes messing with them. I knew that during the next few weeks, a chest wrap, Tylenol and heat were going to be my best friends and they were.
Treatment After Surgery
During the radiation treatment my appointment would be a pretty quick one. Then it was back home to rest a bit and then back to the usual day. Keeping myself rested up and limiting the stress in my life as much as possible. I was so blessed by all my family and friends as they sent me cards and brought some meals over. This journey sure was a lot easier than the brain tumor. Yet the radiation kicked me in the hinney. Exactly why the doctors tell you rest, rest and keep your protein levels high for good nutrition. Lesson learned the first time. You know, when a doctor gives you some advice, it’s usually because he has studied and seen the effects of his patients. So to take their advice is usual a good thing for us to do. I know I sure appreciated all the words of encouragement I received from my doctor and staff. Lesson learned.
A journey I will treasure forever. It allowed me to dive in deeper to My Father because I needed Him so badly. Dealing with a medical issue by your self is hard. Yet it made me depend on My Heavenly Husband more every day. I was depending on Him for everything. Exactly where He needed and wanted me to be. He was in complete control of my situation. No greater place to be and no greater Father to have at my side.
Do you know what the greatest thing about all this was? It gave me new connections to witness to. To tell them about how Yahweh had taken me through my brain tumor biopsy and radiation, and that He was carrying me through this one as well. To let the Love of Yahweh shine through me, even in my darkest moments. How I was still here to even endure this journey. See the enemy has tried so many times to take me out or have me feel defeated but it doesn’t work. I know my Redeemer lives. He always will. Until I take that last breath when He says I am done here on earth, I will keep telling of all the miracles He had done in my life. It is only because of Him I am here today.
Radiation Treatments
The radiation began in late March, 2017 and I finished all 30 treatments on April 17, 2017. I rang the bell again with my favorite doctor at my side. My nurses were around me and clapping for me. They had known me now for 10 years. I still enjoy every appointment that I get to go and see them all. I was blessed with such amazing doctors who were caring and nurses that showed respect and concern. My life had been blessed because of the journey I had walked through with Yahweh. Blessed because I had completed the hard work and now it was the healing. Then walking forward and taking good care of myself.
During the appointment with the nutritionist I learned that I was no longer able to eat sweet potatoes, sweet peas, drink wine because of the type of cancer they discovered I had. I had to watch the sugars and eat healthy. Now first let me tell you it was not good news for this girl. Have you ever had Thanksgiving without sweet potatoes? No way, how was I going to accomplish this? And no more wine? I only drink on very rare occasions but when you’re told no more it’s devastating. I have survived and even had a few bites of these goodies on a rare occasion. Know that my health depends on my taking good care of me. That is one thing we all need to do for ourselves, and that is take good care of us. We depend on it. No one else can do it but us. And we are so worth protecting and taking care of.
Gods’ Whispers
I can still remember the second appointment I had with my oncologist. She wanted me to take the cancer drug “Tamoxifen” so that my cancer did not reoccur. I wasn’t crazy about it but I said I would. I had been deeply praying through all of this for healing and listening to Yahweh for His guidance. I took one pill. That is all it took. One pill. I was so sick from taking it. And I kept hearing Him say “walk in faith.” That’s exactly what I told Dr. S. I wasn’t going to take the drug and I was going to walk this out in faith. Knowing that Yahweh heals and restores all things. She wasn’t against it nor was she truly for it but it was up to me to choose. I know that I listened to My Father and I know He healed my body of all cancer now and forevermore.
I recently had my yearly mammogram done and met with my gynecologist and she awarded me with a praise of 5 years cancer free. Oh how those words ran so loudly and with such joy. 5 years cancer free. I will add to that and say, a lifetime of cancer free. I believe with all that I am, I am cancer free forever. It is faith in knowing My Father took all my diseases to the cross and He left them there. He said as bowed His head to enter into death, “It is Finished.” To me that means done, over, all gone, never returning. Oh yes, things do happen and I will never understand exactly why. But this I do know for sure, He promises are always, Yes and Amen. He has never left me or let me walk any journey alone. He will always take me through to the other side and will restore what the enemy stole from me. His love is great and mighty and He wants the very, very best of the greatest for me. Because I am a Daughter of the Most High King.
Update
I am so thankful for God carrying me through this journey and allowing me the opportunity to share it with others. I am now 7 years free of cancer and I will continue to stand firm on His promise so long ago as He was on the Cross, It Is Finished. I will continue to have my mammograms done yearly and take care of the body God gave me and blessed me with, for He lives inside. I will also continue to share of His greatness with others and pray for those who desire to be healed.
May God bless you and heal you, In Jesus Holy Name.
TonniLea
